Kody Moody

English 2010
H. Brown
04/07/15

Its Time for Utah to Crack Down on Its Biggest Environmental

Offenders
When it comes to taking on the inversion polluting the Wasatch front,
state officials continually drag their heels in going after the biggest
offenders. It is obvious that the people want the state to clean up its act on
air pollution. Despite pressure from various groups who seek change and
regulation, Utah has seen little help from our legislative branch in the fight
for cleaner air. Sure there have been greener solutions for citizens to abide
by. It is always suggested that taking public transportation, car-pooling to
work or utilizing the bike swap program are great ways for Utahns to help
out. Yet these solutions seem so minor in the grand scheme of fixing the
inversion and if the people want regulation or change, they shouldnt have to
butt heads with the officials they have elected to represent them.
Currently there are many groups out there that have spearheaded
demand for change. In a story ran by SLTrib.com in Nov. 2014, Utah
Physicians for a Healthy Environment filed a suit against the state for not
issuing pollution permits to nine industrial plants, which include mostly oil
refineries, over disagreements between the EPA and the Clean Air Act Title V.

"Issuing a Title V permit would make a big difference in terms of

enforcement, monitoring, recording keeping, reporting and emission limits,"
said Joro Walker, an attorney with Western Resource Advocates (qtd. In
SLTrib). With Utah officials doing nothing to resolve this conflict, the EPA can
reject these permits and the Industries can operate without that pollution
oversight.
Groups outside of Utah are taking action against the EPA for its failure
to act on Utahs regional haze as a result of pollution. According to
DeseretNews.com, Wild Earth Guardians have filed the suit in an attempt to
have two of Utahs power plants cut down on their emissions. Although it is
the EPA being sued, the group claims that it is because of Utahs slow
reaction and constant foot dragging that have caused them to take action
against the EPA.
Another Incident reported by SLTrib.com shows in 2011, Wild Earth
Guardians, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, Utah Moms for Clean
Air and the Sierra Club filed a suit against the Kennecott copper mine
because the state had signed off on an acceptance for expansion of the mine
which was not signed off by the EPA. As Kennecott contributes to 1/3 of the
valleys pollution, I feel it is obvious the state chose industry over the health
of its citizens once again by allowing the expansion.
All the while, the state chooses to create proposed legislation that
bans wood burning in which some people use to heat their homes. Story at

KSL.com. Thankfully, Gov. Herbert signed a bill that prohibits an all-out ban
on wood burning as it is a drop in the bucket of where the real issues lie. I
know that my beliefs on this issue are contradictory as most groups see this
as a loss but I feel that a crackdown on the big corporate polluters is
necessary and very it is inappropriate to take on a small portion of the
problem, leave the little guys alone.
I feel that the state could really lead the way in greener energy and set
a 21st century precedence while still operating with a thriving economy. We
all know that the biggest contributors to Utahs air problems is car emissions,
mainly CO2. The State should offer even more tax breaks for people driving
greener vehicles like electric or natural gas. I feel that there is too much
money involved when it comes to regulating the big energy guns and that it
all comes down to profit > health. I understand that Industry is the back
bone of Utahs economy and creates thousands of jobs, but the state has to
stop getting in the way of what the people want and that is cleaner, healthier
air to breathe.

Works Cited.
Joi ODonoghue, Amy. "Lawsuit targets EPA in Utah regional haze plan
'failure" Deseret News. Deseret News, 30 March 2015. Web. 03 April 2015.
Maffley, Brian. "Groups sue for Utah to take action on refinery pollution
permit." Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake Tribune, 03 Nov 2014. Web. 03 April
2015.
McKellar, Katie. "Herbert prevents full wood burning ban; air advocates call it
'slap in the face' " KSL.com. KSL Broadcasting SLC UT, 01 April 2015. Web. 03
April 2015.

Prettyman, Brett. "Kennecott pollution suit gets first federal court

hearing." Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Sep 2013. Web. 04 April
2015.