Utah Moms for Clean Air

Earlier this week, Utah Moms for Clean Air sent a letter to the director of the Division of Air Quality regarding their annual Air Monitoring Network Plan. Below is the text of the letter sent to Cheryl Heying, that was also copied to the Governor, his energy advisor Dianne Nielson, and the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality, Rick Sprott.

Ms. Cheryl Heying, Director
Division of Air Quality
150 N. 1950 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Re Annual Air Monitoring Network Plan

Utah Moms for Clean Air is working hard to achieve clean air for everyone, but especially for our children, and we would like to work with the Division of Air Quality in these efforts. This is why we wish to express our concerns over the changes in monitoring proposed in the Annual Air Monitoring Network Plan.

The new air monitoring plan calls for the discontinuation of 30 tests for pollutants and meteorological data at monitors around the state. Many of these discontinuations occur along the Wasatch Front, one of the most polluted areas in the State, and our fastest growing region.

Particularly troubling to us is the discontinuation of testing for ozone and PM2.5 at seven and nine monitoring sites respectively. Moreover, ozone and PM2.5 are two of the most lethal pollutants in our air. EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson has stated that current ozone standards are insufficient to protect public health and is proposing more stringent standards. If these proposed standards are implemented, it is likely that Utah will be in noncompliance.

We feel that we need to increase monitoring, not decrease it. We note that the DAQ proposes adding two NO2 testing sites and we believe this is the right direction to go for the sake of Utahns’ health, especially our children.

We urge you to rethink the proposed Air Monitoring Network Plan and, at least, maintain current levels of testing or, even better, increase the monitoring stations and the number of pollutants tested, including mercury.

Sincerely,

The Founder and Co-founders of Utah Moms for Clean Air

Cc: Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Dianne R. Nielson
Rick Sprott