air quality

KUER News Pod: Friday May 3, 2013

Brian Grimmett — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:35:43 +0000

Governor Herbert declares May “Clean Air Month,” Utah hospitals rank high in stroke treatment, and Kennecott Utah Copper begins laying off workers.

Herbert Asks Public to Take Responsibility for Clean Air

Brian Grimmett — Thu, 02 May 2013 22:02:16 +0000

Governor Gary Herbert demonstrated three simple things Utahns can do to help lower harmful emissions as he kicked off Clean Air Month at a house across the street from the State Capitol today.

Governor Herbert says Utahns aren’t always aware of the simple ways we can help clean up the air but gave these three tips while declaring May Clean Air Month. One could update older fuel storage containers, use paints with low amounts of volatile organic compounds, and replace gas powered yard equipment with cleaner alternatives.

Will Utah Weigh in on EPA’s New Cleaner Fuels and Cars Standards?

Andrea Smardon — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 04:18:47 +0000

The federal Environmental Protection Agency is now taking public comment on proposed new cleaner fuels and cars standards. Known as Tier 3 of the Clean Air Act Amendments, they’re designed to improve air quality and public health by reducing the sulfur content of gasoline and making cars more efficient.

KUER News Pod: Thursday March 28, 2013

Brian Grimmett — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:07:20 +0000

The Utah Tourism Office launches a new ad campaign, Utah gets its first non-profit health insurance cooperative, and state agencies begin creating air quality improvement plans.

Three Bills Aimed at Improving Air Quality Pass Legislature

Terry Gildea — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 05:03:26 +0000

When the 2013 Utah Legislative session ended at midnight on Thursday, lawmakers had passed three bills aimed at improving air quality, but let four other bills expire without consideration.

Clearing the Air: Health Consequences

Andrea Smardon — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 21:38:40 +0000

Utah physicians declared a public health emergency in the middle of a particularly bad air pollution season this year, pointing to spikes in ER visits, respiratory and cardiovascular episodes, and even deaths. Governor Gary Herbert declined to declare an emergency and says that some activists are exaggerating the problem. In the final story in our series of reports on Clearing the Air, KUER looks at what we know and don’t know about the health effects of Utah’s air pollution.

Two Air Quality Bills Moving Through Legislature

Terry Gildea — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 03:40:18 +0000

With the last week of the Legislative session underway, lawmakers approved two bills in the Senate and House yesterday geared toward improving the region’s air quality.

Utah DEQ Ready For New EPA Chief

Dan Bammes — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:35:59 +0000

The head of Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality says she’s had a good experience working with the person picked to head the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Gina McCarthy was head of E-P-A’s air quality division until President Obama tapped her for the top job this week.

Governor Supports Bill Calling for a Move to CNG Fleets

Brian Grimmett — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 23:49:37 +0000

Governor Gary Herbert along with legislators and government leaders are putting their support behind a bill that would help local and state agencies expand their fleets of Compressed Natural Gas vehicles.

U Tackles Air Pollution with Collaborative Approach

Andrea Smardon — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 23:23:32 +0000

The University of Utah is starting a new center to study air pollution and its impacts on health and society. The U hosted a retreat Monday, bringing academics together to talk about what they have to contribute and how they can collaborate.

Utah House Approves Tax Incentives for Clean Fuel Vehicles

Terry Gildea — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:28:37 +0000

The Utah House passed a bill today that would provide tax credits to those who purchase clean fuel vehicles over the next five years.

Republican Representative Jack Draxler’s bill, HB 96, would change the current tax incentive program by eliminating credits for gasoline and propane vehicles. The Logan lawmaker hopes his legislation would motivate people to buy cars and trucks that produce minimal or zero emissions.

KUER News Pod: Thursday February 28, 2013

Brian Grimmett — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:25:41 +0000

The Utah Legislature looks at a bill that would delay the start date for Utah’s guest worker program, the so-called “Zion Curtain” may be coming down, and KUER’s Dan Bammes takes a look at how Utah’s Industries are contributing to air pollution.

Clearing the Air: Big Industry

Dan Bammes — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:00:00 +0000

The air pollution that we can see suspended in the cold air trapped during Utah’s infamous temperature inversions is called PM 2.5 – particulate matter 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller. Just how much of that comes from large industrial polluters is a subject of some dispute, along with just what should be done about it. Dan Bammes has the third in our series of reports on Clearing the Air.

KUER News Pod: Thursday February 21, 2013

Brian Grimmett — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:57:32 +0000

In part two of our series on clearing the air KUER’s Terry Gildea takes a look at what state lawmakers are doing, the legislature gets its first look at several gun bills, and Senator Orrin Hatch brings gloom and doom to the House and Senate Floor.

Clearing the Air: What the Legislature Proposes

Terry Gildea — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:59:07 +0000

As Utahns persist through one of the worst winter inversion seasons in a decade, many have focused their frustration and anger over dirty air on elected officials in the Utah legislature. In part two of our series Clearing the Air, KUER News explores the short and long term solutions lawmakers are proposing.

KUER News Pod: Wednesday February 20, 2013

Brian Grimmett — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:20:16 +0000

Governor Gary Herbert weighs in on a potential statewide anti-discrimination bill, the Utah Senate gives preliminary approval to a bill that would require the state to collect abortion statistics, and oil and gas drilling are the cause of most of the air pollution in the Uintah basin.

Study Looks at Uintah Basin Ozone

Dan Bammes — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 23:46:03 +0000

After a year of studying winter ozone air pollution in Utah’s Uintah Basin, a team of scientists has determined that oil and gas wells are causing most of the problem.

KUER News Pod: Friday February 15, 2013

Brian Grimmett — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:46:30 +0000

Local government leaders call on the state legislature to act on cleaning up the air, nearly a dozen nonprofits working to end violence against women put on a dance show at the State Capitol, and a group of same-sex couples in Salt Lake use Valentine’s day to bring attention to marriage equality.

Salt Lake City, Ogden Mayors Propose Air Quality Measures

Brian Grimmett — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:21:52 +0000

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker joined Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell at the State capitol today in announcing their ideas on how government on both the local and state level can help improve air quality.

KUER News Pod: Thursday February 14, 2013

Brian Grimmett — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:42:17 +0000

A new report says that Utah would benefit from Medicaid expansion, protests continue over Utah’s poor air quality, and Dixie State College is on it’s way to becoming a University.

Clearing the Air: More Utahns Opt for Public Transit

Whittney Evans — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Utahns are well-acquainted with the dirty air lurking beyond their front doors in a winter inversion or summer ozone day. A long string of unhealthy air days this winter has many residents saying "enough". Today KUER News and RadioWest begin “Clearing the Air,” a special series aimed at exploring the problem of Utah’s poor air quality and ways to improve it. One of the contributing factors is car emissions, but is public transit a viable option for those living on the Wasatch Front? Can people use their cars less without compromising their lifestyle?

House Democrats Propose Six New Air Quality Bills

Brian Grimmett — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:33:53 +0000

A group of Democratic legislators are introducing six new bills in an effort to help tackle Utah’s poor air quality.

The content of the proposed bills ranges from offering free passes for UTA Buses and TRAX trains to allowing the state to put in place stricter restrictions than the Environmental Protection Agency already requires. Representative Joel Briscoe is sponsoring the bill that would fund giving away free UTA passes. He says even with a tight budget this is something that should be attainable.

KUER News Pod: Thursday February 7, 2013

Brian Grimmett — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:03:46 +0000

Utahns crowd into Governor Herbert’s Capitol office demanding clean air, the LDS church weighs in on boy Scouts and gays, and local political and environmental leaders give their take on President Obama’s new Secretary of the Interior appointment.

Citizens Demand Action on Air Pollution

Andrea Smardon — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 03:51:47 +0000

Utah citizens and activists gathered on the steps of the Capitol Wednesday to demand action to clean up the state’s polluted air. The rally was part of a grassroots effort, including a Facebook campaign and petition.

University of Utah student Carl Ingwell started the Facebook campaign, urging people to inundate the Utah governor’s office with calls and e-mails, demanding action. His campaign led him to the steps of the Capitol, speaking to about 150 concerned citizens.

KUER News Pod: Wednesday February 6, 2013

Brian Grimmett — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:25:28 +0000

Utah Governor Gary Herbert promotes Prosperity 2020 goals in Washington, D.C., Utah Democrats call for the protection of Utah’s greater canyonlands, and the Division of Air Quality is targeting the use of toxic consumer cleaning products.

Utah Looks in Bathroom Cupboards to Reduce Air Pollution

Andrea Smardon — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:45:38 +0000

Most strategies to reduce air pollution in northern Utah focus on emissions from cars and industry, but the state’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is targeting another source of pollution – the products in our bathroom cupboards, cleaning closets, and garage shelves. The DAQ board will consider a new rule Wednesday that would regulate consumer products containing volatile organic compounds.

KUER News Pod: Monday January 28, 2013

Brian Grimmett — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 22:57:53 +0000

The Utah State Legislature begins today with many new faces, clean air advocates files a lawsuit against the EPA, and Congressmen Jim Matheson introduces legislation to limit kids’ access to violent video games.

Local Clean Air Advocates Challenge EPA

Andrea Smardon — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:49:50 +0000

Clean air advocates filed a legal challenge last week against the US Environmental Protection Agency, claiming a new policy allows some coal-fired power plants to continue releasing haze-causing pollutants in Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming. Environmental organization HEAL Utah was one of the groups who filed the challenge with the US Court of Appeals for the 10^th Circuit in Denver.

KUER News Pod: Friday January 25, 2013

Brian Grimmett — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:51:57 +0000

Governor Gary Herbert addresses air quality, guns, and the allegations brought against Utah Attorney General John Swallow in his monthly news conference, Utahns say they are willing to pay more taxes for better education, and the Reverend Jesse Jackson speaks at the University of Utah.

Doctors Call Air Pollution "Healthcare Emergency"

Whittney Evans — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:27:39 +0000

A spokeswoman for Utah Governor Gary Herbert says the governor disagrees with dozens of Utah Doctors who say the region’s current air pollution levels are causing a public healthcare emergency. A group of physicians hand-delivered a letter to the Governor’s office Wednesday afternoon, asking him to take prompt action to address poor air quality along the Wasatch Front and in Cache Valley.