HB220 – A positive step for air quality
“The state is now authorized to come up with a plan and take action to regulate the emissions by 2026,” a KSL article reports on the passage of HB 220. Rep. Andrew Stoddard changed this bill after the report about US Magnesium’s effect on local air quality came out, naming them responsible for up to 25% of the Wasatch Front’s winter inversion.
Before the report came out, US Magnesium was under scrutiny for their attempt to extend canals to siphon water from the dying Great Salt Lake. Reviving water levels in Great Salt Lake is a top priority to preserving a livable future on the Wasatch Front. Their attempt to exploit it at its lowest level demonstrated a clear lack of concern for the wellbeing of residents. The report only exacerbated that.
It’s refreshing to see the legislature take measures to hold industry polluters accountable. We need to continue to push them to tighten air quality standards. Poor air quality takes an average of 2 years off the lives of Utahns, according to a BYU study. One of the biggest contributors is mobile emission sources, yet we continue to pursue warehouse districts and freight transferring facilities in our neighborhoods.
This is a good reminder that federal air quality standards do not currently reflect the health impact of air pollution. The EPA is currently reviewing the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter and we need people to comment on their recommendations. The standards don’t change very often, so we need to take advantage of this opportunity to make them reflect the threat and prompt meaningful change.