Why we appreciate federal oversight on air quality
Photo courtesy of E P Kosmicki
Utah legislatures may be seeking looser air quality regulations under a new administration. Not surprising, but still disappointing. Federal air quality regulations are often the only thing protecting residents from uncontrolled industrial pollution. Utah legislators have been fighting the federal government over those regulations for decades.
Without federal regulations, Utah’s air would likely worsen, leaving residents to breathe more toxic pollutants during already dangerous winter inversions.
KSL reported some comments that concern us made by Utah Rep. Casey Snyder regarding the role of the Utah Air Quality Board, “There is a lot of legislative power that we have given to administrative bodies. We have delegated that. That’s fundamentally where Congress has gone sideways, is through the delegation of the authority that resides in this legislative branch.”
Federal rules, like those from the EPA, set minimum standards that keep industries in check. History shows that when Utah legislators prioritize industry profits over public health, protections for residents fall to the wayside. This past legislative session, multiple clean-air proposals were rejected, including capping emissions from large polluters and incentivizing greener technologies. The legislature’s actions don’t reflect the views of the residents they represent, as air quality has become a main priority for many.
Legislators say this is about accountability. But who will hold lawmakers accountable if their decisions lead to dirtier air and more respiratory illnesses? Federal regulations are often the only thing standing between Utahns and unchecked pollution.