Utah Pushes For Air Quality Control
Downtown Salt Lake City is barely visible. Taken by Laura Seitz, Deseret News
By Misi Mapa, December 5th 2024
Republican lawmakers in Utah are looking to take a more leading role in determining the state's air quality rules. In the middle of this debate is Rep. Casey Snider, R-Paradise. He says that giving more power to the Legislature would help make environmental rules more accountable to voters. Currently, the Utah Air Quality Board, part of the Department of Environmental Quality, primarily creates these rules. Snider said that with the Legislature having more authority, there would be greater trust and transparency in how air quality standards are set.
Air quality remains a high issue in Utah, especially when cold-weather inversions in several counties spike pollution readings, a common occurrence. Bryce Bird, who heads the Division of Air Quality, said the state has made some gains and "winters are getting much cleaner." But many measures in this past legislative session to curb pollution and promote cleaner technologies have failed to advance. For instance, lawmakers did approve a bill that limits the Air Quality Board's ability to stop controlled burns during certain times of the year-a reflection of ongoing disagreements about how to manage air quality effectively.
With the new Trump administration taking power, many Republican lawmakers are optimistic that the state will no longer feel as much pressure from the federal government in terms of environmental regulations. They believe that might mean Utah will have a freer hand when it comes to setting air quality standards. Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, said it's an apt time to define what he calls the "proper role of state and federal governments.".
With continued discussions over who should set the rules on air quality, this topic is expected to be a key focus in the upcoming legislative session that starts in January 2025. Lawmakers want to better engage the public on these important issues and make sure their voices are heard in decisions affecting Utah's air quality.
