Despite the known threats to our national parks and health, Utah has continually failed to submit a  State Implementation Plan (SIP) to hold polluters accountable that complies with federal standards. Earlier this year, Utah drafted an updated version of their plan. When the Environmental Protection Agency reviewed it, they stated, “The EPA has concerns that Utah’s choice of control measures during this planning period does not equate to actual reductions in emissions.”

This condemnation from the EPA should have set a clear direction for the  Utah Air Quality Board to vote down the draft and put forward a new plan, but instead,they went ahead with their flawed plan and submitted it to the EPA.

Meanwhile, Utahns have been clear in their calls for more robust pollution controls, turning out in droves to share comments in public hearings, and participating in public comment periods in support of taking action. More than 650 public comments were sent to the Utah Department of Air Quality to urge greater protections for Utah’s parks.