Aiming at lowering emission levels, the Utah air quality officials finalized a comprehensive road map for reducing air pollution in the Salt Lake Valley to acceptable levels. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has termed the plan being industry–friendly, saying the proposed emission limits remain too soft on industrial polluters.
Utah air officials held a contentious public meeting on Wednesday over forming the road map for cutting emissions. Following the rigorous meet, the sections of the state implementation plan or SIP approved the limit for particulate matter or PM2.5, and its chemical precursors.
PM2.5 are dangerous particles of pollutants that are less than 2.5 microns in diameter. They can impose hazardous effects on health and can lead to several cardio-vascular related diseases.
The proposed plandon’t exempt industries from the pollution released when their equipments are malfunctioning or in startup or shutdown modes.
The board gave the green signal to the plan on a 6-1 vote.