This website's content is fully accessible to all browsers, however it will look much better and your experience will be much more enjoyable if you upgrade your browser to one that is standards-compliant.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 31, 2001
Contacts:
Bob Dalley, Air Monitoring Center Manager, (801) 887-0762
Rick Sprott, Division of Air Quality Director, (801) 536-4022
The Department of Environmental Quality's "Red Light – Green Light" program, which curtails wood burning along the Wasatch Front during winter inversions, starts its ninth season Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001, and continues until March 1, 2002.
Wood-burning conditions are identified as "RED, YELLOW, GREEN." The system, used to notify citizens when they can burn, is simple: A red traffic light indicates burning is prohibited, yellow means a voluntary no burn and green means burning is allowed. Stoves should be used properly to reduce pollution.
Residents will also be asked to drive as little as possible during red and yellow days because cars contribute significantly to the area's air pollution. Industries will be asked to minimize their release of air pollutants and to ensure that air pollution control equipment is functioning properly.
The program reduces particulate air pollution (PM10 and 2.5) and carbon monoxide in Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties. PM10 is particles of any kind that are 10 microns or less in diameter. They are 1/10 of a diameter of human hair. PM2.5 is particles smaller than PM10.
It is possible to have a "red day" without exceeding the federal health-based standards for PM10, PM2.5 or carbon monoxide because red days are called as pollution begins to approach dangerous levels.
Fines can be levied against violators, with first-time offenders charged up to $25, second-time offenders pay $50 to $140 and third-time offenders face fines from $150 to $299.
Also beginning Nov. 1, the Bear River Health Department will initiate its own wood-burning program affecting Cache County, said Grant Koford, environmental scientist for the health department. Last winter, Cache County exceeded federal air quality standards for the first time ever.
To avoid similar exceedences and to maintain good air quality in Cache County, Koford said Bear River Health Department will voluntarily initiate red, yellow and green burn days. The Division of Air Quality's daily air pollution reports to media and industries will now include Cache County wood-burn conditions.
Media and Cache County residents should contact Grant Koford at (435) 792-6575 for more information on Bear River Health Department's red light, green light wood-burning program.
Pollution conditions are announced daily by newspapers, television and radio stations. Recorded updates can be obtained from the Air Pollution Index Hotline at 975-4009 for Salt Lake and Davis counties and (800) 228-5434 elsewhere, and on the Air Monitoring Center homepage on the Internet at http://www.deq.state.ut.us/eqamc/amc.htm
You are here: Home >