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Utah Department of Environmental Quality

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Utah’s Winter Air Quality Program: “Red Light, Green Light”

 

| Conditions | Enforcement | More Info | Season | Wood-burn Program |

 


Utah's Wood-burn Program

 

Sometimes during winter months, a layer of cold air is confined within the Wasatch Front valleys by the surrounding mountains. Above the cold, dense layer is warm air. This inversion acts much like a lid, trapping pollutants within the cold air. In addition to the particulates emitted by automobiles, wood-burning stoves and fireplaces can also contribute to air pollution in Utah. The “Red Light, Green Light” program was created to curtail wood burning along the Wasatch Front during the winter inversions.

Fine particles such as those in soot and dust can become lodged in delicate lung tissue, decreasing lung function — a particularly hazardous situation for people with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Whenever pollution levels, measured by the amount of particulates in the air, reach a specific concentration, mandatory no-burn periods go into effect.

During the winter season, pollution conditions are announced to residents daily by newspapers and television stations. A website and recorded message are also available for the public to receive daily updates. Wood-burning conditions are identified as “red,” “yellow,” or “green” days.

Because the objective of the program is to reduce pollution and avoid exceeding the health standard, a “red-burn” day may indicate deteriorating air quality but not an exceedence of the health standard.

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Season

 

The four-month-long season begins on November 1 and continues until the following March 1 in Utah’s most populous counties ¾ Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, and Weber. Cache County voluntarily initiated a wood-burn program beginning with the 2001-2002 season as a proactive measure to improve air quality.

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Determining “Red” and “Yellow” Days

 

The Air Monitoring Center (AMC) in the Division of Air Quality reports air quality conditions twice a day. The AMC makes the calls as to whether a “red,” “yellow,” or “green” day should be declared along the Wasatch Front. Cache County authorities make the call for their county.

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Enforcing the Program

 

On “red” no-burn days, Division of Air Quality staff inspect the valleys for smoke coming from chimneys. The staff also investigate complaints made to the Division. Offenders are ticketed, and fines may be levied. First-time offenders face a fine of $25; second-time offenders pay $50 to $140; and third-time offenders face fines from $150 to $299.

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More Information

 

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Revised: November 3, 2009