WASHINGTON – The 2012 Utah Air Quality Summit convened Friday morning at the Washington City Community Center. It was hosted by the Southern Utah Air Quality Task Force in conjunction with the support of several environmental groups, local, state and federal agencies, to further the message that Southern Utah be attentive to improving its air quality and stemming any decline in air quality in the region.
City of St. George Mayor Daniel McArthur opened the ceremony, with follow-up talk on the initiatives made for the August Clear the Air Challenge. McArthur and others, including representatives of the Utah Truckers Association, focused on the impact reduction in idling vehicles can make.
Utah Clean Cities‘ Executive Director and Southern Coordinator Robin Erickson oversaw the event and noted the increased turnout as this becomes a recognized annual event. Today’s Summit was the third of its kind. Erickson said that by reducing dependence on foreign oil the beneficial byproduct of improved air quality would be enjoyed.
The Summit featured keynote speakers, Erin Mendenhall with Breathe Utah and Kim Manwill with the Utah Department of Transportation.
Zion National Park Superintendent Jock Whitworth spoke on how many emissions are spared the air by the running of Zion’s park tram busses.
The Summit included a Q-and-A session for a panel of experts, moderated by Fox News Radio Perspectives Morning show co-host Kate Dalley. The members of the panel represented multiple industries including trucking, toxicology, fleet management, rock quarries, government, school districts and public works, (enumerated in St. George News preview story linked here).
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @dallashyland
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2012, all rights reserved.
Way to go, Zion for using tram buses instead of personal cars up there. Now if the entire St George area would expand mass transit (Suntran) so there’s a more reliable source of public transportation, even more people, including myself, would leave cars at home and ride the bus to work or shopping-much cheaper alternative to fuel also.