Alyssa Chamberlain
On Wednesday, July 26, at 10 am at Salt Lake City Hall, organizers with the Sierra Club’s Utah Needs Clean Energy (UNCE) group, the Utah Youth Environmental Solutions (UYES), and the Granite School District Clean Energy Schools Campaign met with the EPA Region 8 Administrator, KC Becker, and her team including David Dorian, Manager of Children’s Health, Environmental Justice & Equity Branch; Adrienne Sandoval, Director of Air and Radiation for the EPA Region 8; and Blake Huff, Special Assistant to the Regional Administrator. The Sierra Club requested the meeting to build relationships between our community and the EPA and to share our hopes regarding the enforcement of the Clean Air Act in Utah. The EPA will soon decide on Utah’s implementation plan regarding the Clean Air Act’s Regional Haze Rule, which protects air quality and visibility in Utah’s “Big Five” National Parks – Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion.
Paula Decker, Ava Curtis, and Muskan Walia spoke eloquently about the personal impact of living with poor air quality in Utah. Paula told the EPA about how her son is negatively affected by haze and how his friend has asthma and cannot go outside on poor air quality days. Ava talked about workers and communities whom energy companies like Rocky Mountain Power exploit. Muskan explained how her mother became ill from inhaling oil refinery fumes and dust from the Great Salt Lake. They also described how they have been advocating for clean air in our schools and communities. Our three speakers passionately made the case that Utahns need clean air, and our state leaders have been failing us on this issue. Each of our other organizers in the room also had the chance to honor their loved ones whom they fight for clean air every day and their plans for tackling the air quality problem in Utah.
We also heard from KC Becker and her team from the EPA. We learned that KC has lived through intense wildfires and feels the impact of climate change daily while she lives in Colorado. Adrienne spoke of her chronic health issues and how she can “feel the air” on poor air quality days. David talked about how he, as a parent, is also concerned about air quality and how it affects children and people everywhere. Although they could not comment on their decision for the upcoming ruling regarding Regional Haze, they vowed to continue fighting for clean air in their roles at the EPA.
Overall the meeting was a success, and we gained valuable information about new grant opportunities and youth leadership opportunities, such as the new National Environmental Youth Advisory Council to the EPA. KC invited members of our group to apply to join the council, which has a deadline of August 22, 2023. We also have plans to follow up with the EPA in the coming months to maintain our relationship with them. We want to thank our volunteer speakers – Ava, Paula, and Muskan, for showing up on short notice and providing context to the importance of clean air in Utah. We also extend a special thank you to Alyssa Chamberlain, who volunteered to take photos. Lastly, we want to thank our Sierra Club staff members, especially Luis Miranda and Lindsay Beebe, for their commitment, expertise, and support. Without them, this meeting would not have happened.