By Carly Ferro
Everyone deserves air safe to breathe! Utahns routinely say that air pollution is the most pressing issue facing the state. The air we breathe should not be a threat to our livelihood, but people often experience harmful exposure to poor air quality. In some communities, windblown dust, known as fugitive dust, can take an additional toll on public health. We can prevent much of this pollution, but need your help to tell the story!
As a response to community concern, we’ve partnered with Western Resource Advocates (WRA) and HEAL Utah, to create the fugitive dust storytelling project. Together we aim to gather community stories that create a tangible record of exposures to fugitive dust that is impossible to ignore. Your stories can help build a powerful case for safeguarding public health and emphasize a need to improve the current regulations.
It is no secret that Utah’s gravel pits often contribute to fugitive dust emissions. For those living in the many neighborhoods throughout the state near gravel pits, exposure to these particulates can increase the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, cancer, and premature death. With such high risks, we must take measures to ensure people are protected.
The Need: current standards don’t cut it!
- They miss the mark on meaningful monitoring and enforceability to protect communities adjacent to mining.
- The 10% opacity limit cannot be enforced at night or other times when lighting is poor.
- Utah law allows the gravel pits to apply water to reduce dust, a remedy that is only temporary and often ineffective. In any case, gravel pits that use water to reduce emissions do not apply water at night, or other times the facility is not in operation.
- Gravel pits often have large areas of disturbed ground prone to wind erosion and therefore the creation of dust. When it is hot and breezy, it is almost impossible for an operator to apply enough water frequently enough to its multiple-acre facility to control dust adequately.
Improving the current fugitive dust rules plays a role in ensuring a healthier future for all Utahns. Your health and your stories matter. If you have experienced fugitive dust pollution issues, we want to hear from you!
Please help convince our state government to take action by contributing your stories, pictures, and videos of your experience with fugitive dust pollution from gravel pits. Visit: http://bit.ly/fugitivedust or https://westernresourceadvocates.org/clean-air-water/fugitive-dust/ to learn more and share your story!