Show i r Pine emissions threats energy development Utah Congressman Gunn McKay last week claimed Pinion Pine tree cm- cm missions among other natural phenomena may so pollute the air in eastern Utah that they violate EIA EPA clean air standards and thereby threaten development of oC the areas arcas energy resources In a letter to the EPA EIA Rep Hep McKay protested the classification of southern portions of oC Utah's Duchesne and Uintah counties as non attainment areas prohibiting any reduction In air quality because of oC high ozone and oxidant levels in the area He lie claimed such classification would inhibit development and production of oC Utah's shale oil reserves located nearby According to McKay EPA based Its classification on the discovery of oC naturally occurring substances in the atmosphere some or all of them emitted from plants like the Pinion Pine tree and other unknown natural sources We should not allow naturally occurring occurring oc ozone and oxidants to penalize growth and development in the area McKay wrote Because of oC the rich and divergent sources of oC potential energy in the area 1 I believe it is extremely unwise t to establish growth no-growth and no- no development air quality levels there here he wrote Hep Rep McKay urged EPA EIA Air Branch Chief Robert Hobert DeSpain in Denver to reevaluate reevaluate re- re evaluate the standards to permit reasonable ble energy resource in future years Commenting on the letter McKay claimed that In tl this s case the Environmental Environmental Environmental En En- Agency is trying to protect the environment from the environment When EPA's stan stan- dards lards clash with Mother Natures Nature's EPA ought to be the one to make ad |