OCR Text |
Show sponsive to community concerns than other schools. She cites the University of Utah as one school where it can take 3 years to wade through the bureaucratic mess whereas Westminster is more agile. Another community concern pertaining to watersheds being watched by Duer and a host of others apprehensive about water conservation and pollution is City Creek Canyon. Its located minutes from downtown Salt Lake City and is used heavily for recreation, though swimming is not allowed. The reason why this canyon, among others, is a high priority is because at one time City Creek was closed from the public. From 1952 tol965, through recommendations made from the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), City Creek Canyon was cited as being too polluted for a water resource. The stream was eventually chlorinated to kill off the bacterial contamination. The hydrofluosilicic spill on Aug. 31 up Parleys Creek was not the only chemical spill that has occurred in recent months. Earlier this summer, chlorine contaminated the watershed in Parley s Canyon. That spill killed off about 400 cutthroat trout and caused the Parleys Creek to be unusable by hikers like Grover and Thumper. The chemical was first thought to have been ammonium nitrate, which is used as a fertilizer. Unlike the most recent spill of hydrofluosilicic acid, which occurred at the Mountain Dell Water Treatment Plant, the source of the chlorine spill earlier this summer has never been discovered. Responsible behavior is what it takes from citizens of Salt Lake County to keep watersheds and airsheds clean. Duer drives a small car with low emissions. When Westminster senior Wesley Christiansen was asked if he rides his bicycle to school and work for exercise, to save gas or to keep his personal contribution to pollution down, he said, I ride for all three of them. Everyone should do something for the environment. The rack Christiansen was locking his bicycle to in front of the Shaw Center was barely full. I dont personally know anyone who also rides their bike, but I do know someone who rides a motorcycle, he said. According to the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Web site, www.epa.gov, riding bicycles and some motorcycles reduces transportation emissions. The group Utah Moms for Clean Air also believes its important to keep transportation emissions down. On the Web site www.utahmomsforcleanair.org is posted many of the benefits that come from clean air. One fact posted on that Web site states Salt Lake, Provo and Logan consistently rank in the top ten U.S. cities for worst acute spikes in air pollution. The American Lung Association annually publishes lists that compare pollution in metropolitan areas. In its most recent list of Metropolitan Areas Most Polluted Particle Pollution, Utah ranks three by Short-ter- m separate times: Logan, No. 5; Salt Lake CityOgden Clearfield, No. 7; and finally ProvoOrem, No. 19. In another 2007 report published by the American Lung Association, Westminster s ZIP code, 84105, was given an F in both the ozone and particle pollution categories. There are two types of air pollution to be aware of at ground level: ozone pollution and particle pollution. These two types of pollutants are dangerous when inhaled and can lead to serious medical problems if inhaled on a regular basis, according to the American Lung Association. Ozone pollution, otherwise known as smog, is created by humans. Its the sometimes visible vapor emitted by cars, smokestacks and other large machines. Particle pollution, otherwise known as soot, can come from multiple sources. It is usually a mix of ash and other chemicals that become airborne. The EPA rates the air quality in every major metropolitan area in the country by calculating how much scale pollution is circulating in the air that day. The r -r i iiMTii i iiwi u.i ii i lii tii i nnriiiiriiiiiimruamMiilBBTniiiiinMuri irrin-- r r rn i n Photo by Wesley Jarman n ' i The Salt Lake City skyline is one of the most polluted in the country, according to the American Lung Association. Its 2007 list of 'Metropolitan Areas Most Polluted by Short-ter- m Particle Pollution included Logan, Salt LakeClearfieldOgden and Provo within the top 20. ranges from zero, being the best air, to 500, air that is highly polluted and unhealthy to breathe. Each area is then assigned a color and that color is reported by local media in order to inform the public. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has five colors: green (good), yellow (moderate), orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children and the elderly), red (unhealthy) and purple (very unhealthy). The pollution affects everyone, but the main groups of people that the AQI are concerned with are youth, adults over the age of 65 and people with asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Im concerned about the elderly, babies, and children with asthma, said Westminster sophomore Megan Mackay. Like in the winter when the sun isnt providing much heat to the earth, the already warm air, near the surface, creates a lid on the trapped colder air underneath at ground level. This difference of temperature prevents the pollution caused by cars, trucks, smokestacks and other pollutants from moving or dissipating. Inversions in Utah can last for days or weeks at a time. They often occur in the cooler months and can make the bad air pollution worse in metropolitan areas. Inversions will usually dissipate with strong winds, heavy rain or snowstorms. Probably in the last four to five years its inversion gotten consistently worse and not just in Salt Lake City, but in Provo, Ogden and Cache Valley, said Mackay. longer instead of making multiple trips. Westminster is also making contributions in order to help keep campus emissions low. Westminster recently became the first campus in Utah to produce some elecwith 42 solar panels on the Health, Welltricity on-si- te ness, and Athletic Center that help provide some of the electricity to the building. Through Blue Sky we get 11 percent of campus sources through electricity from clean, pollution-fre- e said Mountain Power, Kerry Case, director of Rocky the Environmental Center. We are working hard to be leaders. Being the first campus with solar power and our partnership with Blue Sky is groundbreaking. Finding ways to save energy and cut pollution isnt always easy. The difference is this little thing that clicks in your head. It isnt always going to be convenient, Case said. Health is the biggest risk, but to be honest its about not being one of those lame people who doesnt do anything. Its about not being a part of the problem that has consequences for everyone around you. It impacts everyone in our valley. "We are working hard to be leaders. Being the first campus People in the Salt Lake Valley are doing something about it. On Sept. 13 in the main auditorium at the Salt Lake City Public Library a panel discussed the aspects of coal, clean air and climate change. Among the panelists was the governors energy adviser, Dianne Nielsen, and the president of Rocky Mountain Power, Richard Waije. The auditorium was full and the illustrious panel, as described by panel member and National Parks Conservation Organization Chair David Nimkin, all agreed that Energy is what it is really all about. The full discussion about airshed quality is available through podcast on KPCW radios Web site, www.kpcw.org. When the quality of air improves the quality of water will improve. When Duer was asked what Westminster students could do specifically for the betterment of Salt Lake County, she provided a quote from Joan Baez: If youre not part of the solu- with solar power and our partnership with Blue Sky is groundbreaking." Kerry Case Director, Environmental Center Air pollution in Utah has advanced to a serious problem. Even though it will take some major changes in the future to minimize the carbon footprint the community leaves, there are still steps people can take to help. By joining a carpool with just one other member, Westminster students can cut their emissions by half. To further minimize the carbon output once at Westminster, students could choose to stay on campus "The difference is this little thing that clicks in your head. It isn't always going to be convenient." Kerry Case tion, youre part of the problem. SEPTEMBER 18, trf 2007 , |