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Show Dry conditions to Page Four - The Eureka Reporter - October 10. 2003 Summer ozone season ends affect deer count for 2003 deer hunt The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announces the end of the 10th season of Utah's voluntary program to reduce ozone along the Wasatch Front. During the summer no-dri- ve ozone season, DEQ called 17 days. Alvoluntary though DEQ officials are conno-dri- ve cerned about the levels of ozone, the Wasatch Front has not violated the new health-base- d standards for ozone. The first voluntary day was called May 29, two days before the ozone season officially began June 1. Sixteen more voluntary days followed in June, July and August when Utah was experiencing no-dri- ve no-dri- ve record-breaki- ng heat. Ozone is an invisible gas formed from vehicle emissions in the presence of heat and sunlight. DEQ called vol- days when untary levels were expectpollution ed to increase to unhealthful no-dri- ve levels. Division of Air Quality (DAQ) Director Rick Sprott said it was a challenging summer. "Record high tem peratures and smoke from wildfires accelerated ozone formation. However, it could have potentially been much worse. It was because the wise choices people made, as found on www.cleanair.uta-h.goWe thank the public for v. making the difference," Sprott said. DAQ Planning Manager Cheryl Heying said the next three years are critical. "New standards for cars, light trucks and sport utility vehicles beginning in 2004 and the introduction of low sulfur fuel by 2006 should reduce ozone pollution significantly. However, it will take several years for cleaner vehicles and fuels to make an impact. We need the public's help," Heying said. Although the season has ended, DEQ continues .to urge residents along the Wasatch Front to minimize human causes of ozone. Driving less, carpooling, using cleaner alternative fuels like natural gas and riding mass transit can help keep pollution levels down. The summer ozone season runs from June 1 to Sept. 30 each year. In 2003, DEQ called voluntary days on May 29, June 1 8; July 7, 8, no-dri- 10,11.12,13, 15,21,22,23, breathing problems, reduce Dry conditions and deer numbers that will be down slightly from last year await hunters when Utah's general rifle buck deer hunt begins Oct. 18. About 70,000 hunters are expected afield for the state's most popular lung function, irritate eyes and hunt. nasal passages and reduce resistance to colds and other Division of Wildlife Resources biologists conduct their annual deer population surveys after the fall hunting seasons. ' After last year's hunts, DWR biologists estimated there were about 280,000 deer in the state. That's a decrease of about 10 percent from the 310,000 deer that were estimated after the 2001 hunts. ' "The major reason for the decrease is that fewer deer fawns are making it to adulthood. Range conditions have deteriorated because of the drought, and that makes it harder for does to care for z, their fawns," said Jim coordina big game 24, 25, 30 and 3 1 ; and August 20. Ozone is a major health and environmental concern in Utah's urban counties during the summer. Continued expo- sure to ozone can cause infections. "Our goal is to never exceed a health standard and to minimize ozone levels as much as possible since any exposure to ozone can be harmful, especially to children and the elderly," Sprott said. For more information on how you can reduce or prevent air pollution, please visit the "Clean Air Utah" Web site at www.cleanair.utah.gov. For the latest pollution update, call the Air Pollution Hotline in Salt Lake and 9 at 4 Davis counties or (800) 975-400- 228-543- in Utah and Weber counties, or visit the "Clean Air Utah" Web Site. Kar-powit- tor for the Division of Wildlife Resources. While the total number of deer is down slightly, buck to doe ratios in all of the DWR's regions are close to or above the objective of 15 bucks per 100 does, so there are good numbers of bucks in the herds. Karpowitz says the condition of the deer in Utah varies according to where they live. "If you take a map of Utah and draw a ling down the middle, dividing the state into a western portion and an eastern portion, you'll get a good idea," he said. "In the western portion, we had a good, wet spring. The mountains greened up well and the deer are in good shape," he said. "Most of eastern Utah didn't receive much snow or rain this past winter or spring. The severe drought continues there, and lots of important deer winter range and other ranges have been lost." Safe. Reliable. Affordable. You flip a swicch.The light goes on. Things look brighter. That's what we work for. Our pledge will always be to provide you with safe, reliable and affordable power. 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