UPDATE: Group rallies for cleaner Cache Valley air

FILE PHOTO

Cache Valley residents joined up with Utah Moms for Clean Air Tuesday afternoon for a rally in front of the Historic Cache County Courthouse. College students, pregnant moms, the elderly and business owners participated and spoke up for clean air.

Spokesman Jack Greene said the rally preceded a Cache County Council meeting where councilmembers were scheduled to discuss vehicle emissions testing.

Greene said the vote is about a decade overdue.

“In January and February this year,” Greene said, “Logan has had only nine good air days out of 52 for PM 2.5.”

Greene said we need to clean up Cache Valley’s air now for our children, grandchildren and pregnant moms.

Randy Worth, who along with his wife owns the Straw Ibis and Crumb Brothers, said people want to do business where the air is good. He said there are a lot of things we all can do to help and we should be willing to do what we can.

“We have to start wherever we can start and start now. If it’s starting with emissions testing I’m all for it,” Worth said. “I have several cars, both for my business and personally.

“I’m willing to do that emissions testing and do my part, pay my part of it. I know it may not do much, but it will be something and it will be a start.”

Worth also said that he is glad his son is attending school out of state right now because he is away from the bad air.

After the rally, the group went inside to be present during the Cache County Council meeting discussion about emissions testing. Until now, the council has resisted implementing a vehicle emission testing program but plans are going forward now to get a program in place.

During a public hearing on the issue one after another told the council it is time to implement a vehicle emissions testing program. Council chairman Val Potter told those attending that such a program needs to be approved by the Utah legislature first.

Several of the people making comments at the public hearing were wearing masks and testified that Logan has had only nine good air days out of 52 for pollutant PM2.5, one of the most harmful polutants in the air.

The county did not vote on the issue Tuesday. The council is currently waiting on legislation from the state that may affect how communities implement a testing program. The council is expected to adopt the ordinance at their next meeting on Tuesday, March 12.

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