Vision 2020 +

Physical Environment: Air Quality
Air Quality Task Force

Vision Statement

Air quality in Cache Valley through 2020 and beyond will improve and levels of fine particulate will be maintained below NAAQS standards. This will be accomplished through sustainable reductions of motorized vehicle emissions; the major cause of secondary fine particulate in Cache Valley’s air shed. Reduced levels of fine particulate will result in improved short-term and long-term physical and emotional health for the residents of Cache Valley.

Reduction of overall vehicle emissions will occur by 1) reducing emissions per vehicle mile driven; and 2) reducing the number of vehicle miles driven. This vision requires buy-in and commitment by the general public. It also is dependent on collaboration of cities and counties in planning and developing communities that require less travel (personal vehicle use) for activities of daily living. Community design and planning will include various forms of efficient and user-friendly mass transit, further reducing the need to use personal motorized vehicles. Infrastructure that encourages the use of alternative forms of transportation will be promoted, further reducing the use of motorized vehicles.

Goal #1 – Increase public awareness concerning air quality.
Reducing vehicle use and maintaining vehicles in good operating condition requires an educated and committed public. Sustainable reductions in vehicle use require major changes in people’s behaviors and habits. To this end, the Air Quality Task Force will continue the actions outlined below. Through these actions, hopefully the Cache Valley metropolitan statistical area will be able to avoid “non-attainment” status and thus continue to manage its own air shed without input from federal agencies such as the EPA.

Action 1.a – Continue efforts to notify the public concerning air quality and daily levels of fine particulate. This is the Yellow and Red air day notification campaign. This action will be carried out during the winter season and will consist of media announcements, use of electronic signs on Main Street and use of colored flags in schools and internet based notification.

Action 1.b – Continue educational efforts directed at helping the general public understand the nature of Cache Valley’s air quality problems and solutions. This will include public presentation of local research data on air chemistry, public messaging about vehicle maintenance (check engine light) and public feedback on “vehicle miles traveled.” Education will continue on the relationship between “vehicle miles traveled” and levels of PM2.5 in Cache Valley.

Action 1.c – Continue to educate the public about the personal health effects of elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5). Continue education about steps to take to mitigate the adverse effects of elevated levels of PM2.5.

Action 1.d – Continue enforcement of current air quality rules concerning wood burning and smoking vehicles.

Goal #2 – Reduce exhaust emissions per vehicle mile traveled

Action 2.a – Support ongoing research to better define the air chemistry that results in formation of fine particulates (PM2.5) in Cache Valley: The Cache Valley Air Quality Task Force in conjunction with Bear River Health Department, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and Utah State University will continue to study the secondary chemistry of fine particulate and develop effective programs that will reduce vehicle emissions. At the present time, there is lack of understanding concerning which combustion-related chemical species is the limiting factor in formation of PM2.5. Research by Utah Department of Air Quality and Utah State University is ongoing and should be able to answer this question within the next 12-24 months.

Action 2.b – Implement a science-based vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program that will reduce individual vehicle emissions: When the air chemistry resulting in the formation of secondary fine particulate (PM2.5) in Cache Valley is fully understood, appropriate interventions to reduce individual vehicle emissions will be recommended for implementation. Data collected in Cache Valley show that 10% of currently operating vehicles are responsible for approximately 45% of the emissions that result in high levels of PM 2.5. Repairing or replacing these vehicles will result in significant improvement in air quality.

Action 2.c – Promote and support local efforts to use technology that results in lower vehicle emissions: Local city and county governments should promote the use of vehicles with functioning emission controls. This includes doing emissions inspections and maintaining their own fleets. They should also promote the use of low-sulfur diesel fuel and newer diesel emissions technologies in their fleets. Private enterprises and residents will likewise be encouraged to use and maintain cleaner gasoline and diesel emissions technologies in their private vehicles and fleets.

Action 2.d – Through public education efforts, encourage the use of vehicles with smaller displacement engines, and/or newer vehicles whenever possible, especially during wintertime temperature inversions: All other things being equal, smaller and newer vehicles produce less exhaust emissions than older and larger vehicles. Choosing to use these vehicles instead of larger and/or older vehicles will likely result in lower levels of secondary fine particulate (PM2.5). Public education regarding these and other personal choices and their effects on air quality will be ongoing into the foreseeable future.

Goal # 3 – Reduce per capita vehicle miles traveled. Reducing vehicle miles traveled on a per capita basis is a multifaceted effort and will require long-term collaboration by numerous private and public stakeholders as well as the general public. Progress in achieving this goal is measurable. Vehicle counters which are already embedded in the asphalt at various intersections on Main Street in Logan give daily counts that are reliable.

Objective 3.a – Reduce the use of private vehicles for commuting to work.

Action 3.a – Partner with employers to educate, promote and provide incentives to employees for carpooling, use of public transportation systems, and use of alternative forms of transportation.

Action 3.a.1 – Partner with employers to educate, promote and provide incentives to employees for carpooling, use of public transportation systems, and use of alternative forms of transportation.

Objective 3.b – Reduce the use of private vehicles for commuting to school.

Action 3.b – Form partnerships with school districts, PTA’s, Utah State University, BATC and other educational institutions. Provide specific suggestions for educators on encouraging students to carpool, use school buses, public transportation, and other forms of alternative transportation.

Objective 3.c – Reduce the use of private vehicles for consumer activities.

Action 3.c.1 – Public education concerning air pollution and solutions including trip consolidation, use of public transportation, carpooling, and use of online local shopping services. Promote shopping in local stores to lessen need for personal transportation.

Action 3.c.2 – Support and provide input into community planning and development to make local shopping and entertainment a viable alternative.

Action 3.c.3 – Promote and support expanded public transportation efforts with extended routes and hours so that use of public transportation is a viable alternative to personal vehicle use.

Action 3.c.4 – Support efforts to develop a rapid transit corridor between Preston and Hyrum consisting of regularly scheduled bus service

Objective 3.d – Reduce the use of private vehicles for travel into and out of Cache Valley. Many people have to commute to locations outside of Cache Valley for their occupation, education, and other reasons. Some of these commutes could be provided by public transportation if it were available.

Action 3.d.1 – Encourage carpooling and ridesharing by those that have to commute outside the valley on a regular basis.

Action 3.d.2 – Support efforts by the UTA to extend light rail to Brigham City.

Action 3.d.3 – Consider regularly scheduled public transportation services from Logan to Thiokol and from Logan to Brigham City in addition to the rapid transit bus service from Preston to Hyrum.

Version 1.1 5/2/2006

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