Utah Ozone: Summer Woes in Salt Lake, Winter in Uinta Basin

The Wasatch Front—which includes Utah’s Salt Lake City area—and the Uinta Basin, a region of oil and gas development, wound up this month on the EPA’s list of areas out of compliance with ozone standards.

Since both areas were designated as “marginal” nonattainment areas under the Clean Air Act, Utah is not required to submit formal plans to address ozone to the Environmental Protection Agency, but must meet the more stringent standard of 70 parts per billion within three years. Ozone can restrict lung function and exacerbate asthma.

To meet the stricter standard, Utah will implement stronger control measures ...