Category: Air Quality

October 2, 2019 Agenda: Air Quality

Call-to-Order Date of the Next Air Quality Board Meeting: November 6, 2019 Approval of the Minutes for September 4, 2019, Board Meeting. Propose with Department Fee Schedule: Operating Permit Program Fee for Fiscal Year 2021.  Presented by David Beatty. Informational Items. Ozone Nonattainment Status Update. Presented by Jay Baker. Duchesne and Uintah County Updates. Uinta …

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Trax Map

TRAX Air Quality Observation Project (Blue Line)

The TRAX air quality project continues to measure PM2.5 and ozone from TRAX light rail trains, and will add measurements to the Blue line. All data is publicly available and posted in near real-time on the MesoWest website.

  • Principal Investigators: Daniel Mendoza, Logan Mitchell, John Horel, John Lin (UU)
  • Funded by legislative appropriation: $44,000
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Inversion Photo by Aaron Gustafson

Investigating Sources of Ammonia Uncertainty in Modeling the Salt lake City PM2.5 Nonattainment Area

This study will investigate the existing emission inventory of ammonia (NH3) sources and compare modeled NH3 concentrations to those observed during recent field studies in order to identify and correct missing NH3 sources. In addition to improving the inventory, this study will add new NH3 emission pathways to the photochemical model.

  • Principal Investigators: Chris Emery (Ramboll), Randal S. Martin (USU)
  • Funded by Science for Solutions Research Grant: $86,396
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Red Butte Canyon Graph

The Red Butte Canyon Air Mass Exchange and Pollution Transport Study

The University of Utah will make measurements of vertical wind and aerosol profiles, as well as ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations at the mouth of Red Butte Canyon in order to better understand air exchange in the Salt Lake Valley during wintertime PM2.5 events.

  • Principal Investigators: Sebastian W. Hoch, Erik T. Crosman (UU)
  • Funded by Science for Solutions Research Grant: $34,965
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The Red Butte Canyon Ozone Network:
Leveraging Existing Infrastructure to Probe Background Concentrations, Canyon Flows, and Stratospheric Oxidant Exchange

This study will deploy a number of ozone sensors at different distances up Red Butte Canyon to better understand natural gradients in ozone and how phenomena like large thunderstorms and valley drainage flows contribute to ozone concentrations in the Salt Lake Valley.

  • Principal Investigators: Logan Mitchell, Ryan Bares, David Eiriksson (UU)
  • Funded by Science for Solutions Research Grant: $39,833
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Fireplace Photo from Unsplash by Hayden Scott

Understanding How Wood-Burning’s Contribution to Particulate Matter Concentrations Have Changed over Time

Wood burning contributes to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in the Wasatch Front, and reducing the use of wood burning during pollution episodes has been the focus of many policy decisions. This study looks at patterns of temperature, heat deficit, and day of the week along with markers of woodsmoke and mandatory no-burn days, to try and understand if public awareness and policy efforts have been effective in reducing wood burning during pollution events.

  • Principal Investigator: Kerry Kelly (UU)
  • Funded for: $25,215
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Cornerstone (Kennecott’s Expansion Project):
Kennecott Utah Copper LLC

Introduction In 2011 Kennecott Utah Copper LLC announced a proposal to expand the life of its Bingham Canyon Mine located in the southwest Salt Lake County. The expansion project, called “Cornerstone,” included widening the Bingham Canyon pit to accommodate operations focused on the mining and processing of ore located on the southeast margin of the …

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