Utah Physicians for Healthy Environment Offer Prescription for Pollution

Dr. Brian Moench presented the consensus of these prominent physicians, backed by a plethora of scientific data.

He states, paraphrased, "Many Utahns are sick and dying, with children and future generations being severely affected. We see that a major cause of these illnesses relate to Utah’s increasingly contaminated air, which is expected to get much worse with the anticipated growth in Utah’s population and with the increased use of automobiles."

We offer the following prescriptions:

1. Implementing a moratorium on building new coal-fired power plants in our state and retrofit existing plants with state of the art control technologies.
2. Reduce the speed limits along the Wasatch Front on bad air days.
3. Plan for major expansions of mass transit service throughout the Wasatch Front. Make it free to the public.
4. Reduce Utah’s air pollutants by 20% through numerous strategies such as assessing auto taxes based on a car’s MPG.
5. Provide for more monitoring and studies of environmental health conditions, such umbilical cord blood testing for chemicals and toxins.
6. Significantly increases public strategies to increase public awareness regarding impacts from air pollution, such as a public high school course on public health consequences of environmental pollution and live air quality data signs along I-15.
7. Air pollution warning indices should be expanded to include pregnant women.
8. School bus fleets should not idle in school yards while waiting for students -- the engine should be shut off, to decrease children’s exposure to diesel exhaust.
9. Encourage school districts to use school buses that run on alternative fuels.

Utah Physicians for Healthy Environment

April 2, 2007

Summary of Findings and Recommendations

Dr. Brian Moench --

• Many Utahns are sick and dying, with children and future generations being severely affected.
• A prominent group of physicians have diagnosed the major cause to be Utah’s increasingly contaminated air.
• It is expected to get much worse with the anticipated growth in Utah’s population and the increased use of automobiles.

Dr. Richard Kanner --

• Studies show that fine particulates cause an increase in morbidity and mortality in people with heart and lung disease. There is no threshold value.

• Ozone is an oxidizing agent that damages the airways and lungs and results in inflammatory mediator enter the blood, thereby resulting in potential injury in other parts of the body.

Dr. Maunsel Pearce --

• Coal fired power plants are the major source of U.S. mercury emissions.

• Methyl mercury in the environment is a neurotoxin that crosses the placenta, concentrating in fetal blood up to 1.9 times the level of maternal blood and causes measurable and permanent brain injury to the developing fetus and young child.

• Mercury contamination in Utah waters is widespread with mercury advisories limiting consumption of freshwater fish in three different areas of the state and waterfowl on the Great Salt Lake.

• Both humans and wildlife are at risk from consumption of food contaminated with mercury.

• Mercury emissions in Utah and Nevada are excessive. The sources of this mercury contamination must be thoroughly investigated and controlled.

Dr. Gerald H. Ross --

• A Texas study of 1200 school districts (over 200,000 students) showed a 61% increase in the rate of autism for each 1,000 lb. of environmentally released mercury within a geographic area, when comparing it with county–by-county mercury emissions, mostly from coal-fired power plants.

• A Polish study showed that infants with cord blood mercury greater than of 0.80 (still a very low level) were 3.8 times more likely to have delayed neurological function, than infants with mercury levels lower than this level.

Dr. Shelly Ring

• Children and infants are the most vulnerable to the many air pollutants due to the fact that they have an increased exposure to air pollutants when compared to adults

• Studies have demonstrated a clear association between infant mortality and ambient air pollution.

• Asthma rates in the U.S. have increased over 100% since 1980. In Utah, approximately 61,000 children are afflicted with asthma

• Motor vehicle traffic along the Wasatch Front is predicted to double within 20 years.

• Salt Lake City already ranks 5th among the most polluted U.S. cities.

Sign to Support Clean Energy

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

The Bountiful City Council is planning for our energy needs for the coming decades. They need to make a choice between coal power and clean energy sources such as geothermal, solar and wind power.

Do you want clean energy or POLLUTING COAL POWER?

Rocky Mountain Power has recently applied (2006) to the Utah Public Services Commission to build three more coal-fired power plants to serve Utah. The current two coal-fired plants located near Delta, Utah produce approximately 15 million tons of toxins into the air we breathe each year. The building of three more plants would allow for about 21 million additional tons of pollution annually into Utah skies. The City of Bountiful is also considering a long-term contract with IPA. If signed, a 3rd coal-fired plant would be built near Delta, Utah. Each plant produces approximately 7 million tons of pollution annually into our air. We are all aware that pollution along the Wasatch Front is at an all time high.

Gratifyingly, Rocky Mountain Power has pilot-tested the market's appetite for renewable energy and now over 51,000 Utah customers draw at least some of their energy successfully from wind power! Logan, Utah has rejected coal-fired power and is researching geo-thermal power. Utah is an excellent source for geo-thermal power.

Dr. Brian Moench, an MD at LDS Hospital stated: “Healthy adults will experience a low-grade inflammatory response in their circulatory systems that over many years will accelerate atherosclerosis and affect every organ in their bodies. It means that more people will get cancer of every variety, especially in the lungs. . . . on average the life expectancy of every resident in the valley. . . will be shortened by at least three years, the same amount as if they had smoked a quarter of a pack of cigarettes a day. . . . The impact on children is frequently the most tragic. . . . Eighty percent of cancer is environmentally caused. Childhood leukemia [has tripled]. . . . Children that live in urban smog have an increased incidence of brain and other types of cancer” (Salt Lake Tribune, January 20, 2007, emphasis added).

The goal of this petition is to encourage Rocky Mountain Power and Bountiful City to not sign contracts for more coal power, but to research diversifying the sources of energy supplying Utah - currently 93% coal based (53% is the national average) - which will improve our air quality, help prevent further damage to the health of Utahns, and maintain Utah's reputation as a great place to work and play.

SIGN http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/879949145
to show your SUPPORT for CLEAN ENERGY
The only requirement to sign is that you must BREATHE AIR- A resource we all share!

Utah Physicians Call on Governor For Bold Action on Bad Air

Doctors: "A Children's Health Crisis is Headed Our Way Unless We Act Now"

CONTACTS: Dr. Brian Moench, 243-9089, 408-3340
(Surgery Desk at LDS Hospital)
Dr. Gerald H. Ross, 296-1181

WHO: Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment

WHEN: 11:00 a.m., Monday, April 2, 2007

WHERE: North Auditorium, Ground floor, LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City
(Access through the NW entrance of hospital from "C" St. )

WHAT: A press conference will be held by the recently formed Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment.

UPHE will publicly announce their list of specific recommendations to Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. in order to address Utah's declining air quality and the associated high costs of this related health crisis. Brief presentations on the catastrophic effects of air pollution will be given by medical specialists in cardiology, pulmonology, pediatrics, and environmental medicine.

WHY: Current air pollution levels along the Wasatch Front constitute a public health crisis. The implications are profound for everyone who lives in this region. During the winter and summer months our air quality is frequently the worst in the nation. Without aggressive preventive measures, it is expected to become within the next 20 years a full-blown public health catastrophe. We feel that is our professional responsibility to alert the public to these growing dangers. The philosophical foundation of UPHE's recommendations to the governor is this:

We believe clean air is an inherent right for all Utah citizens and that the atmosphere belongs to all of us. All industries, elected officials, and individual citizens share a stewardship that compels us all to protect this most precious of natural resources. We do not tolerate dangerously contaminated food in our state, nor do we tolerate dangerously contaminated water. We must no longer tolerate dangerously contaminated air.

WHAT: A press conference will be held by the recently formed Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment. UPHE will publicly announce their list of specific recommendations to Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. in order to address Utah's declining air quality and the associated high costs of this related health crisis. Brief presentations on the catastrophic effects of air pollution will be given by medical specialists in cardiology, pulmonology, pediatrics, and environmental medicine.

WHY: Current air pollution levels along the Wasatch Front constitute apublic health crisis. The implications are profound for everyone who livesin this region. During the winter and summer months our air quality isfrequently the worst in the nation. Without aggressive preventive measures,it is expected to become within the next 20 years a full-blown public healthcatastrophe. We feel that is our professional responsibility to alert the public to these growing dangers. The philosophical foundation of UPHE's recommendations to the governor isthis: We believe clean air is an inherent right for all Utah citizens and that theatmosphere belongs to all of us. All industries, elected officials, andindividual citizens share a stewardship that compels us all to protect this most precious of natural resources. We do not tolerate dangerously contaminated food in our state, nor do we tolerate dangerously contaminated water. We must no longer tolerate dangerously contaminated air.

Reasons for Bountiful City Council to Choose Clean Energy, NOT COAL

YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED NOW TO STOP BOUNTIFUL CITY FROM INVESTING MILLIONS INTO MORE POLLUTING COAL. PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES, READ ON, AND MAKE THOSE CRITICAL PHONE CALLS. AND PLEASE PASS THIS EMAIL FAR AND WIDE!

It’s been reported recently that Bountiful City officials are supporting their city’s participation in the proposed Intermountain Power Unit #3 950 MW coal power plant. This idea, if approved by the City Council, puts Bountiful City residents at a huge financial risk. But even more importantly, this will only add to Utah’s TREMENDOUS air quality problems, not address it. In addition, it will contribute greatly to the largest environmental problem ever, global climate change. Folks, it’s now time to push back in a big way.

The Council is most likely going to vote this month at their next meeting scheduled for in April. The City Council, City Manager, and Mayor need to hear from you with letters, emails, and phone calls. Bountiful residents and all Utahns need to let Bountiful city officials know that you want them to do better, that you’d rather payer slightly higher rates for clean power rather than higher rates for dirty power (see below). Pollution and greenhouse gas emissions know no borders.

Ten reasons why Bountiful City should vote no on IPP#3 and yes on a new direction:

1. This coal plant purchase is very risky in spite of what is being said!! A $33 million debt to purchase 15 MW of traditional pulverized coal-based power from a plant that doesn’t even have a clear permit yet, and won’t be built until at least 2013 AT THE EARLIEST is incredibly risky. Consider this - "Wall Street is every day becoming more aware of the risks of building new coal plants - both the carbon-cost risks and the reputation risks," says Dan Bakal, director of electric power programs for CERES, a coalition of environmental groups and institutional investors. [CNN.money.com – 3/2/07] See http://www.ceres.org/ .

2. There are far better ways that Bountiful City can make up that 15 MW and more. The renewable energy sector is growing by leaps and bounds and is getting cheaper every day. It was announced recently that a 400 MW wind farm will be developed in Utah in 2008-09. Unfortunately, no Utah municipality or utility chose to inquire about purchasing this power. As a result, it is all being purchased by Los Angeles and Pasadena. Currently a 150 MW geothermal plant is being proposed near Cache Valley and Bountiful City could easily be a participant in that project. Yet city officials have stated publicly that there are no other options besides IPP #3. They also will claim that renewables are simply too expensive compared to the price they are being quoted for the IPP #3 contract. But these prices are not guaranteed. Energy is most certainly going to cost more in the future, regardless of the source. The highest cost volatility, however, lies with coal-based power due to coal prices, transportation increases, carbon taxes, and carbon regulations, all factors that have little or no effect on renewables. IN OTHER WORDS, when IPP#3 comes on line in 2013, it’s very likely that a locally owned geothermal plant or wind farm will produce power for the same cost or cheaper, without the externalities!

3. Bountiful could do much more on energy efficiency measures, with offering a compact fluorescent bulb exchange for customers [see http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls], a local tax credit on energy efficient appliances, tiered rates to promote efficiency and conservation, implementing new energy efficiency building standards in all new residential and commercial construction resulting in structures that use 60-80% LESS energy [see http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19], demand side management like Rocky Mountain Power’s Cool Keeper program to shave off the curve on peak load during hot summer afternoons, and educating the commercial sector on energy efficiency retrofit measures, promoting swamp coolers in lieu of air conditioners, and tree planting programs to provide more shade. It is established that most energy efficiency measures have very rapid paybacks. Obtaining energy through efficiency is the cheapest form of electricity. (see http://www.swenergy.org/).

4. IPP Unit #3 is not a done deal. Regardless of what has been reported, it is absolutely not true that this plant is going to get built in spite of Bountiful’s decision. Such statements are for the purpose of contradicting the many shifting market forces in the energy business, forces that are making Wall Street very jittery over new coal plant investments. See first point. And see this - http://www.grist.org/news/muck/2007/03/09/nocoal/index.html?source=daily or see this from the U.N. Secretary General - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6410305.stm

5. The DAQ permit for this plant is uncertain. It has been appealed by the Utah Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Trust, and Western Resource Advocates. The appeal has not been heard because the Utah Air Quality Board erroneously decided in 2005 that these organizations did not have legal standing, a decision that was unanimously reversed in a 5-0 decision by the Utah Supreme Court in November of 2006. The appeal is scheduled to be heard in October and November of 2007.

6. Bountiful City has a responsibility to address air quality. This winter’s inversions have proven to be the worst air quality in Utah since records were kept. The first week of March, the Wasatch Front had some of the worst air quality in the nation. IPP is a major source of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide in the state and is located just 80 miles upwind from the Wasatch Front and 1.5 million people.

7. Bountiful City has a responsibility to address climate change. Global warming is here and not only threatens the polar ice caps, polar bears, and cultures far to the north. The consequences for Utah and the southwest are looking more dire all the time, with reduced snowpack, warmer temps, quicker snow melt, more droughts, more wild fires, reduced or non-existent ski seasons, etc. IPP’s existing two coal-fired units emit approximately 16 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. If the third unit is built, it is expected to emit nearly 7 million tons annually, making IPP the nation’s second largest CO2 emitting coal plant. For a 15 MW purchase, Bountiful will be directly responsible for approximately 112,000 additional tons annually just from this one source. Ask the council to take measures to reduce their greenhouse gas footprint, not increase it.
Estimated emissions from IPP#3, in TONS per year up to: PM= 496.5, NOx = 2,775, SO2 = 3,567.5, CO = 5,946, VOCs = 107, CO2= 7.5 million tons. Remember, these emissions are in addition to what the two existing 900 MW units are already putting out.

9. Question the Contract – Has Bountiful City performed a legal review of the contract they are being asked to sign with UAMPS? Have they thoroughly reviewed all the fine print of a contract that binds them to purchase this power for 30 years or more whether they need it or not? Are there any guarantees they will be able to sell that power back AT THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE if they don’t need it? It is most likely that more states and cities will follow California by rejecting new carbon-based power contracts because of more restrictions, making the market for this power smaller and smaller. The city of Truckee, CA recently rejected such a contract for many reasons, including very questionable language in the contract.

10. Keep your future energy dollars local for long term economic development. $33 million dollars spent on local energy sources and efficiency measures will come back to the city many times over in reoccurring long-term economic development. Geothermal, wind, solar – put it to local use and create home based jobs and sustainable prosperity without exacerbating the problems of bad air and global warming.

Call and/or write the Bountiful City Council and Mayor Joe Johnson this week. When contacting them, PLEASE be respectful. This is a difficult decision for the Council but they do want to hear from you. There is a financial risk regardless of what decision they make. But the point they need to hear is that you would rather see them take on the risk associated with cleaner, renewable energy and more efficiency, in lieu of the risk associated with more dirty coal.

Bountiful Mayor Joe Johnson 801-298-6146 or jjohnson@BountifulUtah.gov
Bountiful City Manager Tom Hardy 801-298-6140 or thardy@bountifulutah.gov
Council - Barbara Holt, John Pitt, Richard Higginson, Fred Moss, Tom Tolman - one general number 801-298-6100


Tim

Data on Global Warming: It Doesn't Lie

Please click on the slide to see a larger version. It’s from James Hansen, the leading climatologist with NASA who is considered by most to be the most trusted name in the U.S. on climate change issues and research. This graph represents the real “meat” of the global warming issue by simultaneously showing the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) in the atmosphere. These two gases are cited as the two most responsible for the phenomenon. The third line (bottom) also charts the earth’s average temperature.

Now, first note that this data shown goes back nearly 450,000 years. How did they collect this? Easy. By taking ice cores in the Artic and Antarctic regions and doing chemical analysis on the cores.

Second, note the routine up and down iterations of the lines with a definite overall pattern. Those variations represent various climate cycles throughout time. Now, note the distinctive parallel between the level of gases and the temperature, which of course indicates the definite relationship between the buildup of these gases in the atmosphere and the rise in worldwide temperatures. The gases trap the sun’s heat, which is a natural process and something that must happen in order to keep the planet’s temperature regulated, which enables us to live here. But when those gases start to exceed the normal level, more heat becomes trapped and it becomes warmer. Hence global warming.

Third, and most important, please note the sudden spike in CO2 and methane starting in the early part of the 1800s, which coincides with the start of the industrial revolution and the burning of fossil fuels. You can see that CO2 levels always peaked around 285 to 300 ppm (parts\per million) then came back down until the industrial revolution. Since then it’s been going up to where it is today at approximately 385 ppm.

Last, note the temperature line that absent of any downward turns since the Industrial age, in fact it’s starting to trend upward.

That is the crux of global warming. Some may say the Hollywood or environmental groups lie. Regardless of who one believes, the data doesn’t lie. I know of no environmental advocate or scientist who wouldn’t love to be able to stand up in front of the TV camera and say, “Well folks, we were wrong. Global warming is not happening.”

If people still refuse to believe that this is real, then they would likely be real easy to convince that the earth is flat and that smoking is not dangerous to one’s health. "


Tim