Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research

UCAIR is a statewide clean air partnership created to make it easier for individuals, businesses and communities to make small changes to improve Utah’s air. Every small change adds to a collective bigger step toward better health, a better economy and better overall quality of life for all of us. WHAT WE DO Educate The first step to changing behavior is understanding, which is why UCAIR focuses on education—education about why Utah needs to improve its air quality and education about the feasible things you can do every day to help make a collective improvement. Provide Grants UCAIR doesn’t just ask people to make changes; it helps make changes possible. UCAIR’s Grants program rewards organizations with creative and innovative ideas combined with resourceful planning to reach measurable emissions reductions. Partner Utah already has a strong framework of organizations that care about Utah’s air quality and work on initiatives to improve it. UCAIR’s goal is to provide a table where all of them can sit as partners. At this table air quality groups can combine their talents and capabilities to coordinate messaging, share data and strengthen efforts statewide to improve air quality. Invite Participation While UCAIR works very closely with partner organizations, it also seeks to involve Utah residents across the state in its efforts to improve air quality, including crafting and implementing technical solutions for air quality issues. UCAIR is not an advocacy group, and by policy is prohibited from engaging in lobbying activities or otherwise attempting to influence legislation. UCAIR recognizes partner organizations may choose to engage in these activities. UCAIR intends to adhere to policy in this regard, separate and apart from any partnership agreement. UCAIR will endeavor to support the efforts of partners to extent that this support does not conflict with the policy under which it operates. WHY WE DO IT Utah’s Unique Geography and Weather Patterns Create Challenges Air quality is a significant concern for Utah residents. The state’s topography and climate lead to episodic air pollution during the winter and summer months. Seasonal temperature inversions trap emissions that form particulate matter and ozone. Complex chemical processes create these harmful pollutants, which often rise to unhealthy levels, posing public health risks, economic consequences and decreased quality of life. Some Utah Areas Don’t Meet EPA Standards for Air Quality Areas along the Wasatch Front and Cache County are designated nonattainment areas for fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Substandard Air Quality Poses Health Risks Pollution levels exceeding EPA health standards create health risks, particularly for children, older adults and people with respiratory problems. Substandard Air Quality Hinders Economic Growth Poor air quality hinders corporate relocation efforts and increases costs for businesses, including health care costs. Good air quality is essential to maintaining Utah’s quality of life. Government Regulations Are Not Enough Government agencies continue to regulate what they can to improve air quality but the majority of emissions in Utah come from sources that are difficult to regulate—vehicles, homes and small businesses. Reducing these emissions sources is dependent on small measures that individuals choose to take. Commitments individuals make to reduce emissions are a critical component of UCAIR’s success and are intended to supplement, not replace, existing regulatory measures. There is widespread agreement throughout the state that clean air is important to Utahns. Through education, awareness and resource support, UCAIR champions a basic principle: that by working together, people can make a difference. By making a commitment to contribute, even in a small way, to change actions and behaviors that contribute to air pollution, participants in the UCAIR partnership can help everyone in Utah breathe a little easier.