PROVO — A state air-quality official this week offered little hope for the end of Utah County's oxygenated fuel program, prompting a new round of complaints from the Utah County Clean Air Commission.
In effect since November 1992, the oxygenated fuel program is intended to help decrease carbon monoxide emissions from vehicles. It is part of a plan devised by the state Division of Air Quality to meet federal health standards.
But recent studies indicate oxygenated fuel does little to reduce carbon monoxide emissions in newer vehicles and Utah County officials were hopeful this week of receiving some indication the oxyfuel program could be phased out. Rick Sprott, planning section manager with the Division of Air Quality, told the Clean Air Commission Tuesday that won't likely happen anytime soon.
And, Sprott gave Utah County officials little reason to believe it would soon be on the fast track to redesignation from a "non-attainment" area for carbon monoxide pollution. County officials complain the current designation is a stigma that harms economic development.
"Every time there's some publication, the (Environmental Protection Agency) lists you there and tries to embarrass you," said Utah County Commissioner Jerry Grover.
Provo/Orem and Ogden are the only "non-attainment" areas in Utah for carbon monoxide. Only Utah County is required to oxygenate its fuel from November to March. Salt Lake City was redesignated last year to a maintenance area, one step closer to attainment.
Lee Allen, a Utah County Clean Air Commission member, complained that Utah County residents must put up with the disliked oxygenated fuel — which some say harms vehicle performance and may actually increase emissions of some pollutants — even though Utah County has not exceeded acceptable carbon monoxide levels the past six years.
Utah County officials want the state to revise the current implementation plan or draft a maintenance plan that would eliminate using oxyfuel. But Sprott said there's little that could replace oxyfuel and still satisfy the EPA.
Meanwhile, the Division of Air Quality is pouring most of its resources into drafting a revised implementation plan for PM10, or fine particulate pollutants, Sprott said. That implementation plan, for Salt Lake and Utah counties, should be completed in 2002. Fine particulate pollutants come from vehicle emissions as well as wood-burning stoves and some industrial activities.
State-air quality officials haven't given priority to Utah County's efforts to rid itself of EPA labels regarding air pollutants, Grover said. If the state were to draft a carbon monoxide maintenance plan including the oxyfuel program, the plan could later be amended to replace oxyfuel, Grover believes.
Sprott offered no timetable for drafting such a plan.
You can reach Edward L. Carter by e-mail at carter@desnews.com