Utah’s Salt Lake area has the
worst air quality in the country. So why is EPA letting Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon copper mine get away with repeated Clean Air Act violations?
According to
WildEarth Guardians, which has joined others in a lawsuit against Kenncott, the mine releases particulate matter -composed of heavy metals, dust and acid gases - that’s linked to many chronic diseases and responsible for as many as 2000 deaths a year.
Even though federal limits were set in 1994 to curb pollution from the mine, Kennecott has since repeatedly violated those production limits and in 2006 exceeded them by 40 million tons, says WEG. Even worse, it intends to increase annual production up to 260 million tons and is attempting to justify its actions by claiming the state backs them.
The EPA’s failure to end this collusion between Kennecott and the State of Utah is creating a health crisis, and it’s past time for the EPA to put a stop to it. Tell EPA to enforce the law!
We, the undersigned, call on the EPA to do its job and put an end to these Clean Air Act violations at Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon mine.
There is no question that the pollution produced by this mine and company has already caused a serious health threat to the residents of the Salt Lake area. Even if the violations cease immediately, the pollution created so far will cause health problems for years to come, as it has particularly negative effects on the unborn. A Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment spokesman notes that these prenatal exposures can cause irreversible and lifelong impaired health.
Earthwatch Guardians says that Kennecott’s increased production has never been EPA-approved nor has the law changed since 1994. And, adds EWG, even though Utah has sought EPA-approval for Kennecott’s increases, the EPA has not given it. EPA has, instead, “expressed numerous concerns over the production increases.”
But apparently expressing concerns is doing little if anything to stop this health crisis and these violations.
We request that the EPA enforce production limits at Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon Mine - asap!
Thanks for your time.
