Vernal • Leaders still aren’t sure what to do about the Uinta
Basin’s odd winter ozone problem even though it’s clear now that
emissions from the oil and gas industry are causing the
pollution. “There is so much we have learned, but there is so
much more we need to learn,” said Uintah County Commissioner
Mike McKee, discussing at a news conference the conclusions of
last winter’s $5 million ozone study. “The thing that’s going to
be important going forward is that we not have a shotgun
approach,” he said, noting that clean air is important to the
community and to the future of an industry that accounts for 60
percent of the basin economy. “It’s important we understand the
science as major amounts of money are utilized to solve the
problem.” Utahns can expect more research in coming years, even
after last winter’s intensive scientific program. For some
critics, leaders already know enough to impose limits now. David
Garbett, of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, called it
“shocking” that regulators approve