Salt Lake City, UT – Governor Spencer Cox has issued a request to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to extend the boundary of Utah’s Northern Wasatch Front ozone nonattainment area (NAA) to include US Magnesium, located in Tooele County on the southwestern edge of the Great Salt Lake.

“Utah has made significant strides in improving air quality over the past 10 years, but as our state continues to grow, we need to begin to look more strategically at opportunities to continue this trajectory,” Gov. Cox said of his request. “This intentional approach gives us a focused range of tools that align with the outcome we all want - cleaner air and a better quality of life for Utahns.”

The request comes after extensive analysis by the Utah Division of Air Quality (DAQ) to identify volatile organic compound (VOC) reduction strategies that will both improve air quality and meet the state’s Clean Air Act (CAA) obligations. While Utah has made significant reductions in VOCs as part of its fine particulate matter (PM2.5) State Implementation Plan (SIP), additional tools are needed to address summertime ozone pollution along the Wasatch Front.

Magnesium processing results in the emissions of VOCs, oxides of nitrogen (NOx), as well as chlorine which is converted into hydrochloric acid, all of which contribute to the formation of ozone and particulate matter pollution. The adjustment of the boundary to include US Magnesium will allow DAQ to implement emission reduction strategies that will directly address the area’s air quality challenges.

The authority to make this request is outlined in section 107(d)(3)(D) of the CAA, which states “The Governor of any State may, on the Governor's own motion, submit to the Administrator a revised designation of any area or portion thereof within the State.”

A letter from the Governor and supporting documentation with scientific justification was submitted to the Region 8 EPA administrator Kathleen Becker, who has 18 months to approve or deny the state’s request.