By Associated Press - Tuesday, May 2, 2017

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reclassified Salt Lake City and Provo as “serious” non-attainment areas for their failure to meet federal clean air standards.

The Deseret News reported (https://bit.ly/2oUoEYm) Monday that the new designation means Utah will have to come up with a plan to address fine particulate pollution in the two cities by the end of the year. Utah Division of Air Quality Director Bryce Bird says the state will also have to comply with the federal standards by 2019.

Fine particulate is a mix of solid particles and liquid droplets that can be inhaled deep in the lungs.

Utah has taken steps to implement pollution control measures targeting Utah refineries, business and homes in recent years.

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Information from: Deseret News, https://www.deseretnews.com

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