Uintah Basin winter ozone was a topic during the Senate confirmation hearing for Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin. Senator John Curtis took the opportunity to welcome Zeldin and urge him to look closely and fairly at issues around the country. He used the Uintah Basin as an example in Utah where the problems are related to the geology and geography. 80 percent of the methane that registers in the Uintah Basin does not come from traditional fossil fuel sources but from ground sources and air that comes into the region and then the mountains trap the emissions, explained Curtis. He then asked Zeldin for real discussion with the EPA to acknowledge the great efforts being made and that the EPA collaborate to find a fair way to measure these emissions. Zeldin acknowledged the need for accountability, collaboration, and answers from the EPA. “There’s a lot that should unite Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals, as it relates to the environment,” said Zeldin, who emphasized that he represented a district where people that were conservative Republicans were able to unite with those that were more liberal Democrats to focus on making the environment better. “That type of work together, that common ground, is what the American public are desperate for,” emphasized Zeldin. “They are looking for us to be able to find pragmatic common sense solutions.” Senator Curtis stated that he believes, from his experience working with him in the House of Representatives, that Zeldin is the right person to do that.
