Utah continues to make significant progress towards understanding and addressing the causes of seasonal air pollution. Increased public awareness and legislative funding for research have provided important support for the Division of Air Quality (DAQ) in its ongoing efforts to reduce pollution, improve air quality, and protect public health. DAQ works to ensure that the …
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On Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, we sat down with Utah DEQ’s Division of Air Quality Monitoring Manager Bo Call to learn about how Utah’s air quality is monitored, how it’s improving and what it will look like this inversion season.
Read MoreContact Questions? Please email sleis@utah.gov
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Utah has great air most of the year, but during the winter we experience the dreaded “inversions.” Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Utah’s winter air quality.
Read MoreMeeting Materials Packet (4 MB) Call-to-Order Date of the Next Air Quality Board Meetings: January 6, 2021, February 3, 2021 Approval of the Minutes November 4, 2020,, Board Meeting. Propose for Final Adoption: Amendment to Utah State Implementation Plan. Emission Limits and Operating Practices. Section IX, Part H; and R307-110-17. Section IX, Control Measures for …
Read MoreUnderstanding Utah’s Air Quality Here is a quick overview of the chemicals we look for when monitoring the air and the sources of these pollutants. PM2.5 PM2.5 is the main component of Utah’s wintertime air pollution. PM2.5 refers to microscopic particles, or particulate matter (PM), that have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers—smaller than pollen …
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The U.S. EPA announced on Tuesday, Nov. 10, its intent to redesignate the Salt Lake City and Provo “non-attainment” areas to “attainment” for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) under the Clean Air Act.
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Fall is quickly turning to winter. Before the snow blankets Utah, here are some helpful tips to winterize your home and reduce emissions.
Read MoreMeeting Materials Packet (4 MB) Call-to-Order Date of the Next Air Quality Board Meeting: December 2, 2020 Approval of the Minutes September 2, 2020, Board Meeting. Propose for Final Adoption: R307-240. Prescribed Burning. Presented by Liam Thrailkill and Joel Karmazyn R307-422. Emission Offset Requirements in PM2.5 Maintenance Areas Update. Presented by Becky Close. Open Meetings, …
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The Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality reminds Northern Utah residents that wood burning restrictions go into effect Nov. 1, 2020. Help improve our air quality and protect the health of your neighbors and loved ones by following the wood burning restrictions.
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The Utah Clean Diesel Program offers incentives for fleet owners to voluntarily reduce emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines. There are multiple funding opportunities available for eligible vehicles and equipment. Government and private fleet operators are encouraged to apply.
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Asbestos has been used since ancient times. In mid-century America, it was used in countless residential and industrial construction products. Learn more about the health risks and how to safely deal with asbestos on remodeling and demolition jobs.
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Utah State University scientists will improve estimates of the magnitude and composition of emissions from natural gas-fueled artificial lift engines in the Uinta Basin. Recent ambient air measurements have implicated natural gas-fueled engines as a large source of reactive organics, including formaldehyde, ethylene, propylene, and other compounds. The results from this project will allow Utah DAQ to better understand and model this source of ozone-forming pollution in the Uinta Basin and develop science-based, effective emissions reduction strategies for wintertime ozone.
The University of Utah will conduct vertical ozone profile measurements from ground level to the mid-stratosphere to develop a better understanding of ozone layers and evolution over Utah. Data collected by drones and balloons will provide information on the vertical distribution of ozone and nitrous dioxide (NO2) among other gases. This data will be used by UDAQ to inform policy and decision makers.
Wildfires can significantly enhance summertime ozone and aerosol concentrations, which can degrade air quality and have adverse effects on human health. While air quality has improved across much of the U.S., the Western U.S. has seen a recent increase in wildfire activity. This project will assess the contribution of regional fires and long-range smoke transport to poor air quality in the Salt Lake Valley. This study will also improve our understanding of how wildfires interact with urban plumes, improve air quality modeling capabilities, and guide the implementation of effective regulatory policies.
The Great Salt Lake Basin is meteorologically and chemically distinct from other regions in the U.S. It is subject to both persistent cold air pools in complex terrain that lead to winter air pollution and potentially large inputs of natural and anthropogenic sources of halogen species. This project will investigate the role of these halogen sources in regulating the severity of winter fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Results from this study will improve estimates of halogen emissions and enhance Utah DAQ’s understanding of winter PM2.5 chemistry.
Air Quality
Drinking Water
Environmental Response and Remediation
Waste Management and Radiation Control
Water Quality
Executive Director’s Office