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ULend Program
The ULend program is a collaborative approach for fixing compliance issues before they become a regulatory problem. The program focuses on small oil and gas producers who might not be able to afford the kind of expensive equipment that could help them identify and repair leaks early.
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Jordan Narrows Gap Ammonia Transport Study
This study will provide key meteorological support for the chemistry observations taken during the upcoming 2018--2019 winter season that are focused on the ammonia transport and air mass exchange between the Salt Lake and Utah Valleys. Principal Investigators: Sebastian W. Hoch, Erik Crosman (UU) Funded by Science for Solutions Grant: $19,510
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Wasatch Front Ammonia and Chloride Observations (WaFACO)
The objective of this study is to define the spatio-temporal behavior of atmospheric ammonia (NH3) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) along the Wasatch Front across both summer and winter seasons. This objective will be accomplished through three tasks developed in consultation with UDAQ and the U.S. EPA. These tasks include 1) networked NH3 and HCl observations,…
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Aethalometer Study for Estimating Compliance
with Wood-burning BanThe University of Utah Department of Chemical Engineering will collaborate with UDAQ to estimate the contributions of wood burning to wintertime PM2.5 levels using aethalometer data from four locations and from mobile aethalometer measurements. The goal of this study is to identify and understand levels of wood burning and compliance with wood-burning restrictions during the…
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Composition of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions From Oil and Gas Wells in the Uinta Basin
The Utah Division of Air Quality (UDAQ) is leading a new effort to improve estimates of the speciation of organic compound emissions from Uinta Basin oil and gas wells. Utah State University (USU) will work with UDAQ to collect and analyze pressurized gas and liquid samples from oil and gas well separators, as well as…
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Bountiful City Dichloromethane and Formaldehyde Source Apportionment Study
A source apportionment campaign, with an emphasis on determining the source of dichloromethane in Bountiful City, will be conducted between December 2018 and January 2019. Supporting measurements of PM2.5 concentration and composition will be provided as part of this effort. Principal Investigators: Kerry Kelly (UU), Jaron Hansen (BYU) Funded by Science for Solutions Grant: $80,067
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Ammonia Emission Assessment from Diesel and Gasoline Engines under Utah Specific Conditions
To better understand the contribution of automobiles to Utah ammonia emissions, tailpipe ammonia (NH3) measurements will be taken in laboratory and on-road settings for an array of diesel and gasoline vehicles representative of Utah’s vehicle fleet. Principal Investigators: Randal S. Martin (USU), Joe Thomas (UDAQ), John Sohl (WSU) Funded for: $59,958
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Storage Tank Emissions Pilot Program (STEPP)
Relevant Documentation Principal Investigators: The Utah Legislature’s 2016 budget included a $150,000 appropriation for the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to create a pilot program to screen for leaks of volatile organic compounds (VOC) primarily coming from the “thief hatch” on oil and gas-condensate storage tanks. DEQ proposed a partnership agreement with the Tri-County…
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Growth & Decline Curve
Oil and gas production appears to be the major source of ozone precursors in the Uinta Basin. The Division of Air quality seeks to maintain the regulatory ozone limits within the basin without impeding continued development. As such, the Division of Air Quality developed a model projecting future-year emission inventories in the oil and gas…
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Non-Combustion Formaldehyde Study
During the winters of 2012, 2013, and 2014, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) led a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency study of ozone formation in the Uinta Basin. Among other findings, these studies found that formaldehyde and other carbonyls play a key role in wintertime atmospheric ozone production. There are three main carbonyl sources in the…
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Wasatch Front Wood Smoke: Modeling To Consider The Impact Of Emissions From Solid Fuel Burning Devices
Background The 2015 Utah Legislature provided $70,000 to the Utah Division of Air Quality (DAQ) to undertake a modeling study to address two specific questions. What would be the effect of a two-stage program that would reduce emissions from wood-burning stoves while at the same time maximizing the number of days that EPA-certified stoves and…
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Northern Utah Wood Burning Survey
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) contracted with ICF International (ICF), an independent research and consulting firm, to conduct a survey of residents in seven northern Utah counties regarding their opinions surrounding air quality and their home heating and wood burning behaviors. Key objectives of the study included estimating the percentage of households in…
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Utah Winter Fine Particulate Study (UWFPS)
Executive Summary Northern Utah valleys experience elevated levels of particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5) in winter. These pollution episodes are closely associated with periods of atmospheric stability known as Persistent Cold Air Pools (PCAPs) or, more commonly referred to as inversions. A typical Utah winter sees about 5 to 6 multi-day…
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Winter Inversion Study
Valleys along the Wasatch Mountains (Cache, Salt Lake and Utah) experience high levels of particulate matter (PM) in winter months and are currently designated as non-attainment area for particulate matter with diameters less than 2.5 micron (PM2.5). The chemical aspects of these pollution episodes are not well characterized. In order to fill in this gap…
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Great Salt Lake Summer Ozone Study
DAQ (Division of Air Quality) monitoring found high levels of ozone near the Great Salt Lake from 2010-2013. The Division also found a wide variance in the concentration of ozone in the stable air pocket over the lake during the summertime. Though the mechanisms behind air flow in lake and coastal regions have been studied…
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Great Salt Lake Ambient Hydrochloric Acid Study
Atmospheric chlorine is a strong oxidant and known to potentially initiate photochemistry via reactions with various common hydrocarbons. Kerry et al (2013) found that chlorine atoms significantly contribute to local Salt Lake City PM2.5 during elevated wintertime episodes with ammonium chloride accounting for 10-15% of the PM2.5 mass. In order quantify the concentrations of local…
