Category: Air Quality

  • PM10 State Implementation Plans and Maintenance Plans

    Nonattainment Areas In 1987, the EPA set new air-quality standards for PM10 of 150µg/m3 over a 24-hour period and an average of 50 µg/m3 annually. Utah was initially unable to meet the 24-hour standard and was required to prepare State Implementation Plans for Salt Lake and Utah County. Ogden City was designated nonattainment on September…

  • What is Ozone?

    Ozone is an odorless, colorless gas made up of three oxygen molecules (O3) and is a natural part of the environment. It occurs both in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, or stratosphere, and at ground level in the lower atmosphere, or troposphere. Approximately 90 percent of atmospheric ozone is located in the stratosphere, which begins about…

  • Frequently Asked Questions about Ozone and Your Health

    On hot, sunny summer days, ground level ozone can rise to unhealthy levels. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of symptoms, including coughing, throat irritation, and chest pain. It is important to understand the health effects of ozone and the simple steps you can take to protect yourself. How can ozone affect health? Ozone affects…

  • 50 Summer Suggestions Regarding Ozone

    Drive Less Driving less doesn’t mean you have to stay home. Try any of these ways to get to where you want to go: Drive Smarter Driving smarter keeps pollution at a minimum. At Home At Work

  • Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPS)

    The increased awareness in recent years of the dangers of toxic air pollutants has caused Congress to design regulatory efforts to control toxic substances in the air. These hazardous air pollutants (HAPS) are air pollutants for which National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) do not exist. These pollutants may be expected to cause cancer, developmental…

  • 2015 Study:
    Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPS)

    More HAPS Overview Frequently Asked Questions (51 KB) Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) are air pollutants that are known to cause or suspected to cause serious, adverse health effects. They come from a wide variety of industrial, residential, and mobile sources. The Division of Air Quality (DAQ) conducted a year-long pilot study in 2015 to learn…

  • Carbon Monoxide

    Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless and odorless gas that can be lethal in high concentrations. The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for CO is 9 parts per million (ppm) on an eight-hour average or 35 ppm on a one-hour averaging period. CO occurs naturally by the decomposition of organic matter. The primary man-made…

  • Frequently Asked Questions:
    Asbestos

    What is Asbestos? Asbestos is a name given to a group of minerals which occur naturally as masses of long silky fibers. Asbestos is known for its unique properties of being resistant to abrasion, inert to acid and alkaline solutions, and stable at high temperatures. Because of these attributes, asbestos was widely used in construction…

  • Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

    Background Sulfur oxides (SOx) are colorless gases that are the result of burning sulfur. All fuels used by man (oil, coal, natural gas, wood, etc.) contain some sulfur, and during the combustion process, sulfur reacts with oxygen to form SOx. The primary source of sulfur oxides is the burning of these fossil fuels, particularly coal,…

  • June 5, 2019 Agenda: Air Quality Board

  • Check Daily Air Quality Forecast to Plan Ahead & Protect Health

    Utah DEQ provides air-quality forecasting throughout the summer through its UtahAir app, website, and regular email updates.

  • About the Division of Air Quality

    Mission Safeguarding and improving Utah’s air, land and water through balanced regulation Vision Clean air, land and water for a healthy and prosperous Utah Structure The Division of Air Quality is divided into three separate branches, Permitting, Planning, and Compliance. Permitting Branch The Permitting Branch is responsible for issuing two kinds of permits; Pre-construction, and…

  • Frequently Asked Questions:
    Division of Air Quality

    How do I file a complaint or report of suspicious activities? Use the Stationary Source Compliance Electronic Complaint Form. I have questions about dust and dirt. Visit the Dust Control and the Aggregate Industry page. Want to learn more about pollution? Visit the Air Pollutants page. Worried about asbestos? Get information and resources on our…

  • Annual Reports:
    Division of Air Quality

    Past Annual Reports

  • MACTs and Other NESHAPs:
    Air Toxics Lead and Asbestos Section (ATLAS)

    Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) Rules The 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments established a new and fairly complex program to regulate emissions of 188 hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from particular industrial sources. The Act required the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to regulate emissions of these HAPs by developing and promulgating technology-based standards based…

  • Planning Branch:
    Division of Air Quality

    The Planning Branch is responsible for developing comprehensive plans (also known as State Implementation Plans (SIPs)) to reduce air pollution, and developing rules that set requirements on air emissions for both individuals and industry in Utah. The planning Branch is composed of three sections: Emissions Inventories Emissions Inventories are routinely compiled to understand the origins…

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