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Working Safely With Asbestos
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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Emissions of Reactive Organics from Natural Gas-Fueled Engines
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…
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Vertical Ozone Profiles in the Uinta Basin and Validating Drones as an Air Measurement Platform
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…
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Quantitative Attribution of Wildfires on Summertime Ozone Concentrations along the Wasatch Front
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…
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Halogen Sources and their Influence on Winter Air Pollution in the Great Salt Lake Basin
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…
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Winter Measurements of Heavy-duty Vehicles to Characterize the Cold Temperature Effectiveness of Selective Catalytic Reductions Catalyst in Controlling Oxide of Nitrogen Emissions
The Salt Lake City region in Utah experiences periods of high particulate levels in the winter months due to the combination of its topography, winter atmospheric inversions and local emissions. Secondary nitrate particles comprise the dominant fraction of the particles in these episodes and are the result of the reaction of oxides of nitrogen (NOx)…
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Understanding Wildfire Smoke Pollution
The wildfires may be in California, but the smoke, and its health effects, are here in Utah. Learn more about smoke pollution and what you can do to protect your health.
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September 2, 2020 Agenda: Air Quality
PUBLIC COMMENT Those wishing to make a public comment please fill out a comment card and return to Melissa Yazhe prior to the start of the meeting. You may also send an email to Melissa Yazhe including your name, company/affiliation, email address, telephone number, and an explanation on which agenda item you wish to speak…
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Moderate Area Ozone State Implementation Plan (SIP) Development
The development of an Ozone SIP is very much an iterative process. The technical foundation of any SIP involves numerous emissions inventories, air quality modeling assumptions, potential emission controls, and ever-fluctuating design values recorded throughout the air monitoring network. The rules for developing an ozone SIP provided by the EPA, known as the Ozone Implementation…
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Ozone Overview and Standard Ozone SIP
Ozone Overview Ozone is a colorless gas comprised of three oxygen atoms. It is not emitted directly into the air as a gas but is formed through a chemical reaction between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. While the ozone protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation in…
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Ozone State Implementation Plan (SIP) Process Ozone SIP
Overview Within two years after setting or revising NAAQS for criteria pollutants, the EPA must designate areas as meeting (attainment) or not meeting (nonattainment) the air-quality standard. The EPA’s final designations are based on the most recent three years of air-quality monitoring data, recommendations from the state, and additional technical information. State recommendations are made…
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Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Process Ozone SIP
RACT Overview Under the Clean Air Act, all areas designated as a moderate or more severe nonattainment area for the 2015 8-hour ozone standard are required to implement RACT for all existing major sources of VOCs or NOx as well as all VOC sources subject to an EPA Control Technique Guideline (CTG). For ozone nonattainment…
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Reasonably Available Control Measures (RACM) Process Ozone SIP
RACM Overview Under the Clean Air Act, all areas designated Moderate or more severe nonattainment areas for the 2015 8-hour ozone standard are required to implement RACM for point, area, off-road, and on-road source categories. RACM applies only to those point sources not already addressed as part of a RACT analysis. RACM implementation is required…
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#NoMowDays and Other Ways to Trim Your Grass and Your Emissions
Utah’s ozone and wildfires making it hard to breathe? Try #NoMowDays, switch to electric, upgrade your gas can, and mow later in the day for better air. Utah DEQ has some important tips that can help you reduce your emissions from an unlikely source–your gas-powered lawn mower.
