Category: Air Quality

  • Lead in Air

    Lead is a toxic metal that was once used regularly in motor fuel, paint, ceramics, glassware, and other consumer products. The phase-out of leaded gasoline significantly reduced vehicle emissions and lead levels in the environment, but it is still used in some aviation fuels and used or produced in a variety of industrial processes. The…

  • January 8, 2020 Agenda: Air Quality

    Agenda Discussion about compliance and enforcement with the Attorney General’s Office, Division staff, and the Board.

  • December 4, 2019 Agenda: Air Quality

  • Air Quality Compliance Outreach Newsletter
    Volume 2

    The Wood-Burn Program The Wood-Burn Program is designed to prevent particle pollution by restricting or banning wood burning during inversion periods. Emissions from wood-burning stoves and fireplaces contribute to the particulate pollution that builds up during temperature inversions. Inversions form when a dense layer of cold air is trapped under a layer of warm air.…

  • November 20, 2019 Agenda: Air Quality

  • Forms: Division of Air Quality

    Air Quality Complaint Form Asbestos Forms Emission Inventory Submittal Forms Industry Breakdown Report Lead-Based Paint Forms Permitting Forms

  • Identifying and Quantifying the Impact of Wildfires and Dust Events on Utah’s Air Quality

    Wildfires and dust storms are considered “exceptional events” in air quality modeling because they are not reasonably controllable or preventable, are caused by human activity that is unlikely to recur at a particular location, or are a natural event. Exceptional events can unpredictably increase concentrations of pollutants like particulate matter (PM) and ozone precursors, especially…

  • Improving Volatile Organic Compound Emission Estimates for the Uintah Basin

    This study builds on last year’s effort to improve the speciation of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from oil and gas wells in the Uintah Basin. Better speciation profiles will yield a better emission inventory for the basin and will help focus emission reduction strategies. Principal Investigators: Trang Tran, Huy Tran (USU) Funded by Science…

  • Characterizing Air Quality Impacts from Exceptional Events along the Wasatch Front

    This study, led by researchers at BYU, will use particulate matter (PM) sampling to identify regional dust sources that impact local air quality and public health, as well as model how dust sources might change in the future. Principal Investigators: Dr. Greg Carling (BYU) Funded by Science for Solutions Research Grant: $150,000

  • October 2, 2019 Agenda: Air Quality

    Lunch followed by oil and gas well site visits

  • Improving WRF/CMAQ Model Performance using Satellite Data Assimilation Technique for the Uintah Basin

    This study will test if satellite observations of vegetation and land use can be used to improve photochemical model performance in the Uintah basin. An improved model will help inform emission reduction strategies and regulatory action. Principal Investigators: Huy Tran, Trang Tran (USU) Funded by Science for Solutions Research Grant: $38,392

  • TRAX Air Quality Observation Project (Blue Line)

    The TRAX air quality project continues to measure PM2.5 and ozone from TRAX light rail trains, and will add measurements to the Blue line. All data is publicly available and posted in near real-time on the MesoWest website. Principal Investigators: Daniel Mendoza, Logan Mitchell, John Horel, John Lin (UU) Funded by legislative appropriation: $44,000

  • Investigating Sources of Ammonia Uncertainty in Modeling the Salt lake City PM2.5 Nonattainment Area

    This study will investigate the existing emission inventory of ammonia (NH3) sources and compare modeled NH3 concentrations to those observed during recent field studies in order to identify and correct missing NH3 sources. In addition to improving the inventory, this study will add new NH3 emission pathways to the photochemical model. Principal Investigators: Chris Emery…

  • The Red Butte Canyon Air Mass Exchange and Pollution Transport Study

    The University of Utah will make measurements of vertical wind and aerosol profiles, as well as ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations at the mouth of Red Butte Canyon in order to better understand air exchange in the Salt Lake Valley during wintertime PM2.5 events. Principal Investigators: Sebastian W. Hoch, Erik T. Crosman (UU)…

  • The Red Butte Canyon Ozone Network:
    Leveraging Existing Infrastructure to Probe Background Concentrations, Canyon Flows, and Stratospheric Oxidant Exchange

    This study will deploy a number of ozone sensors at different distances up Red Butte Canyon to better understand natural gradients in ozone and how phenomena like large thunderstorms and valley drainage flows contribute to ozone concentrations in the Salt Lake Valley. Principal Investigators: Logan Mitchell, Ryan Bares, David Eiriksson (UU) Funded by Science for…

  • Understanding How Wood-Burning’s Contribution to Particulate Matter Concentrations Have Changed over Time

    Wood burning contributes to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in the Wasatch Front, and reducing the use of wood burning during pollution episodes has been the focus of many policy decisions. This study looks at patterns of temperature, heat deficit, and day of the week along with markers of woodsmoke and mandatory no-burn days, to…

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