Utah DEQ News

National Groundwater Awareness Week

Since 1999, the National Groundwater Alliance has recognized the importance groundwater plays in all of our lives through National Groundwater Awareness Week.

EPA Holding Virtual Meeting on PFAS

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 has announced an upcoming public virtual meeting on EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap for March 8, 2023.

Division of Waste Management & Radiation Control Statement:
Intent to Deny Promontory Point Resources’ Class V Landfill Application

SALT LAKE CITY – After thorough review of the Promontory Point Resources, LLC, application to reclassify its Class I Promontory Point Landfill to a Class V commercial nonhazardous solid waste facility, the Director of the Division of Waste Management and Control (DWMRC) has issued a statement of basis with the rational explaining the intent to …

2022 State of the Environment

2022 was a year of successes for the Department of Environmental Quality, including transformational investments in communities, quality of life improvements without additional regulation, strengthened partnerships and significant progress on projects decades in the making. In our annual State of the Environment Report, each Division looks back at the previous year and highlights some of their major accomplishments.

2022 State of the Environment

The Department of Environmental Quality State of the Environment report highlights the many accomplishments and successes our agency has had throughout the previous year. Click the tabs below to view each Division’s 2022 metrics, success stories, and quotes from partners.

Reducing Wood Smoke Pollution in Utah

The Division of Air Quality’s Wood Stove and Fireplace Conversion Assistance Program aims to combat wintertime air pollution by reducing smoke from wood burning. The program provides incentives for homeowners to convert their wood burning stoves or fireplaces into a natural gas, propane fueled, or electric appliance.

DEQ Receives State’s First Electric Truck

The state’s new all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning is now being driven by DEQ employees after it was delivered on Oct. 18. It’s the first of five electric trucks the state will add to its fleet in a continued effort to improve air quality.

Cleanup underway at Jacobs Smelter Superfund site

Over twenty years after it was listed as a Superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), cleanup is finally underway at the Jacobs Smelter Superfund site in Stockton. The project was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding.

Benthic Mats: Harmful Algal Bloom Examples

Harmful algal blooms may also occur as benthic mats. These mats grow on the bottom of the waterbody and may detach and float downstream. They are found in both standing and flowing water. These photos are all from Zion National Park.

DEQ Statement – EPA EtO Announcement

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to address the risks posed by air emissions of ethylene oxide (EtO) from commercial sterilizers, and also identified specific facilities where lifetime cancer risk levels are elevated for people who live nearby. The medical sterilization facility BD Medical in Sandy (9450 State St.) was identified as one of those facilities.

DEQ Names New Water Quality Director

DEQ Executive Director Kim Shelley has appointed John Mackey to serve as the new Director of the Division of Water Quality (DWQ). He has served as the Interim Director of the Division since April of this year.

Moab + Uranium = Radon

Radon experts from the west and southwest region of the U.S. traveled to Moab in April to take part in the Region 8 Radon Conference. Moab was a uranium mining homestead for many and much of the area’s minerals have assisted with nuclear weaponry and energy for our country.

Online Lawn Mower Exchange Cuts Pollution in Utah

Residents of Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, and Weber counties have the opportunity to upgrade their gas lawn mowers to battery-powered electric through the Online Lawn Mower Exchange program. Electric lawn mowers are quieter, easier to use, and better for Utah’s air.

Monitoring PFAS in Utah's Drinking Water cover image 435wide

Division of Drinking Water Monitoring PFAS in Utah’s Drinking Water

After over a year of monitoring and analysis for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has determined that there is a low risk for human exposure to PFAS through the state’s drinking water sources.

Help Clear the Air With Free Fare February

Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is offering free fares during the entire month of February. That includes UTA’s entire service area on all bus and rail services, Ski Bus, paratransit service, the Park City-SLC Connect, and UTA On Demand in southwestern Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City – Westside.

Project Summary: North Temple Landfill Redevelopment

The North Temple Landfill, located on the northwest side of Salt Lake City, was operated by the City from approximately 1959 to 1979 when it was closed. Due to the size of the landfill, it has historically been divided into two sites: North Temple Landfill East, also known as the Bonneville Center, and the North …

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