Susan Dowdle was shocked to learn her stepdaughter’s mother had been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. The cause of her cancer—radon gas in her basement. Here is Dowdle’s story of testing her home and installing a mitigation system on a fixed income.
Read More
Ozone is formed in Utah when NOx and VOCs break apart under intense sunlight and reform. The formation of ozone is most likely to occur on days with calm winds, no cloud cover and afternoon temperatures above 90 degrees. Here are some ways you can protect your health and reduce your emissions.
Read More
This year marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, but rather than celebrate it as a community, the current pandemic forced us to get creative from the safety of our homes. Eager to commemorate such a momentous milestone, DEQ challenged Utahn’s to celebrate digitally and submit their creations on social media. Here are a few of the highlights.
Read More
The Jordan River Commission has spent the last two years planting 4,000 trees and large shrubs across the Jordan River Parkway. Learn more about these trees and their important role in revitalizing the river in this week Utah DEQ Blog.
Read More
On March 31, 2020, EPA and NHTSA announced a final rule revising the GHG/CAFE standards. This week’s Utah DEQ Blog takes a deep dive into the rule and how it affects Utah.
Read More
On March 31, DEQ’s Division of Air Quality called an end to the 2019-20 inversion season and stopped issuing its Action Forecasts for PM2.5 pollution. Utah residents have taken air quality seriously. Efforts by citizens and regulators alike have resulted in improved air quality in Northern Utah.
Read More
Enforcement of regulations that directly affect human health will take priority as Utah DEQ works with regulated communities on a case-by-case basis to determine reasonable exemptions to environmental rules. The department will continue monitoring sources of pollution to protect the safety and health of Utah residents.
Read More
The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in residents flushing other paper products down the toilet. This has caused an increase in backed-up toilets and overflowing sewer lines in Utah and across the country. Even wipes marketed as “flushable” will clog pipes.
Read More
As promoters of clean air and reduced emissions, DEQ’s Division of Air Quality has learned a few things about working from home. We didn’t expect to be sharing these tips during a pandemic. Nonetheless, here are some tips on how to make the most of teleworking in the coming weeks.
Read More
To reduce the spread of COVID-19 and encourage the practice of social distancing to help “flatten the curve,” the scientists, engineers and staff of Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality are mostly working remotely. During this time, the department will conduct business as usual.
Read More
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality wants residents to know that their public water supply is safe. In the case of quarantine or outbreak related to the coronavirus, public drinking water systems are designed to continuously deliver safe drinking water to your tap.
Read More
Although many of us make environmentally friendly choices at home, we don’t always stop to consider the many ways we could go green in our workplace. DEQ offers you some simple tips to help make your workplace a little “greener.” Going green at work is easier than you think!
Read More
Out of sight, out of mind. The old adage reminds us that ignorance is bliss. Luckily for Utah residents, the engineers and scientists at DEQ’s Division of Environmental Response and Remediation are not ignorant of one important out-of-sight risk—underground storage tanks.
Read More
Since Gov. Gary Herbert announced that Utah refineries would produce Tier 3 gas, residents have had a lot of questions about the cleaner fuel. In this installment of #IamUtahDEQ video series, we take a ride with Glad Sowards, a policy analyst with Utah’s Division of Air Quality, to answer all your Tier 3 questions.
Read More
Utah residents take wood-burning bans seriously and it’s paying off. A recent study found that wood-burning’s contribution to air pollution in Utah has declined by a factor of 4 to 5 over the past 10 years.
Read More
February is the Salt Lake Chamber’s Clear The Air Challenge. Utah DEQ’s intern, Sidney Rogers, took the challenge. Here is her story of commuting to work by bicycle and UTA TRAX.
Read More
Air Quality
Drinking Water
Environmental Response and Remediation
Waste Management and Radiation Control
Water Quality
Executive Director’s Office