By Christine Osborne “Government records belong to the citizens of the state, who have a legal right to open and fair access.” – Utah’s GRAMA and Open Government website March 11-17, 2018 was Sunshine Week, a nationwide celebration of the benefits of open access to public information to citizens, communities, and government. Utah held its …
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By Scott Baird The atmosphere at the State Capitol Thursday night was one of mixed emotions. Legislators (and those of us that work with them) were both elated and exhausted as they completed the annual 45-day session of the Utah State Legislature. This year’s appropriations and legislation ensure that we can continue our ongoing work of safeguarding …
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By Jared Mendenhall The mess, pun intended, started in the mid-2000s. This is when two entrepreneurial college students bought a metal plating company in Northern Utah. Along with the company they unknowingly purchased a large amount of hazardous waste. The problem came to their attention a few years later during a routine inspection from Utah’s …
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By Jared Mendenhall Forty-eight percent of winter air pollution along the Wasatch Front comes from mobile sources. Mobile source pollution is the emissions produced by cars and trucks. Reducing these emissions, is one of the easiest things residents can do to improve air quality. During February, the Salt Lake Chamber sponsors the Clear the Air …
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By Steve Bergstrom Guest Blogger Poor air quality affects everyone. It is especially hard on children, elderly and those with asthma, lung disease, cardiovascular disease and risk of stroke. Also, research is showing a strong connection between poor air quality and developmental issues with the fetus, increased respiratory infections, and neurologic conditions. One-third of Utah’s population …
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By Søren Simonsen, guest blogger DEQ invites guest bloggers to share their thoughts on issues that impact our environment. We appreciate their insights and the opportunity to broaden the conversation with others in the community. I remember getting my very first road-worthy bike when I turned five. It was a lime-green, three-speed with chopper-style handlebars, …
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Take the Clear the Air Challenge By Jared Mendenhall In 1888, a housewife changed the course of human history. Bertha’s husband Karl, an engineer, had fallen into a deep depression because his latest invention failed to live up to its promise. Early one morning, Bertha stole away with his creation to prove to the family …
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By Jared Mendenhall In December 2017, when the Wasatch Front choked on a ten-day-long inversion that clogged the valleys with PM2.5 pollution, more than 50,000 Utah residents stayed on top of air-quality conditions by using the Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) mobile app: UtahAir. UtahAir delivers hourly air-quality data for two pollutants, PM2.5 and …
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By Scott Baird The 2018 Utah Legislature kicks off its 45-day session today, marking the start of an exciting and occasionally hectic time for all of us at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Although we are neutral players in the legislative process, our directors and scientists are available 24/7 to answer questions, provide …
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By Jan Poulsen, Guest Blogger DEQ invites guest bloggers to share their thoughts on issues that impact our environment. We appreciate their insights and the opportunity to broaden the conversation with others in the community. My name is Jan Poulsen, and I am a lung cancer survivor. I want to share my story in the …
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By Alan Matheson I’m convinced people can only be truly happy when they are progressing, reaching new heights in performance and character. Growth and improvement build confidence, increase capacity to meaningfully contribute, and give life purpose. Progress is inherently rewarding. The same principle applies to organizations. In a time of rapid change, only those organizations …
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By DEQ Communications Office Utah kicked off its winter inversion season in full force in early December with gunky air that persisted for 10 straight days. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality took to its Facebook page to provide residents with regular updates, tips for reducing emissions, and links to our air-quality monitoring data. We’ve …
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By Jenny Potter It’s the time of year when we reach into our hearts — and sometimes our wallets — to share what we have with others. But did you know that you also benefit by giving to others? Most of us don’t stop to think about the fact that by giving, we bring greater …
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By Joe Katz Ogden has a long history as a railroad hub. At one point, the local chamber of commerce’s motto was, “You can’t get anywhere without coming to Ogden.” Its location along the original Transcontinental Railroad brought the industry and commerce that easy access to rail provides. Ogden still has significant rail traffic, but …
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By Christine Osborne The Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) is a public database that chronicles toxic chemical releases, transfers, waste management, and pollution-prevention activities throughout the United States. A recent Forbes article ranked Utah as the third-highest state in the country for toxic releases based on data in the TRI for the reporting year (RY) 2015. These same …
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By Amy Dickey What’s the first thing most people do when they walk up to a stream? Perhaps they feel it to check the temperature. Maybe they toss a stick and see how far downstream the water carries it, or cast a line to see if the fish are biting. I prefer to grab a …
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Air Quality
Drinking Water
Environmental Response and Remediation
Waste Management and Radiation Control
Water Quality
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