Department of Environmental Quality

Category: News

  • Strategic Planning

    From the Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s inception in 1991, strategic planning has always been part of the management decision-making process. Annual planning retreats are held each spring by the individual divisions and by the department as a whole. Internal and external assessments are made; issues are identified; and goals, objectives, and strategies are developed…

  • Utah Department of Environmental Quality Welcomes New Interim Executive Director Tim Davis

    March 3, 2025 SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Today, Tim Davis begins his tenure as the Interim Executive Director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), bringing a commitment to protecting the state’s land, air, and water while fostering responsible growth and development. Gov. Spencer J. Cox appointed Tim Davis as the interim executive…

  • 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. Read our report to see each Division’s metrics, success stories, and quotes from partners.

  • Summer Air Quality Concerns

    As the warm temperatures arrive in Utah, so does summer ozone pollution. Unlike winter’s thick inversions, ozone is odorless and colorless, and can typically not be seen with the eye. Reducing emissions from a number of sources is critical in limiting the formation of ozone.

  • 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.

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • January is National Radon Action Month
    Elevated levels of radon found in 1 in 3 Utah homes tested

    Radon is known as the slow, “silent killer.” You can’t smell it, taste it, or see it, but it’s the number one cause of lung cancer death for non-smokers. Although Utah has the lowest rate of smoking in the nation, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in our state.

  • DEQ and Salt Lake School District Partner to Bring Electric School Buses to Utah

    Beginning today, some students in the Rose Park area will be traveling to and from the classroom in new electric buses. The electric buses replace diesel buses, and were chosen to operate in areas with higher pollution levels. The buses will be the first of their kind in Utah, thanks to a partnership between Salt…

  • Frequently Asked Questions About Utah’s Inversion Season

    Utah has great air most of the year, but during the winter we experience “inversions.” Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Utah’s winter air quality.

  • DEQ Helps Utah Cities Address Polluted Properties

    To help communities assess and clean up sites contaminated by hazardous waste and petroleum, DEQ provides assistance seeking U.S. EPA Brownfields grants. This year, Salt Lake County, Murray, Spanish Fork City and Green River are vying for federal money to help clean up blighted properties.

  • Environmental Questions Asked by Utah Small Businesses

    During a time when shopping local is more important than ever, our Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) is here to help Utah small businesses attain environmental compliance. Here are answers to a few common (and not so common) questions we have received.

  • #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.

  • Gotta Go? Protect Water Quality from Human Waste in the Wilds of Utah

    Leaving no trace involves more than just packing out the garbage. Proper disposal of human waste is also important. It ensures against the pollution of water sources and minimizes the spread of disease.

  • New Stations Installed to Monitor Inland Port Emissions

    This summer scientists from DAQ have installed two new air quality monitors to measure potential emissions from the inland port.

  • Fireworks, Air Quality, and Wildfires, Oh My!

    Fireworks are beautiful, but they also produce high concentrations of smoke and particulates (PM) that can harm our air quality and cause wildfires.

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