Program: Clean Utah

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The Clean Utah Program is a statewide environmental leadership and recognition program, administered by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s Pollution Prevention Program. The goal of the program is to incorporate pollution prevention practices into all aspects of operations resulting in environmental improvements, including source reduction, reductions of air emissions and hazardous materials, and the conservation of water and energy. By reducing waste, an organization can increase both its productivity and its bottom line. To be considered for the program, members must demonstrate compliance with federal, State, and local environmental laws. Members can participate in one of two tracks: Silver, requiring and Environmental Management System (EMS); or, Bronze, not requiring an EMS. Members must actively work on projects and will be required to document results in an annual report.

Step-by-Step Overview

Getting Started and Getting In

Bronze Level (EMS not required)

  1. Complete an initial application. Sign and return it to DEQ. The application must be reviewed and signed by a senior facility manager. DEQ, in consultation with EPA and your Local Health Department, will screen the application to ensure that compliance requirements are met, if applicable.
  2. Identify one potential environmental improvement project from the Core or Suggested Project Area. Determine how you plan to monitor and/or measure your progress. If you’d like assistance, contact us (edivver@utah.gov).
  3. DEQ will review your proposed environmental improvement project. When approved, you will be designated on the DEQ Website and other publicity as a business that is interested in and has started the Clean Utah process.  When your projects have been implemented for one full year, submit your annual report for review by DEQ and then you are eligible to participate as an environmental leader in additional DEQ business recognition programs.

Participants may remain in the Bronze Level as long as they are actively working on approved projects and are meeting all eligibility requirements.    

Silver Level (EMS required)

Complete an initial application. Sign and return it to DEQ. DEQ, in consultation with the EPA and your Local Health Department, will screen the application to ensure that compliance requirements are met.
Once you are accepted in the program, begin (or continue) working on your EMS. If you’d like assistance, contact us (edivver@utah.gov). When your EMS has been implemented for one complete cycle, you are eligible to move to the next level.

Moving to Partner Level

Once your EMS has been implemented for one complete cycle, you are ready to officially request Partner designation:

Applying

Complete the Partner Level Application  and submit to DEQ. Make sure that:

  • You include a separate, written description of EACH proposed project, following the guidelines in the application  and the Clean Utah policy. Be as succinct as possible while providing the detail needed to evaluate your proposal. Because the application will be part of the public record, we request that you NOT submit proprietary or confidential information.
  • The application is reviewed and signed by a senior facility manager.

On our end, we will …

  • Screen to ensure compliance requirements are met. This will be done in consultation with EPA and your Local Health Department.
  • Verify your EMS, using the EMS Worksheet  as a checklist.
  • Review your proposed projects for feasibility. Applicable program staff will complete the review. (Ex: water projects will be reviewed by water quality staff; air projects will be reviewed by air quality staff, public participation plans will be reviewed by our public affairs staff, etc.)
  • Make a staff recommendation to the multi-interest review panel. The panel will review the application, consider the staff recommendation, and then make a final recommendation to the DEQ Executive Director.
  • Approve the advancement request and negotiate incentives or disapprove the advancement and forward recommendations on what is needed for approval.

Implementation

Implement your projects. Continue your EMS. Maintain your compliance standing. File your annual status report.

Maintaining Your Partner Status

Advancement to the next level is not necessary. You may remain at this level as long as you are actively working on approved projects (when one is logically completed, propose another), you are continuing your EMS cycle, and you are meeting all other eligibility requirements.

Moving to Leader Level

Once you have completed your Partner level requirements and your EMS has been implemented for three complete cycles, you are ready to officially request Leader designation.

  • Again review the aspects and impacts identified in your EMS process and identify a potential project that would make sense for you to do as a Clean Utah Leader.
  • Consider the incentives you’d like to receive.
  • Review your compliance status with your key staff members.

Applying

Complete the Leader Level Application,  including the EMS Worksheet  and submit to DEQ. Make sure that:

  • You include a separate, written description of your proposed project, following the guidelines in the application  and the Clean Utah policy. Be as succinct as possible while providing the detail needed to evaluate your proposal. Because the application will be part of the public record, we request that you NOT submit proprietary or confidential information.
  • The application is reviewed and signed by a senior facility manager.

On our end, we will …

  • Screen to ensure compliance requirements are met. This will be done in consultation with EPA and your Local Health Department.
  • Verify that your EMS remains a living document.
  • Review your proposed projects for feasibility. Applicable program staff will complete the review. (Ex: water projects will be reviewed by water quality staff; air projects be reviewed by air quality staff, public participation plans will be reviewed by our public affairs staff, etc.)
  • Make a staff recommendation to the multi-interest review panel. The panel will then review the application, consider the staff recommendation, then make a final recommendation to the DEQ Executive Director.
  • Approve the advancement and negotiate incentives or disapprove the advancement and forward recommendations on what is needed for approval.

Implementation

Implement your projects. Continue your EMS. Maintain your compliance standing. File your annual status reports.

Maintaining Your Leader Status

You may remain at this level as long as you are actively working on approved projects (when one is logically completed, propose another), you are continuing your EMS cycle, and you are meeting all other eligibility requirements.