Tag: Air Quality Monitoring

Taking Stock of Emissions in Utah

Air pollution along the Wasatch Front comes from a lot of different sources. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality works deliberately and tirelessly to understand the sources of air-quality-deteriorating-emissions and how to reduce them to improve air quality.

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New DEQ Tech Support Center Open

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s new 21,500-square-foot Tech Support Center contains labs, storage for scientific equipment, and areas for sampling and analyzing work. The grand opening is set for May 21, 2019.

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Air Quality Researchers Hunt for PM2.5 Precursors

Researchers from DEQ, EPA, the University of Utah, Utah State University, and BYU joined forces for the Wasatch Front Ammonia and Chloride Observations (WaFACO) study. The study is looking for sources of ammonia on the Wasatch Front—a precursor to PM2.5.

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Recapping the 2017-18 Inversion Season

At the end of March, spring took its turn at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Along with the warmer weather, budding trees and blooming flowers, DEQ’s Division of Air Quality declared an end to the 2017-18 inversion season and stopped issuing its Action Forecasts for PM2.5 pollution. Rest assured, the Action Forecasts will return in Nov., along with colder weather.

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Refreshed Air Quality App Ready For Release

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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Ozone: Dog Days of Summer Have Us All Panting For Cleaner Air

By Donna Kemp Spangler Many people have said to me this summer, “It seems like we’ve had a lot of unhealthy air days.” Turns out, it’s true. Utah is experiencing the worst air pollution, particularly ozone, in a decade. Record heat and massive wildfires have taken their toll on Utah’s air. As a result, the …

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DEQ Forecasters Keep Their Eyes on the Sky during Ozone Season

By Kimberly Kreykes Like many people, my day starts with the weather forecast. Not just because it is my passion, but because it is my responsibility to stay informed — I am the lead air-quality forecaster for the Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ’s) Division of Air Quality (DAQ). Along with two other DAQ forecasters, …

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New Technical Center Good News for DEQ, the Environment

By Brad Johnson Reliable, science-based information is essential to ensuring the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) makes the best possible decisions and fulfills its mission to safeguard Utah’s air, land, and water. We use the data we collect to protect and inform the public, verify compliance with regulatory standards, and collaborate with local and …

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Legislative Session Helps Us All Breathe a Little Easier

By Scott Baird The whirlwind of Utah’s 45 day legislative session is over, the dust has settled,  and we at the Department of Environmental Quality want to thank you for helping this session to be a success. The appropriations and legislation approved in this session will ensure that the Department can continue its ongoing work …

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