Jared Mendenhall Archives - Utah Department of Environmental Quality

Inversion Season 2020-2021

On Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, we sat down with Utah DEQ’s Division of Air Quality Monitoring Manager Bo Call to learn about how Utah’s air quality is monitored, how it’s improving and what it will look like this inversion season.

Seven Ways to Cut Emissions and Winterize Your Home

Fall is quickly turning to winter. Before the snow blankets Utah, here are some helpful tips to winterize your home and reduce emissions.

Image with Season Wood Burn Restrictions Begin Nov. 1

Seasonal Wood Burning Restrictions Begin November 1

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality reminds Northern Utah residents that wood burning restrictions go into effect Nov. 1, 2020. Help improve our air quality and protect the health of your neighbors and loved ones by following the wood burning restrictions.

Testing the Waters at the Inland Port

To protect the Great Salt Lake, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Quality developed a water quality sampling plan to check the effects of the inland port on the lake. This will provide the Utah Inland Port Authority and DEQ scientists with valuable data about potential stormwater-related pollution at the site.

Understanding Wildfire Smoke Pollution

The wildfires may be in California, but the smoke, and its health effects, are here in Utah. Learn more about smoke pollution and what you can do to protect your health.

Utah Scientists Using Sewage to Track Coronavirus

In April, a pilot program was launched to determine whether monitoring sewage for coronavirus could provide a useful tool for public health officials for early detection of rising infections, monitoring overall community infection trends, and confirmation of low infection rates.

Picture of hiker with the text: GOTTA GO? PROTECTING WATER QUALITY FROM HUMAN WASTE

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.

Impacts on Air Quality During COVID-19

What impact did fewer cars on the road due to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, teleworking and social distancing have on Utah air quality? Logan Mitchell, a researcher at the University of Utah, took a look at the data from DEQ’s monitors to find out.

Inversion Season 2019-2020

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.

Image of men installing an underground storage tank

Keeping an Eye on Underground Storage Tanks

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.

Understanding Tier 3 in Utah

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.