FY 1997 Appropriations Report - Environmental Quality

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Department of Environmental Quality

    The responsibilities of the Department of Environmental Quality is to safeguard public health and quality of life by protecting and improving environmental quality while considering the benefits to public health, the impacts on economic development, property, wildlife, tourism, business, agriculture, forests, and other interests. The Legislature approved FY 1997 expenditures for the Department of Environmental Quality of $71,610,400 (see Table 37). This includes $941,300 in compensation adjustments and $2,251,300 to fund fiscal impact of legislation passed during the 1996 General Session of the Legislature. The detail of these appropriations by program follows.

Executive Director's Office

    The Legislature approved a total FY 1997 budget for the Executive Director's Office of $3,053,000. This appropriation includes a cost-of- living adjustment of $22,100 for local health department employees used by the department to deliver environmental quality services to local areas.

    The Executive Director's Office provides administrative direction to the entire department. This office has the responsibility to implement state and federal environmental laws and regulations, coordinate department programs with local health departments, and provide fiscal oversight for the department.

Air Quality

    The Legislature approved a FY 1997 budget for Air Quality of $7,714,000. This is an increase of $132,600 from the FY 1996 appropriation. The appropriation includes the following items:

    The following intent statements were included with the Air Quality Program:

    It is the intent of the Legislature that any unexpended funds in the Air Operating Permit Program in FY 1996 are nonlapsing and authorized for use in the Operating Permit Program in FY 1997 to reduce emission fees.

    It is the intent of the Legislature that funds for urban airshed modeling are nonlapsing.

    The mission of the Air Quality Program is to protect the public health, property and vegetation in Utah from the effects of air pollution.

Response and Remediation

    The Legislature appropriated $37,514,900 to the Response and Remediation Program for FY 1997. The appropriation included the following new items:

    Fiscal Year 1996 funding of $110,000 was appropriated to complete the Underground Storage Tank Database.

    The following intent language was included with the appropriation of the Response and Remediation Program:

    It is the intent of the Legislature that funds for the underground storage tank database be nonlapsing.

    It is the intent of the Legislature that funds for the Midvale Slag cleanup are to be placed in the Hazardous Substance Mitigation fund.

    It is the intent of the Legislature that any unspent money in the Hazardous Substances Mitigation Fund appropriated to the fund for the express purpose of federal match for the Sharon Steel site may also be used for such match for the Midvale Slag site, both of which are on the federal national priority list.

    The mission of the Division of Environmental Response and Remediation is to protect the health and environment of the citizens of Utah from exposure to hazardous substances.

Radiation Control

    The Legislature appropriated $1,630,100 as an expenditure level for FY 1997 for the Radiation Control Program. The appropriation included one-time funding of $262,000 for the division to conduct the repermitting process of the state's only licensed repository for low grade radioactive waste.

    In addition, the Legislature appropriated $25,000 in FY 1996 to begin the above mentioned repermitting process. It is noted that both of these one-time appropriations will be replaced by fees collected from the company being permitted.

    The following intent language was included as part of the Radiation Control Division's appropriations:

     It is the intent of the Legislature that $262,000 of the funds appropriated in FY 1997 to the Department of Environmental Quality from the Environmental Quality Restricted Account be used for radioactive waste disposal facility license renewal contract work. If at FY 1996 closeout there is not a balance of at least $1 million in the Environmental Quality Restricted Account, or if disposal fees from radioactive waste and mixed waste are not collected between July 1, 1995 and October 1, 1996, and deposited in the Environmental Quality Restricted Account in an amount sufficient to reimburse that account for the amount appropriated to the Department of Environmental Quality for the operation of the Radiation Control Program, including the radioactive waste facility license renewal of at least $717,300, the Department will charge the license renewal fees, per the Department fee schedule, for radioactive waste disposal facility license renewal contract work during FY 1997. If some but not all of the disposal fees needed for radioactive waste facility permit renewal are not collected and deposited by October 1, 1996, license fees will be charged for the difference between what is needed and what has been deposited.

    Radiation Control has the responsibility to assure the citizens of the state the lowest exposure to any form of radiation.

Water Quality

    An expenditure level of $13,080,900 was approved by the Legislature for the Water Quality Program for FY 1997. An appropriation of $1,000,000 was approved as a one-time increase to the Water Quality Loan Program.

    A reduction of $2,645,300 in FY 1996 was approved by the Legislature in the Water Quality Program. This appropriation consists of a reduction of $2,800,000 in federal funding and an increase of $154,700 to assist with the Water Quality Loan Program Administration.

    Water Quality is assigned to protect the public health and all beneficial uses of water by maintaining and enhancing the chemical, physical and biological integrity of Utah's waters.

Drinking Water

    The Legislature approved a total budget for the Division of Drinking Water for FY 1997 in the amount of $3,019,600. The appropriation included funding of $1,000,000 for the Drinking Water Loan Program.

    The mission of the Drinking Water Division is to see that public water systems in Utah provide safe and adequate drinking water to all residents and visitors.

Solid and Hazardous Waste

    The Legislature approved a FY 1997 budget of for Solid and Hazardous Waste of $5,597,900.

    The Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste is responsible to protect the public health and environment by ensuring proper management of solid and hazardous wastes within the State of Utah.

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