The mission of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is to safeguard public health and quality of life by protecting and improving environmental quality. DEQ also considers the benefits to public health, the impacts on economic development, property, wildlife, tourism, business, agriculture, forests, and other interests, and the costs to the public and to industry. DEQ has the responsibility to strengthen local health departments' environmental programs; build consensus among the public, industry, and local governments in developing environmental protection goals; and appropriately balance the need for environmental protection with the need for economic and industrial development.
During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $128,196,100 from all sources for Environmental Quality. This is a 15.8 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $16,226,300 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 11 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.
In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:
The following are performance measures tracked within this organization.
- Compliance with Air Quality Standards
- Permit Issuance
- Compliance Inspections
- Other Air Quality Performance Measures
- X-ray Facilities Compliance
- Homes with Radon Mitigation System
- Radioactive Materials Transportation Inspections
- Other Radiation Control Performance Measures
- Population with Safe Drinking Water
- Public Water Systems with Approved Rating
- Water-borne Disease Outbreaks
- Other Drinking Water Performance Measures
- Note
- On Time Ground Water Permit Renewals
- Surface and Ground Water Permits in Compliance
- Lakes and Rivers Meeting Water Quality Standards
- Other Water Quality Performance Measures
The DEQ's main offices are in the Multi Agency State Office Building west of Redwood Road at 195 North 1950 West. The Department operates an air monitoring center on Parkway Boulevard in West Valley City. The Department also has district engineers located in St. George, Price, Richfield, and Roosevelt. These staff members work in coordination with local health departments to support environmental programs specifically related to the rural areas to which they are assigned.
COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.