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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2002
Contact:
Gayle Smith, (801) 538-6779
Gayle J. Smith, manager of permitting and compliance in the Utah Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Water Quality, has been awarded the prestigious 2002 Walter F. Snyder Award by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International and the National Environmental Health Association for achievement in attaining a quality environment and improving public health.
For the past 31 years, Smith has improved public health by addressing drinking water needs in Utah and nationally. "My experiences in my professional life have taught me a very important lesson: to make a positive difference, you must have principles and perseverance in your cause; you don't necessarily need to be brilliant or possess impressive credentials," Smith said.
"My motivation has always been simply to make a significant yet positive difference and to leave my professional field better than I found it," he said.
Smith's dedicated service began in 1971 as an environmental engineer for the Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Water Quality. In 1978, he was promoted to director of the Bureau of Public Water Supplies, Division of Drinking Water. During the 1970s, Smith played a major role in securing the passage of Utah's Safe Drinking Water Act and obtaining primacy delegation for the federal Safe Drinking Water Act in Utah.
During the 1980s, Smith helped found the Rural Water Association of Utah and successfully rallied support for legislation to require certification of public water systems operators. Additionally, Smith led a group of drinking water administrators to explore how states could be adequately represented at the national level on issues critical to the drinking water industry. The outcome was the formation of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators. He served as vice president and president during the association's formative years.
Also in the 1980s, EPA appointed Smith as chairman of its National Drinking Water Advisory Council. Smith focused his attention on sensible national drinking water rules that could be implemented by small water systems. On a national level, Smith orchestrated a public comment campaign on EPA's Lead/Copper Rule proposal, resulting in modification of the rule.
Smith has chaired the NSF International Joint Committee on Drinking Water Additives since 1991. As chair, he has helped develop the first standards for drinking water additives by using his skills as a negotiator and mediator to obtain consensus of manufacturers; federal, state and local regulatory officials; water utilities; trade associations; and other users. Smith is an active member of the NSF Council of Public Health Consultants.
In 1991, when the Utah Department of Environmental Quality was created, Smith was appointed as the director of the Utah Division of Drinking Water. He served in that capacity until 1993. He currently manages programs in the Utah Division of Water Quality to permit discharge of municipal and industrial wastewater to waters in the state.
"Gayle has always maintained not only a professional but also personal interest in drinking water and water quality," said Don Ostler, director of the Utah Division of Water Quality. "This interest is evident in his continuing to serve NSF International on his own time since he left the Drinking Water Division."
Smith earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1967 and completed coursework for a master's degree in environmental engineering, both at Utah State University. He lives in Salt Lake City and is a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho.
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