Governor’s Budget Includes Key DEQ Projects

 

Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. has proposed a $10.7 billion budget for next year that would provide additional General Fund money to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to help assess mercury contamination and prepare the state to meet new tougher federal air standards.

“The Governor recognizes our challenges in DEQ,” said Dianne Nielson, executive director of DEQ. “We appreciate his support and are hopeful the 2007 Legislature will fund our requests.”

The Governor proposes investing $66,500 from the General Fund for fiscal year 2007-08 and another $147,100 ongoing money in order to help identify and address the sources of mercury pollution. In 2006, several fish and duck consumption advisories were issued after testing certain species in various Utah waters showed unhealthy levels of mercury. A multi-agency stakeholder group is developing strategies to address the problem. Even so, more fish advisories are expected next year and additional monitoring is needed in future years.

In addition, Huntsman proposes a one-time $1.6 million from the General Fund to help pay for new monitoring analysis, and modeling equipment that will enable the Division of Air Quality to better prepare for tougher air quality standards recently imposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. On Dec. 18, 2006 new standards for fine particulate matter known as PM2.5 went into effect, lowering the 24-hour average from 65 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) to 35 ug/m3. Much of the Wasatch Front will be unable to meet the new standards. The funds will enable the Division to better define the areas of high pollution sources of PM2.5 and begin to identify strategies to reduce pollution and attain and maintain the PM2.5 standard.

During the 2007 Legislature’s 45-day session, which begins Jan. 15, lawmakers will work with the Governor to finalize a budget that includes a $1 billion-plus surplus due to a robust economy.

Huntsman’s budget also recommends $20 million for a 3.5 percent cost of living increase to state employees. Another $14.3 million has been set aside for discretionary salary increases for state agencies, to identify areas where salary adjustments are needed and reward exceptional performance.

“The discretionary money affords the Departments an opportunity to provide salary increases to deserving employees and allow them to move up the ladder,” said Dan Brentel, director of DEQ’s Office of Human Resource Management.

DEQ receives just a small percentage of financing from the General Fund. With the proposed increases, DEQ would receive 27 percent of its budget from the General Fund. The remainder of DEQ’s overall budget is funded by a combination of federal funds (33 percent), restricted funds (21 percent) and collections (19 percent).

Besides the additional funding from the General Fund for mercury assessment and air quality equipment, the Governor’s budget also includes increasing the Hazardous Substance Mitigation Fund, managed by the Division of Environmental Response and Remediation, with $400,000 one-time restricted funds to help pay for emergency cleanups. DEQ is seeking an appropriation to cover the state’s share of environmental cleanups at Superfund sites and emergency response cleanups.

The Governor has recommended the Department be funded as follows: