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Utah Department of
Environmental Quality
By the end of the 2007 Session, lawmakers passed a budget for the 2007-08 fiscal year that provides $1.5 million in General Fund and Restricted Fund money to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to help meet tougher federal air quality standards. Another $66,500 in Restricted funds will be used for additional mercury testing in the Great Salt Lake.
“I am very pleased,” said Dianne Nielson, executive director of DEQ. “We have our base budget and nearly all our funding requests.”
The exception is the request for $147,100 ongoing money in order to help identify and address the sources of mercury pollution. “It was not for lack of appreciation and support for our programs,” noted Nielson, “it just did not rank high enough on the list of priorities.”
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 this year and additional monitoring is needed in future years.
The $1.5 million will help pay for new air 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 standard 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.
An Air Quality Task Force will study ongoing funding issues that would enable Utah to meet the standard. Recommendations that could include a fee on vehicle registration would be made to a legislative interim committee.
State employees also came out winners of the 2007 session. Lawmakers’ approved Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr’s recommendations for a 3.5 percent cost of living increase to state employees that will become available at the start of the fiscal year, July 1. In addition, another 1.5 percent will be provided to state agencies to use as “discretionary” money to help with salary adjustments and to reward exceptional performance. The state also will cover 100 percent of any health benefit increase under a package the Legislature passed.
“This is great news for it allows us to recognize truly exceptional performances,” Nielson said.