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Utah Department of
Environmental Quality
Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. honored the Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Leadership Development Group who prepared the first Utah Report on the Environment for 2006.
“This is really A plus,” Huntsman told the group, honored on March 22. “I really appreciate what you do. This report is groundbreaking.”
The report, released in January, highlights the environmental progress made in air, land and water quality over the last few decades. It also includes discussions on the environmental challenges facing the state, such as mercury contamination that affects all aspects of Utah’s landscape. More importantly, it highlights the successes of environmental improvements as a result of partnerships with local governments, individuals and businesses.
“The report highlights environmental improvements as well as challenges,” said Dianne Nielson, executive director of DEQ.
The report will be updated annually, with additional sections added to reflect current issues.
The Leadership Group developed the report as part of a year-long project. Members of the group, as shown in the photo from the left, are: Harry Campbell (Division of Water Quality) and Kate Johnson (Division of Drinking Water). From the right: Jeff Emmons (Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste); Jon Black (Division of Air Quality) and Brad Johnson, director of the Division of Environmental Response and Remediation, who led the group’s efforts. To the Governor’s right is Donna Kemp Spangler, public information officer who edited the report. On Huntsman’s left is Bill Sinclair, deputy director of DEQ, who oversees the Leadership Development Training program intended to provide the skills to employees to prepare them for a leadership position.
The report is available on the Internet at www.deq.utah.gov/envrpt