DDW-2024-011704

Ref: 8WD-PDS
Nathan Lunstad
Director of the Division of Drinking Water
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
[e-mail]

Re: Utah Drinking Water Operator Certification Annual Evaluation for 2024 Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Capitalization Grant

Dear Nathan Lunstad:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has received and reviewed the Utah Department of
Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) FY2024 Drinking Water Operator Certification Program Annual Report.
According to 40 CFR 35.3515, Allotment and Withholdings of Funds, the EPA is required to withhold 20% of a
state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) allotment if the state is not implementing an Operator
Certification Program in accordance with the SDWA Sections 1419(b) and 1452(a)(1)(G)(ii).
The EPA has determined that 20% of the State of Utah’s DWSRF allotment will not be withheld in Federal
Fiscal Year 2025, subject to the state’s commitment to continue to implement the approved workplan. Utah
DEQ and EPA have an ongoing workplan to address deficiencies identified during the FY2021 review. The
EPA meets quarterly with UT DEQ to ensure progress and overall compliance with the workplan
commitments. Utah is in compliance with the workplan as of July 2024. It is projected the workplan will
remain in place through FY2025 to accommodate eventual rule adoption.
Thank you for your ongoing work to ensure that public water systems customers are provided with an
adequate supply of safe, potable drinking water, consumers are confident that their water is safe to drink,
and public water system operators are trained and certified.

If you have any questions, please contact Judy Bloom at [e-mail] or 303-312-6395.

Sincerely,

Darcy O’Connor
Director
Water Division

cc: Helen Lau, UDEQ Operator Certification, [e-mail]