DAQ-2024-004080

Utah Division of Air Quality
2023 Annual Report
Introduction 5
2023 Synopsis 6
Meeting National Ambient Air Quality Standards 6
Monitoring 7
Permitting 8
Compliance 8
Air Quality Research Projects 8
Air Quality Incentive Programs 9
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Planning 10
2023 Legislative Reports 10
General Session 2023 House Bill 220:Emissions Reduction Amendments 10
General Session 2022 Senate Bill 136:Air Quality Policy Amendments 11
Air Quality Standards 12
Utah’s Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network 14
Photochemical Assessment Monitoring System (PAMS)17
Criteria Air Pollutants 17
Ozone (O3)18
NAAQS Standards and Monitored Data 19
Ozone Updates 22
Northern Wasatch Front Ozone Nonattainment Area 22
Southern Wasatch Front Ozone Nonattainment Area 24
Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area 24
Particulate Matter (PM)25
NAAQS Standards and Monitored Data 26
PM10 26
PM2.5 28
Particulate Matter Updates 30
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)31
NAAQS Standards and Monitored Data 31
Carbon Monoxide (CO)33
NAAQS Standards and Monitored Data 34
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)35
NAAQS Standards and Monitored Data 35
Lead (Pb)37
NAAQS Standards and Monitored Data 37
Regional Haze 38
Regional Haze Updates 38
Climate Pollution Reduction Grant 38
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 2 of 74
Division Organization 39
Permitting Program 40
New Source Review 40
Operating Permits (Title V)41
Compliance Program 42
Major,Minor and Minor Oil &Gas Source Compliance 43
Air Toxics,Lead-Based Paint,and Asbestos Section (ATLAS)44
Lead-Based Paint 44
Asbestos in Schools 44
Asbestos NESHAP and State Asbestos Work Practices 45
Small Business Environmental Assistance 507 Program (SBEAP)46
Enforcement Actions 46
Emissions Inventories 47
Sources of Air Contaminants 48
Triennial Emissions Inventory 49
Air Quality Modeling 54
Air Quality Research 55
Federally Funded Research Projects and Initiatives 55
Addressing Air Pollution Inequities in the Salt Lake Valley through
Community-Engaged Particle Monitoring 55
Combining Community Partnerships and Mobile Monitoring to Address Inequities in
Exposure to Hazardous Air Pollutants along Utah’s Wasatch Front 55
State Funded Research Projects and Initiatives 55
Utah Summer Ozone Study 55
Air Quality Incentive Programs 57
Targeted Airshed Grants 57
School Bus and Heavy-Duty Truck Replacement Programs 57
Uinta Basin Oil and Gas Engine ReplacementProgram 57
Vehicle Repair and Replacement Assistance Program 58
Wood Stove Conversion Program 59
Volkswagen (VW )Settlement 59
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)Projects 62
Workplace Electric Vehicle Charging Funding Assistance Program 62
Volkswagen (VW )EVSE 62
Utah Clean Fleet Program 66
State of Utah Charge Your Yard Incentive Program 67
Alternative Fuel Heavy-Duty Vehicle Tax Credit Program 68
Free-Fare Day Pilot Project 69
Ancillary Programs 70
Transportation Conformity 70
Utah Air Quality Public Notications 71
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 3 of 74
Winter Control Program (unrestricted,voluntary action,mandatory action)71
Summer Control Program (unrestricted,voluntary action,mandatory action)72
Smoke Management in Utah 72
Vehicle Inspection/Maintenance Programs 75
Smoking Vehicles 75
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 4 of 74
Introduction
The mission of the Utah Division of Air Quality (the Division)is to safeguard and improve
Utah’s air through balanced regulation.The purpose of the Division is to achieve and
maintain levels of air quality which will protect human health and safety,and to the
greatest degree practicable,prevent injury to plant and animal life and property,foster the
comfort and convenience of the people,promote the economic and social development of
this state,and facilitate the enjoyment of the natural attractions of this state.It is the
responsibility of the Division to ensure that the air in Utah meets health and visibility
standards established under the federal Clean Air Act (CAA).To fulll this responsibility,
the Division is required by the federal government to ensure compliance with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA)National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
statewide and visibility standards at national parks.The Division enacts rules pertaining to
air quality standards,develops plans to meet the federal standards when necessary,
administers emissions reductions incentive programs,issues pre-construction and
operating permits to stationary sources,and ensures compliance with state and federal air
quality rules,statutes,and regulations.
The Division allocates a large portion of its resources to implementing the CAA.The Utah
Air Conservation Act (Utah Code §19-2)delegates rulemaking power to the Utah Air
Quality Board (Board)to promulgate rules pertaining to air quality issues.The Division
staff supports the Board in its policy-making role.The Board is comprised of nine members
representing local government,environmental groups,the public,industry,and the
Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality.The Board members have
diverse interests,are knowledgeable in air pollution matters,and are appointed by the
Governor with consent of the senate.The Director of the Division is the Board’s Executive
Secretary.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 5 of 74
The Utah air quality rules dene the Utah air quality program.Implementation of the rules
requires the Division’s interaction with industry,other government agencies,and the
public.The state air quality program is responsible for the implementation of the federal
standards under the CAA,as well as state rules for pollution sources not regulated by the
CA A.
2023 Synopsis
The overall story of Utah’s battle with wintertime air pollution is a story of success.Air
quality along the Wasatch Front during winter months shows a clear trend of continued
improvement over the past two decades despite a period of unprecedented growth in
population and economic activity in the state.All nonattainment areas have now met the
2006 federal standard for ne particulate matter (PM2.5)and signicant progress is being
made toward limiting the formation of ground-level ozone.
Despite these and other successes,in coming years Utah faces a growing list of challenges
that threaten to unravel the progress that has been made.Summertime ozone is now the
primary air quality concern along the Wasatch Front as concentrations are continually
above the health standard.Utah is one of the fastest growing states and much of this
growth is concentrated in urban centers along the Wasatch Front,producing an outsized
negative impact on air quality in those areas.Changes in precipitation patterns associated
with climate change will also negatively impact Utah’s air quality.Persistent drought
throughout the Western United States continues to produce large wildre events with
increasing frequency that signicantly degrade air quality for Utah residents.
Receding water levels in the Great Salt Lake are exposing areas of lakebed contaminated
with arsenic and other hazardous materials that are susceptible to transport into
populated areas through dust storms.In addition,it is likely that the federal standards for
PM2.5 and ozone will be reduced in coming years,making it ever more challenging to meet
and maintain compliance.Thus,despite a history of successes improving wintertime air
quality,the state is at a tipping point with regard to ozone.Future success will require a
similar level of sustained and coordinated commitment to make summertime air clean and
healthy for generations to come.
The following is a brief list of notable air quality highlights from 2023:
Meeting National Ambient Air Quality Standards
●The Northern Wasatch Front (NWF)ozone Nonattainment Area (NAA)includes Davis
and Salt Lake counties,as well as portions of Tooele and Weber counties.The state
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of Utah submitted a moderate State Implementation Plan (SIP)for the area in
October 2023 to the EPA.However,monitoring data from 2021 -2023 shows that the
area will not attain the standard by the moderate attainment date,and the area will
be reclassied from moderate to serious nonattainment in early 2025.With the
reclassication comes a requirement to submit another SIP revision that details how
the area will continue to reduce emissions,and implement additional statutory
requirements under the new designation as the area works towards meeting the
health-based standard.The Division has already begun the process of planning and
preparing the serious SIP that will be submitted to the EPA in January of 2026.The
Division will also develop and submit a retrospective 179B(b)demonstration for the
NWF NAA ,allowing the state to further examine and comment on the contributions
of international emissions on the area’s ability to attain the standard.
●The Southern Wasatch Front Ozone Nonattainment Area (SWF NAA)includes Utah
County.Monitored data collected during the summers of 2018,2019,and 2020 show
that the area attained the ozone standard of 0.070 ppm by the attainment date of
August 3rd,2021.As a result,the SWF NA A remains classied as a marginal NAA and
the state is not required to develop and submit a State Implementation Plan for this
area.A maintenance plan and redesignation request will be submitted in the future
when resources are available.
●The Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area (UB NAA)includes portions of Uintah
and Duchesne counties.The area is classied as a marginal nonattainment area due
to unusual wintertime ozone issues caused by emissions from oil and gas extraction
in the area.The area remains classied as marginal having submitted two one-year
extensions to the attainment date with monitored data that shows that the area
attained the standard.Ozone levels were very high in the basin in 2023 and may
impact EPA’s approval of the attainment date extensions.
●In November of 2020,the EPA proposed to redesignate the Salt Lake City and Provo
PM2.5 nonattainment areas to attainment .EPA received adverse comments on the
proposal.EPA and the Division continue working through how to address the
adverse comments so that the areas can be redesignated by the deadline of
December 2025.
Monitoring
●The Legislature appropriated $3,236,000 to the Division during the 2022 general
session for Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Systems to be purchased and
installed throughout the ozone nonattainment areas on the Wasatch Front.Three
sites,including Hawthorne,Red Butte,and a temporary site at the Technical Center
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 7 of 74
are fully operational.The Division continues work on the Erda and Bountiful sites.
The information from these new monitors will help the Division understand how and
what precursors are interacting in the atmosphere to cause ozone production.
Eventually,this information could be used to tailor pollution control strategies and
improve photochemical modeling for regulatory purposes.
●The Division also received funding from the Legislature to install ambient air
monitoring systems in Wasatch and Summit counties.A site has been identied in
Wasatch County and the Division is working towards equipment installation.Site
procurement in Summit County is ongoing as the Division works with property
owners and the utilities company.
Permiing
●The Division issued 128 permits during 2023,with an average of 138 days to issue the
permit from application
●Title V permitting drafted the rst Utah renery permit this year,completing the
process through public comment and preparing it for EPA 45 day review.The Utah
renery permits have been on hold since 1995 due to EPA SIP conict issues,which
were nally resolved in August 2023.
●Title V permitting completed all but one renewal this year leaving only a single
permit in “extended beyond permit date”status.This rate of completed renewals is
unmatched in the nation.
Compliance
●980 site inspections were conducted in 2023.644 stack test and continuous emission
monitoring reports were reviewed.169 compliance actions were taken that resulted
in 22 warning letters,19 no-further-action letters,and 28 settlement agreements
with a total assessed penalty amount of $499,801.
●The Division and EPA continued joint enforcement actions associated with oil and
gas facilities in the Uinta Basin.No additional consent decrees were nalized this
year,but signicant progress has been made toward closing out the ongoing sites in
the coming year.A new joint enforcement action associated with engine compliance
in the Uintah Basin was initiated in December of this year as well.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 8 of 74
Air Quality Research Projects
●The Division is supporting a study called the Utah Summer Ozone Study (USOS).The
study is being conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA).NOA A will leverage a mobile laboratory van and a fully-instrumented Twin
Otter aircraft to collect measurements of ozone precursors around the Salt Lake
Valley.This study is critical in understanding ozone pollution in the Salt Lake Valley.
It is expected that results from this study will improve the Division's regulatory
modeling efforts and better inform policy and rulemaking.
●The Division continues to work on a number of EPA-funded projects including the
enhancement of particulate matter (PM2.5,PM10)monitoring in underserved areas of
the Wasatch Front.The Division will also measure volatile organic compounds
(VOCs)in local communities.Additionally,EPA funding for these projects will also
help benet other state efforts to improve indoor air quality (Utah DHHS)and Radon
testing (Utah DEQ/DWMRC).
●The Division has completed its EPA-funded ethylene oxide (EtO)monitoring project
and a nal report has recently been submitted to the EPA .The Division also took this
opportunity to help the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS)develop
state-of-science guidance regarding EtO emissions and monitoring.
Air Quality Incentive Programs
Newly established in 2023 is the Division of Air Quality ’s Grants/Incentives Section.The
new section oversees a variety of funding opportunities that are available to individuals,
businesses,and government organizations for voluntarily reducing emissions.Programs
include incentives for reducing emissions from on-and off-road vehicles and equipment,
yard care equipment,wood stoves,oil and gas production,and encourage the adoption of
transformative zero-emission technologies.Funding for the programs come from a range
of sources,including federal funding opportunities,state appropriations,and settlement
monies.This year’s project highlights include:
●The Division submitted a $2.1 million application to the U.S.Department of Energy
(USDOE)for the Mitigating Emissions from Marginal Conventional Wells funding to
plug and abandon marginal conventional wells in the Uinta Basin.The USDOE
informed the Division that an increased award of $2.7 million will be granted to the
agency in 2024.
●DEQ became a Coalition Partner of the Office of Energy Development’s $100 million
Solar for All Utah grant application to EPA.Additional Coalition Partners include
Utah Clean Energy,the University of Utah,Salt Lake County,and Salt Lake City.The
program will offer residential and community solar exclusively to low-income
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 9 of 74
residents in urban,rural,and Tribal areas.EPA anticipates selecting grantees in
Spring 2024.
●The Uintah School District was awarded nearly $1.5 million through the DEQ’s
Environmental Mitigation Fund (EMF)to replace ten diesel school buses with
electric.The award supplement’s EPA’s award to the district of $3.75 million.Both
awards provide 100%funding to the district for ten electric school buses and the
electric charging infrastructure.
●Vernal City received a $230,000 award from the EMF for the Discovery Elementary
Trail that is an identied alternative transportation corridor that will address
pedestrian and bike pinch points and reduce unnecessary vehicle trips and idling
near Discovery Elementary.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Planning
A new greenhouse gas reduction planning initiative became available to states and tribes
in 2023.The Ination Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA)established funding for state greenhouse
gas planning and implementation efforts known as the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
(CPRG)program.
●This funding initiative includes two phases:
○Phase I provides $3 million for states to write a priority emission reduction
plan in the near-term and a long-term comprehensive emission reduction
plan.
○Phase II will provide $4.6 billion nationwide in competitive implementation
grant funding.
●On March 31,2023,Governor Cox submitted a Notice of Intent to Participate in the
Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to EPA that identied UDEQ as the lead
organization.
●The Division launched Utah’s Beehive Emission Reduction Plan with a kickoff
meeting on August 24,2023.All interested stakeholders may participate and submit
emission reduction ideas.The priority plan will be submitted to EPA by March 1,
2024 and will detail emission reduction measures for Utah.Phase II grant
applications are due to EPA on April 1,2024 and the projects submitted must be part
of the priority plan.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 10 of 74
2023 Legislative Reports
General Session 2023 House Bill 220:Emissions Reduction
Amendments
HB 220 directs the Division to:
●Complete an air emissions inventory of point sources that emit halogens by
December 31,2024.
●Complete a best available control technology emissions reduction plan to reduce
compounds of halogens with an implementation date of December 31,2026.
●Provide recommendations for a state standard limiting halogen emissions.These
items are to be published on the Division’s website.The legislation also directs the
Division to report on the status of the above to the Natural Resources,Agriculture,
and Environment (NRAE)Interim Committee during the November 2023 and 2024
meetings.
The legislation’s applicability is limited to Box Elder,Davis,Salt Lake,Weber,Tooele,and
Utah counties.The legislation also directs the Division to report to the Natural Resources,
Agriculture,and Environment (NRAE)Interim Committee during the November 2023 and
2024 meetings.More information,including the interim report,can be found here.
General Session 2022 Senate Bill 136:Air Quality Policy Amendments
S.B.136 directs the Division to conduct studies and provide recommendations that inform
the development of a Utah-specic diesel emissions reduction framework.The nal report
was submitted to the NRAE Interim Committee,the Economic Development and Workforce
Services Interim Committee,and the Transportation Interim Committee.The report was
submitted to the committees in November 2023 and included a diesel emissions reduction
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 11 of 74
program study and recommendations for a Utah Diesel Emissions Reduction Framework.
The report can be found here.
Air Quality Standards
The CAA requires the EPA to set NAAQS for pollutants considered harmful to public health
and the environment.The CAA establishes two types of air quality standards:primary and
secondary.Primary standards are set to protect public health,including the health of
sensitive populations such as asthmatics,children,and the elderly.Secondary standards
are set to protect public welfare,including protection from decreased visibility and
damage to animals,crops,vegetation,and buildings.
Standards are composed of a numerical value and a form (Table 2).The form may be a
statistical value,such as the 98th percentile calculation,or a rolling average over a
designated period of time that is then compared against the numerical value.
The EPA has established health-based NAAQS for six pollutants known as criteria
pollutants.The six criteria pollutants are carbon monoxide,nitrogen dioxide,ozone,
particulate matter,sulfur dioxide,and lead.Each criteria pollutant is addressed in greater
detail later in this report.Table 1 provides a brief description of each criteria pollutant and
Table 2 provides a brief description of each criteria pollutant’s primary and secondary
standard.The EPA establishes the primary health standards after considering both the
concentration level and the duration of exposure that can cause adverse health effects.
Pollutant concentrations that exceed the NA AQS are considered unhealthy for some
portion of the population.At concentrations between 1.0 and 1.5 times the standard,the
general public is not expected to be adversely affected by the pollutant;however,the most
sensitive portion of the population may be affected.At levels above 1.5 times the standard,
even healthy people may experience adverse effects.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 12 of 74
The Division monitors each criteria pollutant in the ambient air,as well as meteorological
conditions and several non-criteria pollutants for special studies at various monitoring
sites throughout the state.
Table 1:EPA Designated Criteria Pollutants
EPA Designated Criteria Pollutants
Name Sources Health Eects Welfare Effects
Carbon Monoxide
CO,a clear,
colorless,odorless
gas.
Burning of gasoline,wood,
natural gas,coal,oil,etc.
Reduces the ability
of blood to transport
oxygen to body cells
and tissues.May be
particularly
hazardous to people
who have heart or
circulatory (blood
vessel)problems and
people who have
damaged lungs or
airways.
Nitrogen Dioxide
NO2)(one
component of NOx)
smog-forming
chemical.
Burning of gasoline,natural
gas,coal,oil,and other
fuels;Cars are also an
important source of NO2
Can cause lung
damage,illnesses of
airways,and lungs
(respiratory system).
An ingredient of acid
rain (acid aerosols)
which can damage
trees,lakes,flora,and
fauna.Acid aerosols can
also reduce visibility.
Ozone (O3)
(ground-level ozone is
the principal
component of smog)
Chemical reaction of
pollutants;Volatile Organic
Compounds VOCs),and
NOx
Can cause breathing
problems,reduced
lung function,
asthma,irritated
eyes,stuy nose,
and reduced
resistance to colds
and other infections.
It may also speed up
aging of lung tissue.
Can damage plants and
trees;smog can cause
reduced visibility.
Particulate Maer
PM10,PM2.5)dust,
smoke,soot.
Burning of gasoline,natural
gas,coal,oil,and other
fuels;industrial plans;
agriculture (plowing or
burning fields);unpaved
roads,mining,construction
activities.Particles are also
formed from the reaction of
VOCs,NOx,SOx,and other
pollutants in the air.
Can cause nose and
throat irritation,lung
damage,bronchitis,
and early death.
Main source of haze
that reduces visibility.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 13 of 74
Sulfur Dioxide SO2)
Burning of coal and oil
(including diesel and
gasoline);industrial
processes.
Can cause breathing
problems and may
cause permanent
damage to lungs.
Ingredients of acid rain
(acid aerosols)which
can damage trees,
lakes,flora,and fauna.
Acid aerosols can also
reduce visibility.
Lead (Pb)
Paint (houses,cars),
smelters (metal refineries);
manufacturing of lead
storage baeries;note:
burning leaded gasoline
was the primary source of
lead pollution in the U.S.
until the federal
government mandated
unleaded gasoline.
Damages the
nervous systems,
including the brain,
and causes digestive
system damage.
Children are at higher
risk.Some
lead-containing
chemicals cause
cancer in animals.
Can harm wildlife.
Table 2:Ambient Air Quality Standards
Ambient Air Quality Standards
Pollutant Averaging
Time
Primary /
Secondary Standard Form
Ozone (O3)8 Hour Primary and
Secondary 0.070 ppm
Annual Fourth-highest daily
maximum 8-hr concentration,
averaged over three years
Respirable
Particulate Maer
PM10)
24 Hour Primary and
Secondary 150 µg/m3
Not to be exceeded more than
once per year on average over
three years
Fine Particulate
Maer PM2.5)
24 Hour Primary and
Secondary 35 µg/m3 98th percentile,averaged over
three years
Annual
Primary 12 µg/m3 Annual mean,averaged over three
years
Secondary 15 µg/m3 Annual mean,averaged over three
years
Carbon Monoxide
CO
1 Hour Primary 35 ppm Not to be exceeded more than
once per year
8 Hour Primary 9 ppm Not to be exceeded more than
once per year
Nitrogen Dioxide
NO2)
1 Hour Primary and
Secondary 100 ppb
98th percentile of 1-hour daily
maximum concentrations,
averaged over three years
Annual Primary and
Secondary 53 ppm Annual mean
Sulfur Dioxide SO2)
1 Hour Primary 75 ppb
98th percentile of 1-hour daily
maximum concentrations,
averaged over three years
3 Hour Secondary 0.5 ppm Not to be exceeded more than
once per year
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 14 of 74
Lead (Pb)Rolling 3 month
average
Primary and
Secondary 0.15 µg/m3 Not to be exceeded
Utah’s Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
Network
The Air Quality Monitoring Network currently operates monitors at 24 locations statewide.
Two of the monitoring sites have been established to fulll the Utah Senate Bill 144,which
directs the Department of Environmental Quality to establish and maintain monitoring
facilities to measure the environmental impact from the Inland Port development project.
These sites are the Lake Park Site (LP)and the Prison Site (ZZ).
The Division’s monitoring stations are strategically situated to measure both local and
regional levels of air pollutants,including particulate matter (PM),gaseous pollutants,and
meteorological variables.Currently,PM2.5 is measured at 23 locations,PM10 is monitored at
seven locations,O3 is monitored at 22 locations,NOX,NO,and NO2 are measured at 21
locations,CO is monitored at seven locations,and SO2 at four locations.Fourteen out of 19
PM2.5 monitoring sites use lter-based equipment,additionally;all the sites monitoring
PM2.5 and PM10 are equipped with continuous monitors.Meteorological parameters,wind
speed,wind direction,temperature,relative humidity,and solar radiation are measured at
most sampling sites.
Moreover,the network includes stations that participate in the National Core (NCore),
Speciation Trends Network (STN),Chemical Speciation Network (CSN),Photochemical
Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS),National Air Toxics Trends (NATTS),and
Near-road station EPA monitoring programs.
Data collected at these stations is primarily used for the following objectives:
●Evaluating population exposure to air pollutants
●Tracking the spatial distribution of air pollutants
●Assessing historical trends in air pollution
●Supporting compliance with ambient air quality standards (primary and secondary)
●Supporting air quality models and research studies
●Informing the general public of air pollution levels via mobile apps and web pages
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 15 of 74
●Developing State Implementation Plans (SIPs)and legislative air pollution control
measures
●Tracking the effectiveness of air pollution control strategies
●Activating control measures during high air pollution episodes,such as restricting
wood burning during winter-time inversions
●Monitoring of specic emission sources and air pollutants
Table 3 shows the monitoring station locations and monitored constituents for stations
operated in 2023.
Table 3:Utah Monitoring Network Stations
Utah Monitoring Network Stations
Station City Address CO NO2 O3 PM10 PM2.5 SO2 Met.
Air Monitoring
Center SLC 240 N.1950 W.X X X X X X
Antelope
Island None North end of island X
Badger Island Tooele Great Salt Lake
Bountiful Bountiful 200 W.1380 N.X X X X
Brigham City Box Elder
County W 1175 S.Brigham City X X X
Copperview Midvale 8449 S.Monroe St.X X X X X X
Enoch Enoch 3840 N.325 E.
Minersville Hwy.X X X X
Erda Tooele 2163 West Erda Way X X X X
Harrisville Harrisville 425 W.2250 N.X X X X X
Hawthorne SLC 1675 S.600 E.X X X X X X X
Herriman Riverton 14058 Mirabella Dr.X X X X X
Hurricane Hurricane 150 N.870 W.X X X X
Prison Site SLC 1480 N.8000 W.X X X X
Lake Park West Valley 2782 S.Corporate Park Dr X X X X X X
Lindon Lindon 30 N.Main St.X X X X X X
Near Road Murray 4951 S.Galleria Dr.X X X X X
Price #2 Price 351 S.Weasel Run Rd.X X X
Red Bue SLC Red Bue Canyon Rd.SLC X X
Roosevelt Roosevelt 290 S.1000 W.X X X X
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 16 of 74
Rose Park SLC 1354 W.Goodwin Ave.X X X X X X
Saltair None 6640 W.1680 N.X X
Smithfield Smithfield 675 W.220 N.X X X X X
Spanish Fork Spanish
Fork 312 W.2050 N.X X X
Vernal Vernal 628 N.1700 W.X X X X
Photochemical Assessment Monitoring System PAMS
The Photochemical Assessment Monitoring System (PAMS)network is an ozone precursor
monitoring network operated by state and local agencies.The PAMS program was
originally started in the early 1990s to meet the requirements of Section 182(c)(1)of the
CA A.Revisions to the PAMS requirements (40 CFR part 58,Appendix D)were made as part
of the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)review.The Legislature
appropriated $3,236,000 to the Division during the 2022 general session for additional
PAMS to be purchased and installed throughout the ozone nonattainment areas on the
Wasatch Front.The Division now operates several PAMS sites located at Red Butte,Erda,
Bountiful,Hawthorne,and the DEQ Technical Center as a temporary site.The objective of
the PAMS program is to produce an air quality database to be used to evaluate and rene
ozone prediction models.In addition,the program will help identify and quantify ozone
precursors,establish the temporal patterns,and associated meteorological conditions to
assist and rene the control strategies.The Division is measuring the following parameters
at the PAMS required site:
●Carbonyls
●Meteorological Paramenters
●Speciated VOCs
●NO/NOx
Criteria Air Pollutants
The CAA has three different designations for areas based on whether they meet the NAAQS
for each criteria pollutant.Areas in compliance with the NAAQS are designated as
attainment areas.Areas where there is no monitoring data,or insufficient data,are
designated as unclassiable.Lastly,areas that are not in compliance with the NAAQS are
designated as nonattainment.A maintenance area is an attainment area that was once
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 17 of 74
designated as nonattainment for a NAAQS,and has since demonstrated to the EPA that it
has attained and will continue to attain that standard for a minimum of ten years.
Most of the state of Utah has been designated as either attainment or unclassiable for
each of the NAAQS,with some criteria pollutants having a nonattainment or maintenance
classication as discussed below.
Ozone (O3)
Ozone is a highly reactive,colorless gas composed of three molecules of oxygen bonded
together.Ground level ozone is identical to ozone found in the stratospheric ozone layer
located ~15 miles above the earth’s surface.However,ozone found at these higher
elevations is generally considered good because it does not come into direct contact with
human activities and protects human health by shielding the earth from cancer-causing
ultraviolet radiation.In contrast,ground-level ozone is regulated by the EPA as a NAAQS
due to its harmful effects to human health.Ground level ozone is not directly emitted,but
is rather formed in the atmosphere by complex chemical reactions involving VOCs and
oxides of nitrogen (NOx)in the presence of sunlight.
Major sources for both VOCs and NOx include vehicle exhaust ,emissions from industrial
facilities,gasoline vapors,chemical solvent use,oil and gas production,wildres,and
biogenic emissions from natural sources such as vegetation.
Exposure to ozone has been linked to a variety of respiratory and pulmonary problems,
especially among susceptible populations.These health problems can include increased
susceptibility to respiratory illness like pneumonia and bronchitis,chest pain,irritation
and damage of lung tissue,irritation of the eyes,and aggravation of preexisting respiratory
issues such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Ozone production is a year-round phenomenon,with the highest concentrations generally
observed during the summer months when strong incoming solar radiation,high
temperatures,and stagnant meteorological conditions combine to drive the associated
chemical reactions.However,it has been found that under very unique circumstances,
high ozone levels can occur during the wintertime.In the Uinta Basin of Utah,wintertime
ozone is associated with the conuence of temperature inversions,snow cover,signicant
VOC and NOx emissions associated with oil and gas production,and solar radiation
(sunlight).Research is ongoing to better understand the chemical processes that lead to
wintertime ozone production.The maximum daily eight-hour monitored values for the
Ouray monitor in the Uinta Basin and the Hawthorne monitor on the Wasatch Front
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 18 of 74
illustrate the timing of high values in each area.Figure 1 shows that the Uinta Basin often
experiences a greater increase in ozone in the winter months than summer months,
whereas higher values on the Wasatch Front are typically only observed in the summer.
Figure 1:Daily Maximum 8-hour Ozone measurements at Hawthorne and Ouray
NA AQS Standards and Monitored Data
In October of 2015,the EPA strengthened the primary and secondary ozone NAAQS from
0.075 ppm to 0.070 ppm,based on a three-year average of the annual 4th highest daily
eight-hour average concentration.The standard was reviewed again in 2020,and the EPA
chose to retain the standard at 0.070 ppm.In August 2018,the EPA designated portions of
the Wasatch Front,Utah County,and the Uinta Basin as nonattainment areas for ozone.
Figures 2-5 show the annual 4th highest 8-hour ozone concentrations at monitoring
locations throughout the state,in the Uinta Basin,and along the Wasatch Front.In each of
these gures,dashed lines indicate the NAAQS standard,with the red dashed line
indicating the current NAAQS of 0.070 ppm.
In 2023,the Division’s monitors showed sites that exceeded the 2015 standard more than
four times,and thus recorded a violation of the standard at six of the 13 monitoring sites
located in counties along the Wasatch Front.2023 saw a similar number of exceedances as
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 19 of 74
seen in 2022,in part due to relatively few instances of days impacted by wildre smoke.
While the area continues to violate the NAAQS,the relatively good years of 2022 and 2023
combine to result in an anticipated improved design value (DV),or the value which
determines if an area is attaining the standard.The area’s new DV is expected to decrease
from 0.079 ppm to 0.077 ppm,representing a 2 ppb improvement .
The Uinta Basin experienced a strong and persistent atmospheric inversion in the winter
of 2023,which led to multiple exceedances of the 0.070 ppm standard at all monitoring
sites located within the basin.As a result,the Uinta Basin experienced a much worse year
for air quality than that observed in 2022.
Figure 2:4th Highest Daily Maximum 8-hour Average Ozone
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 20 of 74
Figure 3:4th Highest Daily Maximum 8-hour Average Ozone Uinta Basin
Figure 4:4th Highest Daily Maximum 8-hour Average Ozone Wasatch Front
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 21 of 74
Figure 5:Three Year Average of the 4th Highest Daily Maximum 8-hour Average Ozone
Ozone Updates
On August 3,2018 the EPA designated three
regions of Utah as marginal Nonattainment Areas
(NAA)for the 2015 NAAQS at 0.070 ppm.These
areas include the Northern and Southern Wasatch
Front,as well as the Uinta Basin (83 FR 25776).
Northern Wasatch Front Ozone Nonattainment Area
The Northern Wasatch Front (NWF)nonattainment
area (NAA)includes all of Salt Lake and Davis
counties,as well as portions of Tooele and Weber
counties (Figure 6).After its initial designation as a
marginal area,the NWF NAA failed to attain the
standard by the attainment date of August 3rd,
2021 and was subsequently redesignated to a
moderate NAA on November 7th,2022 (87 FR 60897).
As a moderate area,the Division was required to
develop and submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP)showing how the state aimed to
reduce ozone forming emissions and meet the standard.This moderate SIP revision was
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 22 of 74
approved by the Utah Air Quality Board on September 12,2023,and was submitted to the
EPA later that same month.This document outlines the state's efforts to meet all CAA
requirements for a moderate NAA.Given the substantial emission reductions associated
with previous PM2.5 SIP submissions,a signicant challenge facing the moderate,and
future SIP development ,is identifying and implementing reduction in anthropogenic VOC
emissions.As a result,efforts to identify and implement VOC emission reduction strategies
are ongoing throughout the NAA .
Ozone monitoring data collected throughout the summer of 2023 continue to show
exceedances of the NAAQS in three of the four NWF counties,with the area experiencing a
similar number of exceedances as observed during the 2022 season.As the DV for the 2015
ozone standard is based on a three year average,data collected during the summers of
2021,2022,and 2023 indicate that the area will not attain the standard by the moderate
attainment date of August 3rd,2024,and the area will be further reclassied to serious
nonattainment status.This reclassication will require the submission of an additional SIP
with more emission reductions.However,it is important to note that the number and
amplitude of exceedances observed in the NWF NAA in 2023 represent an improvement
over previous years,especially relative to 2021 which was an exceptionally bad year for
impacts associated with wildre emissions.As a result of the fewer,and less extreme,
exceedances seen throughout the NWF,the area's DV is expected to decrease from 0.079 to
0.077 ppm once data for the area is certied.
Given that the NWF NAA will not attain the standard by the moderate attainment date,and
will be reclassied to serious nonattainment status in early 2024,the Division has already
begun the process of developing a serious SIP.This SIP revision is anticipated to be
presented to the Utah Air Quality Board in approximately July of 2025 for a proposal for
public comment.The Division then anticipates proposing the SIP revision for nal
adoption in approximately November of 2025,with a submission to the EPA in January of
2026.Additional ongoing SIP efforts include additional development of an area-specic
photochemical model and further rened emission inventories.
Due to the complexities of ozone formation,and challenges associated with addressing
ozone in the Intermountain West,the Division plans to continue to focus much of its
upcoming research efforts to better understand ozone along the Wasatch Front.These
efforts include a better understanding of how wildre and biogenic emissions impact
ozone formation,the important role of halogen emissions in local ozone formation,as well
as an intensive eld campaign planned for the summer of 2024.
In addition to the improvements in photochemical modeling,intensive scientic eld
campaign,and the development of a serious SIP highlighted above,the Division
anticipates developing and submitting to the EPA a CAA section 179B(b),international
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 23 of 74
contributions demonstration,for the NWF NAA.In this demonstration,the Division will
aim to demonstrate how anthropogenic emissions from international sources interfere
with the NAA’s ability to attain the standard,and contribute to exceeding the standard.It is
anticipated that this demonstration will be submitted to the EPA for review in fall of 2024,
prior to the issuance of a national determination of attainment by attainment date,and
therefore before the area is classied as a serious NAA.
Southern Wasatch Front Ozone Nonattainment Area
The Southern Wasatch Front (SWF)NA A includes the populated regions of Utah County
along the Wasatch Front .Monitored data collected during the summers of 2018,2019,and
2020 show that the area attained the NAAQS of 0.070 ppm by the attainment date of August
3rd,2021.As a result,the SWF NAA remains classied as a marginal NAA and the state is
not required to develop and submit a SIP for this area.However,given the proximity to the
NWF and the rate of population growth associated with this area,emission reduction
strategies being developed for the NWF NAA SIP could be extended to include the SWF.
Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area
The Uinta Basin NAA was designated nonattainment in August 2018 and is a unique ozone
NAA in many ways.It has a designation area based upon elevation including areas in
Uintah and Duchesne County below 6,250 feet above sea level.It is a rural area with a small
population,however the geography and weather conditions combined with the presence
of signicant oil and gas production emissions of VOCs and NOx,creates occasional high
levels of ozone exceeding the standard.These ozone events occur in the winter months
during a cold air inversion trapping emissions in the basin with snow on the ground
reecting the UV radiation from the sun creating the radiant energy needed to combine
VOC and NOx to ozone.
Reductions in oil and gas production in 2020 and potentially different weather patterns
due to climate change resulted in less incidents of ozone exceedances and allowed the
Division to request two one-year extensions to the original attainment date of August 3,
2021.The rst one-year extension was granted however EPA has yet to make a decision on
the second request leaving the UB NAA with some regulatory uncertainty.The delay in
EPA’s decision may have to do with recent increased oil production in the UB NA A and the
area experiencing several exceedances of the ozone standard during the winter of 2023.
Though the regulatory status of the UB NAA continues to be uncertain,both EPA and the
Division continue to address emissions sources to ensure healthy air quality in the area and
support the growth of the oil and gas industry.The EPA Federal Implementation Plan for
oil and gas sources in the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation was issued November 2022,
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 24 of 74
with a compliance date of February 2023 for existing sources.Additionally on December 3,
2023 EPA issued nal rules for oil and natural gas sources strengthening VOC requirements
and setting standards to control methane emissions.These will be fully implemented for
new sources by the end of 2024 and will require a state plan to implement these rules for
existing sources by 2029.These actions will reduce emissions that contribute to both ozone
formation and climate change,with a parity of requirements for both state,federal,and
tribal jurisdictions.The Division continues to focus on pumpjack engines and storage
tanks for UB specic emission reductions.Additionally,there are upcoming potential
federal grant opportunities associated with green house gas reductions to assist in
emission reductions from the oil and gas industry.
Particulate Maer PM
Regulated particulate matter is a complex mixture of extremely small particles of solid or
semisolid material suspended in the atmosphere and is divided into two categories:PM10
and PM2.5.PM10 is a particulate less than ten micrometers in diameter,which is about
one-seventh the width of a strand of human hair.The coarse fraction of PM10,which is
larger than 2.5 microns,is typically made up of “fugitive dust”such as sand and dirt blown
by winds from roadways,elds,mining,and construction sites,and contains large
amounts of silicate (sand-like)material.PM2.5,or ne particulate,is a subset of PM10 that
measures 2.5 microns in diameter or less.Primary PM2.5 is directly emitted into the
atmosphere from combustion sources such as black carbon from cars and trucks,and soot
from replaces and woodstoves.These particles are so small that they can become
embedded in human lung tissue,exacerbating respiratory diseases and cardiovascular
problems.Other negative effects are reduced visibility and accelerated deterioration of
buildings.The majority of Utah’s PM2.5 is called secondary aerosol,meaning that it is not
emitted directly as a particle,but is produced when gasses such as sulfur dioxide (SO2),
NOx,and VOCs react with other gasses in the atmosphere,such as ammonia,to become
tiny particles.
Wintertime temperature inversions not only provide ideal conditions for the creation of
secondary aerosols,they also act to trap air in valleys long enough for concentrations of
PM2.5 to build up to levels that can be unhealthy.The smallest of particles that make up
PM2.5 are major contributors to visibility impairment in both urban and rural areas.Along
the Wasatch Front,the effects can be seen as the thick,brownish haze that lingers in our
northern valleys,particularly in the winter.The Division currently operates PM10 and PM2.5
monitors throughout the state to assess the ambient air quality with respect to the
standards for both PM10 and PM2.5.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 25 of 74
NA AQS Standards and Monitored Data
PM10
The EPA established the 24-hour air quality standard for PM10 in July 1987 as 150 μg /m3,
and the standard has been retained after reviews in 1997,2006,2012,and 2020.The
standard is met when the probability of
exceeding the standard is no greater
than once per year for a three-year
averaging period.In other words,four
estimated exceedances within a
three-year period would constitute a
violation.Salt Lake County and Utah
County had been designated
nonattainment for PM10 shortly after
the standard was promulgated.Ogden
City was also designated as a
nonattainment area due to one year of
high concentrations (1992),but was
determined to be attaining the
standard in January 2013.
State Implementation Plans (SIP)were
written and promulgated in 1991,and
included control strategies that were
responsible for the marked decrease in
PM10 concentrations observed in the
early 1990s.Ogden City,and Salt Lake
and Utah Counties were officially
designated as attainment for PM10
effective March 27th,2020.These three former
nonattainment areas are now subject to the
maintenance plans that were approved by EPA and the areas must continue to attain the
standard for the rst maintenance period of ten years.
High values of monitored PM10 sometimes result from exceptional events,such as dust
storms and wildres.The data from such events can be agged under the EPA Exceptional
Events Rule for exclusion by EPA when they cause a violation.While there have been
isolated high values in the past 14 years,none resulted in a violation of the NAAQS.Figure
8 shows the PM10 estimated exceedances at monitored sites in Utah since 2000.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 26 of 74
Figure 8:PM10 Estimated Exceedances
The statistical form of the standard essentially allows for one exceedance per year,
regardless of how high the value may be.For this reason,it is often useful to look at the
second highest value collected at a particular location.Figure 9 shows the second highest
24-hour PM10 concentrations recorded at each station since 2000.The heavy dashed line
indicates the NAAQS.
Figure 9:PM10 Second Highest 24-Hour Concentration
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 27 of 74
PM2.5
The EPA rst established standards for PM2.5 in
1997.In 2006,the EPA lowered the 24-hour PM2.5
standard from 65µg /m3 to 35 µg /m3.In 2012,the
EPA lowered the annual standard from 15μg /m3 to
12µg /m3.The PM2.5 NAAQS underwent a review in
2020 and the standards were retained.The
standard is evaluated by averaging monitored
data collected during a three-year period.This
minimizes the effects of year-to-year
meteorological variability.The 24-hour standard
is met when the average of 98th percentile values
collected for each of the three years is less than
or equal to 35 μg /m3 .The 98th percentile
concentration for each year is selected from all of
the data recorded at a given monitor,such that
the values of at least 98 percent of all that data
are of a lower concentration.
Figure 11 shows that all monitors in Utah are in compliance with the 1997 standard.The
three-year averages from 2018-2020 show that all monitors are in compliance with the 2006
standard.The Inland Port monitoring location was not included in the graph as it only has
two years of data.
The annual standard is met when the three-year average of annual mean concentrations is
no greater than 12µg /m3.Figures 12 and 13 show that all locations meet the annual
standard and also illustrate a downward trend in the annual mean concentrations.This is
interesting to note because trends in the annual averages are not as easily obscured by
short term meteorology as are trends in the 24-hour values.This downward trend is likely
also indicative of trends in 24-hour concentrations,absent the inuence of year-to-year
variability in the severity of wintertime cold pool (inversion)conditions.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 28 of 74
Figure 11:PM2.5 Three-Year Average 98th Percentile 24-Hour Concentration
Figure 12:PM2.5 Annual Mean Concentration
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 29 of 74
Figure 13:PM2.5 Three-Year Average of the Annual Mean Concentration
Particulate Maer Updates
With the PM2.5 NAAQS lowered in 2006,Salt
Lake City,Provo,and Logan areas were
classied as moderate nonattainment.
Moderate SIPs were submitted to EPA;
however,Salt Lake City and Provo failed to
attain the 24-hour standard (35 µg /m3)as of
the statutory attainment date of December
31,2015.As a result,EPA reclassied these
areas from moderate nonattainment areas
to serious nonattainment areas.
Reclassication to serious nonattainment
required the Division to revise the
implementation plans.The serious area SIP
amendments reach beyond the level of
emission controls determined to be
“reasonably available”which were
included in Utah’s moderate area SIPs,and
achieve a level dened as the “best
available.”The additional controls
implemented through the serious SIP,
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 30 of 74
coupled with favorable meteorology brought the areas into attainment of the standard by
the attainment date of December 31,2019.
Attainment of the standard does not mean the area is reclassied to attainment status.The
EPA must act to redesignate an area from nonattainment to attainment status.The CAA
outlines ve requirements that a nonattainment area must satisfy for redesignation to
occur:
1.attainment of the standard;
2.fully approved attainment SIP;
3.improvement in air quality is due to permanent and enforceable emissions
reductions;
4.the state has met requirements applicable to the area under CAA Section 110 and
part D;and
5.a fully approved maintenance plan.
All regulatory requirements for redesignation have been met for all three areas,with the
maintenance plan being the core requirement for redesignating areas to attainment.The
plans demonstrate continued attainment of the standard through 2035 with an
intermediate year check in 2026.Eight years after redesignation,the Division is required to
submit a maintenance plan revision demonstrating attainment for the second ten-year
maintenance period.EPA nalized redesignation of the Logan,UT-ID nonattainment area
to attainment on June 18,2021.The Logan area is now in the rst ten-year maintenance
period.In November of 2020,the EPA proposed to redesignate the Salt Lake City and Provo
PM2.5 nonattainment areas to attainment.EPA received adverse comments on the proposal,
and EPA and the Division continue to work through how to address the adverse comments
so that the areas can be redesignated to attainment.
Sulfur Dioxide SO2)
Sulfur dioxide is a colorless gas with a pungent odor.In the atmosphere,sulfur dioxide is
easily converted into sulfates,which are detected as particulates.It is also converted into
sulfuric acid,the major acidic component of acid rain.It is emitted primarily from
stationary sources that burn fossil fuels such as power plants and reneries.SO2 is also a
byproduct of copper smelting.Diesel fuel and,to a lesser extent,gasoline contain sulfur
and are considered contributors to sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere.
NA AQS Standards and Monitored Data
In 1971,EPA established a 24-hour average SO2 standard of 0.14 ppm,and an annual
arithmetic average standard of 0.030 ppm.Throughout the 1970s,the Magna monitor
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 31 of 74
routinely measured violations of the 1971
24-hour standard.Consequently,all of Salt Lake
County and parts of eastern Tooele County
above 5,600 feet were designated as
nonattainment for that standard.Two
signicant technological upgrades at the
Kennecott smelter costing the company nearly
one billion dollars resulted in continued
compliance with the SO2 standard since 1981.In
the mid-1990s,Kennecott,Geneva Steel,the ve
reneries in Salt Lake City,and several other
large sources of SO2 made dramatic reductions
in emissions as part of an effort to curb
concentrations of secondary particulates
(sulfates)that were contributing to PM10
violations.More recently,Kennecott closed
Units 1,2,and 3 of its coal-red power plant in
2016,and it closed Unit 4 in 2019,resulting in
further SO2 emissions reductions.
Utah submitted an SO2 Maintenance Plan and
redesignation request for Salt Lake and Tooele
Counties to the EPA in April of 2005,but EPA never took formal action on the request.
Because of changes in the emissions in subsequent years,and changes in the modeling
used to demonstrate attainment of the standard,in November,2019,the state of Utah
withdrew the 2005 Maintenance Plan and redesignation request.The Division is currently
working with EPA to develop a new maintenance plan and redesignation request to
address the 1971 standard.
In 2010,EPA revised the primary standard for SO2,setting it at 75 ppb for a three-year
average of the 99th percentile of the annual distribution of daily maximum one-hour
average concentrations for SO2.The secondary standard is a three-hour standard of 0.5
ppm and is not to be exceeded more than once per year.On November 1,2016,Governor
Herbert submitted a recommendation to EPA that all areas of the state be designated as
attainment for the 2010 SO2 NAAQS based on monitoring and air quality modeling data.On
January 9,2018,EPA formally concurred with this recommendation and designated all
areas of the state attainment or unclassiable.Figure 16 shows the most current
measurements to compare against the primary SO2,NAAQS of 75 ppb.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 32 of 74
Figure 16:Three Year Average of the 99th Percentile of the Daily Maximum 1-hour Average SO2
Carbon Monoxide CO
Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas
formed by the incomplete combustion of
carbon-based fuels.Carbon monoxide is
primarily produced from on-road motor
vehicles.Other signicant sources of carbon
monoxide emissions are wood burning stoves
and replaces.Other emission sources include
industrial facilities,construction equipment,
miscellaneous mobile sources,and other types
of space heating.
Because motor vehicle emissions are the
primary source of carbon monoxide,the highest
concentrations occur during morning and
evening rush hours near high-traffic areas.The
worst problems occur when there are large
numbers of slow-moving vehicles in large
parking lots,busy intersections,and traffic jams.
Historically,as exhibited in the CAA ,it was the EPA’s
presumption that all elevated carbon monoxide levels
were the result of mobile source emissions,and a state had to go through a rigorous
demonstration to prove otherwise.In Utah,areas of elevated carbon monoxide
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 33 of 74
concentrations were typically found near roadways.Carbon monoxide values are higher in
winter due to several factors,including cold weather resulting in motor vehicles running
less efficiently,wood burning and building heating,and temperature inversions which can
trap carbon monoxide and other pollutants.
NA AQS Standards and Monitored Data
The EPA has developed two national ambient air quality standards for carbon monoxide.
They are 35 ppm of CO averaged over a one-hour period,and nine ppm of CO averaged
over an eight-hour period.A violation of the NAAQS occurs with the second exceedance of
either standard at a single location in a calendar year.Once a location is in violation,it is
designated as nonattainment.
Salt Lake City,Ogden,and Provo were at one time designated as nonattainment areas for
carbon monoxide.Due primarily to improvements in motor vehicle technology,Utah has
been in compliance with carbon monoxide standards since 1994 (Figure 18 and Figure 19).
Salt Lake City,Ogden,and Provo were redesignated to attainment status in 1999,2001,and
2006 respectively.Redesignated areas are required to complete two 10-year maintenance
periods to demonstrate the ability to maintain attainment of the standard.The
maintenance period for Salt Lake City ended in 2019 and in 2021,Ogden completed its
maintenance period,leaving only Provo in maintenance for carbon monoxide until 2026.
Figure 18:Carbon Monoxide Second Highest 1-Hour Concentration
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 34 of 74
Figure 19:Carbon Monoxide Second Highest 8-Hour Concentration
Nitrogen Dioxide NO2)
During high temperature combustion,nitrogen in the air reacts with oxygen to produce
various oxides of nitrogen,or NOx,a reddish-brown gas.One of the oxides of nitrogen,NO2,
is a criteria pollutant.
Oxides of nitrogen can react with other pollutants through secondary reactions in the
atmosphere to form additional pollutants of concern.In the summer along the Wasatch
Front,and in the winter in the Uinta Basin,photochemical reactions between NO2 and
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)lead to the formation of ground-level ozone.In the
winter,NO2 can undergo a series of reactions to form nitric acid (HNO3)which then reacts
with ammonia (NH3)to form ne particulate matter (PM2.5).Both of these seasonal
scenarios can result in increased pollution and violations of the NAAQS.Utah continues to
have difficulty with both the ozone and particulate matter standards,and because of this,
the Division is mindful of the trend in NO2 concentrations as illustrated in Figure 20.
NA AQS Standards and Monitored Data
The EPA has established two national standards for NO2 –an hourly standard and an
annual standard.The hourly standard is set at 100 ppb measured as the three-year average
of the 98th percentile of the annual distribution of daily maximum one-hour average
concentrations.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 35 of 74
The annual NO2 standard of 53 ppb is expressed as an annual arithmetic mean (average)as
seen in Figure 21.The Division monitors the concentrations of NO2 at various locations
throughout the state.
As shown in Figure 20 and Figure 21,Utah has never exceeded the standards for NO2.
Figure 20:Nitrogen Dioxide 98th Percentile of Daily Max 1-hr Averages
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 36 of 74
Figure 21:Nitrogen Dioxide Annual Averages
Lead (Pb)
Lead in the ambient air exists primarily as particulate matter in the respirable size range.
Historically,the major source of lead emissions came from the burning of leaded gasoline.
However,because leaded gasoline for automobiles was completely phased out in the U.S.
by the end of 1995,lead from gasoline is no longer a signicant problem.Currently,the
primary source of lead emissions in Utah is the extraction and processing of metallic ores.
Exhaust from small aircraft is another source of lead emissions in the state.
Utah has not exceeded the health standard for lead since the late 1970s,and the EPA
authorized the discontinuation of lead monitoring in Utah in 2005;however,in both 2008
and 2010,the EPA set new monitoring requirements for lead,and the Division resumed
monitoring in 2010.
NA AQS Standards and Monitored Data
On November 12,2008,the EPA strengthened the NAAQS for lead.The previous standard
was a calendar quarter (three-month)average concentration not to exceed 1.5 μg /m3.The
new standard is 0.15 μg /m3 as total suspended particles (TSP),measured as a three-month
rolling average.The new standard included a new monitoring requirement,so the Division
began lead monitoring again at the Magna station near the Kennecott copper smelter.Data
was collected from January 2010 through June 2017,at which time the Division was able to
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 37 of 74
demonstrate the likelihood of violating the standard was so remote,it would no longer be
necessary to run the monitor.With EPA’s concurrence,the Magna lead monitor was shut
down in June 2017.The Division and EPA continue to monitor requirements,such as source
emission thresholds,population,and NAAQS revisions that may trigger the necessity to
resume monitoring lead in Utah.
Regional Haze
The Regional Haze Rule requires Utah to
address regional haze in each mandatory Class
I Area (CIA)located within Utah and in each
mandatory CIA located outside Utah that may
be affected by pollutants emitted from sources
within Utah.The objectives of the Regional
Haze Rule are to improve existing visibility in
156 national parks,wilderness areas,and
monuments (termed Mandatory Class I Areas
or CIAs),prevent future impairment of
visibility by manmade sources,and meet the
national goal of natural visibility conditions in
all mandatory CIAs by 2064.Utah’s CIAs
consist of:Arches National Park,Bryce Canyon
National Park,Canyonlands National Park,
Capitol Reef National Park,and Zion National
Park.More information on Utah’s regional haze
history can and current developments can be
found here.
Regional Haze Updates
The Division submitted the second implementation period SIP to EPA in July 2022 and is
awaiting their review.The Division is currently working on the Regional Haze Progress
Report due to EPA by January 31st,2025.
Climate Pollution Reduction Grant
On August 16,2022,the Ination Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA)was signed into law.Among
other provisions,the IRA established funding for state greenhouse gas planning and
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 38 of 74
implementation efforts.This funding initiative,known as the Climate Pollution Reduction
Grants (CPRG)program,includes two phases.
Phase I provides formula planning grant funding for states ($3M each),metropolitan areas
($1M to each of the 67 largest areas),territories ($2M set-aside),and tribes ($25M set-aside)
to develop plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Phase II will provide $4.6B
nationwide in competitive implementation grant funding for government entities
participating in Phase I.Find more information at EPA’s CPRG program.
Governor Cox identied the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ),as the lead
agency to receive CPRG funding to engage in emission reduction planning in Utah through
the Beehive Emission Reduction Plan initiative.In this capacity,DEQ will play a key role in
helping Utah secure broader emissions reduction-related funding under the IRA,the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA),and other sources.DEQ has extensive
emission reduction planning experience and is prepared to coordinate with partners to
ensure that funding is leveraged to support balanced,state-driven solutions that pave the
way for continued growth while maintaining a high-quality of life in Utah.
Division Organization
Figure 22:Division of Air Quality Organization
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 39 of 74
Permiing Program
The Division’s Operating Permit Section,Major New Source Review Section,and Minor
New Source Review Section are responsible for implementing state and federal air
permitting programs that are intended to control air emissions from new and modied
stationary sources.
Permits are legally enforceable documents that specify the size and number of allowable
emission units,operational limits of permitted emission units,and emission limits for each
permitted source.Permitted emission limits can be emission limitations (mass or
concentration)or surrogate limits such as production rates,hours of operation,fuel
consumption,or a combination thereof.Opacity,the measure of opaqueness or
transparency of emission plumes,is also a common metric used to both limit and measure
source emissions.Permits include testing and monitoring requirements.The results of the
tests and the monitoring data are used to determine if a source of air pollution is operating
in compliance with the permit and the rules.
The Division issues two types of permits.New Source Review (NSR)permits,also known as
Approval Orders (AOs),are preconstruction-type permits for new and modied sources of
air emissions.These are issued by the New Source Review Sections and have been required
in Utah since 1969.
The Operating Permits Section issues the Title V Operating Permits to the “major”
stationary sources in the state,as required in Title V of the federal CAA .There are currently
76 of these sources.Operating permits consolidate all air quality related requirements from
numerous state and federal air quality programs into a single regulatory document.The
purpose of an operating permit is to clarify for the permit holder,as well as the Division’s
compliance inspectors,the wide range of requirements applicable to any regulated source
by placing those requirements into one consolidated document.
In addition,the Division’s permitting sections process a number of smaller actions such as
de minimis determinations for NSR,name changes,tax exemption certicates for pollution
control equipment purchases,and soil aeration approvals.
New Source Review
Any new or modied source of air pollution in Utah is required to obtain an AO before it is
allowed to begin construction.For areas that are not in compliance with the NAAQS,a NSR
permit ensures that air quality is not further degraded from the existing levels by new
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 40 of 74
emission sources.In areas that are in compliance with the NAAQS,an NSR permit ensures
that new emissions do not signicantly worsen air quality.These processes are outlined in
both state and federal rules.
The application for an AO,called a notice of intent (NOI),is reviewed to ensure that the
source installs appropriate state-of-the-art emission controls.For major sources in
nonattainment areas,state-of-the-art technology is known as lowest achievable emission
rate (LAER).For areas in attainment of the NAAQS and for minor sources in nonattainment
areas,state-of-the-art controls are known as the best available control technology (BACT).
Both LAER and BACT are case-by-case determinations of control technology for a specic
source.BACT considers the technical feasibility of implementing the control,the cost,and
the environmental benets of the control equipment,while LAER technology considers
only technological feasibility and environmental benets.The general public and the EPA
are given an opportunity to review the proposed AO before it is issued.The Utah Air
Quality Rules specify the criteria indicating which sources must obtain an AO.
The Division NSR Sections recently implemented a review of the Approval Orders to
stationary sources that were issued over ten years and older.Any new rules that now apply
to the stationary source are highlighted in the permit.The contact information is also
updated in the permit to assist in contacting the source in the future.Any grammatical or
typographical errors are also corrected.These reviews allow the Division to update the
permitting database with updated emission estimates and permitted equipment .These
updates allow the Division to pull accurate data and reports from the database to assist in
air quality planning efforts.
The regulated community and general public can now successfully track the Notice of
Intent (NOI)applications through the permitting process in near real-time using the
recently developed permitting dashboard https://noistatus.deq.utah.gov/status.
The dashboard provided transparency to the public of all the relevant permitting
activities.It also allows the regulated sources to view the permitting process ow for each
submitted NOI.The dashboard includes contact information,a ow chart of the permitting
process and where the NOI currently is in the approval process.The permitting dashboard
assisted permit engineers with increased permit issuance frequency last year and it helped
improve communication between permitting engineers,the regulated community,and the
public.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 41 of 74
Operating Permits (Title V)
Congress created Title V of the CA A in 1990.This Title requires states to issue an operating
permit to the larger or “major”sources of air pollution within the state.Utah developed
and submitted a Title V program in 1994 and received approval from the EPA in 1995.
Operating permits are legally enforceable documents issued to air pollution sources after
the source has begun to operate.A primary purpose of the permit is to consolidate the
applicable requirements from the many and varied air quality programs such as NSR
permits,SIPs,federal New Source Performance Standards (NSPS),National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP),and Maximum Available Control
Technology (MACT).
The general public is given an opportunity to review the draft operating permits before
they are issued.In addition,the EPA has up to 45 days to review the proposed operating
permit.The criteria indicating which sources must obtain an operating permit are
specied in R307-415 of the Utah Administrative Code (UAC).As with the NSR permit or
AOs,potential applicants are encouraged to contact the Division prior to submitting the
necessary paperwork.
Another signicant objective of the Title V program is to shift the compliance liability from
the regulating agency to the permitted source.Each year,the source must certify that it is
in compliance with all permit terms and conditions or indicate non-compliance issues.
False reports have criminal implications beyond the civil liabilities of other violations.In
addition,sources must report the results of monitoring at least every six months.Permit
provisions for monitoring,record keeping,and reporting are added or enhanced to ensure
compliance with the permit conditions and limits.
An operating permit has a life of only ve years.These permits,both initially and upon
renewal,are complex and care must be taken to ensure that federal requirements for the
Compliance Assurance Monitoring Rule (CAM)and any other new requirements,such as
new MACT Standards,are included.
Title V permitting drafted the rst Utah renery permit this year,completing the process
through public comment and preparing it for EPA 45 day review.The Utah renery permits
have been on hold since 1995 due to EPA SIP conict issues,which were nally resolved in
August 2023.
Additionally all but one Title V permit renewals were completed this year leaving only a
single permit in “extended beyond permit date”status.This rate of completed renewals is
unmatched in the nation.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 42 of 74
Compliance Program
The Compliance Program consists of four
sections:Major Source Compliance,Minor
Source Compliance,Minor Source Oil and Gas
and Air Toxics,Lead-Based Paint,and Asbestos
(ATLAS).These sections are responsible for
ensuring compliance with all air pollution
orders,permits,rules,and standards.This is
accomplished through inspections,audits of
stack tests and continuous emission monitoring
systems (CEMS),plan and report reviews,
accreditation and certication programs,
compliance assistance/outreach activities,and,
when necessary,enforcement actions.
Major,Minor and Minor Oil &Gas Source Compliance
The Major,Minor,and Minor Oil &Gas Source Compliance sections are responsible for
ensuring compliance at more than 4,500 facilities within the state.The Major Source
Compliance Section is responsible for inspections and report/plan reviews for the large
facilities,audits of stack tests and continuous emission monitoring systems,and any
associated enforcement.The Minor Source Compliance Section is responsible for
inspections and report and plan reviews at small to medium-sized facilities,audits,stack
tests,fugitive dust control,abrasive blasting,residential solid fuel burning,open burning,
and any associated enforcement.The Minor Oil &Gas Compliance Section is responsible
for inspections and report and plan reviews at oil and gas related facilities,audits,stack
tests and gasoline transport and lling station vapor recovery.
Table 4:2023 Compliance Summary
Major &Minor Compliance Count
Source Inspections 755
On-Site Stack Test/CEM Audits 72
Stack Test/CEM Reviews 415
Emission Reports Reviewed 229
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 43 of 74
Temporary Relocations Accepted 67
Fugitive Dust Control Plans Accepted 1,319
Soil Remediation Report Reviews 12
Open Burn Permit Application Completed Online 7,733
Misc.Inspections 153
Complaints Received 181
Wood Burning Complaints 51
Breakdown Reports Received 16
Compliance Actions Resulting from a Breakdown 1
VOC inspections 0
SCAN/Warning Leers 22
NOV's 3
Compliance Advisories 76
No Further Action Leers Issued 19
Selements 28
Penalties assessed $499,801.00
Total Inspections 980
Air Toxics,Lead-Based Paint,and Asbestos Section
ATLAS
ATLAS determines compliance with multiple regulations involving asbestos and
lead-based paint (LBP).ATLAS is responsible for the following programs:
Lead-Based Paint
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)Title IV,40 CFR Part 745 and Utah Administrative
Code (UAC)R307-840,841,and 842.Under this program,ATLAS performs regulatory
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 44 of 74
oversight of training providers,regulated projects subject to the LBP Activities Rule and
the LBP Renovation,Repair,and Painting Rule,certication of individuals and rms,and
lead-based paint outreach activities.
Asbestos in Schools
TSCA Title II Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA),40 CFR Part 763 and,
UAC R307-801-4.Under this program,ATLAS deals with the review and approval of AHERA
Management Plans,performs inspections of buildings subject to AHERA,and inspections
and asbestos abatement for structures subject to AHERA .
Asbestos NESHAP and State Asbestos Work Practices
40 CFR Part 61,Subpart M,UAC R307-214-1 and UAC R307-801.Under this program,ATLAS
deals with the certication of individuals and companies,review of asbestos project
notication forms,review of demolition notication forms,review of alternative work
practice requests,inspection of asbestos abatement projects,demolition of structures,and
asbestos outreach activities.
Table 5:2023 ATLAS Activity Summary
Activity Count
Asbestos Demolition/Renovation NESHAP Inspections 264
Asbestos AHERA Inspections 228
Asbestos State Rules Only Inspections 27
Asbestos Notification Forms Accepted 1821
Asbestos Telephone Calls 3661
Asbestos Individuals Certifications Approved 1216
Asbestos Company Certifications/Re-Certifications 102
Asbestos Alternate Work Practices Approved/Disapproved 38/0
Lead-Based Paint LBPInspections 18
LBP Notification Forms Approved 13
LBP Telephone Calls 657
LBP Leers Prepared and Mailed 54
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 45 of 74
LBP Courses Reviewed/Approved 0
LBP Course Audits 4
LBP Individual Certifications Approved 205
LBP Firm Certifications 140
Notices of Violation Sent 1
Compliance Advisories Sent 91
Warning Leers Sent 49
Selement Agreements Finalized 17
Penalties Agreed to $47,654.00
Small Business Environmental Assistance 507 Program
SBEAP
The CAA 507 Programs consist of three parts:A Small Business Ombudsman (SBO)to act as
an advocate for small business,a Small Business Environmental Assistance Program
(SBEAP)to provide technical support,and a Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel
(CAP)to provide feedback and help identify small business issues.The SBEAP helps small
businesses understand and comply with state environmental regulations including air
quality rules.The SBEAP continues to assist small businesses by providing web resources,
responses to email and telephone inquiries,and assistance with permitting through a
pre-design program.The Division’s CAP sunsetted due to 2022 legislation.The SBEAP CAP
has successfully been combined with the Division’s Industry Stakeholder Meeting.
Enforcement Actions
The following enforcement actions may be taken depending on the magnitude of the
alleged violation(s),prior compliance history,and degree of cooperation of an alleged
violator:
●Warning Letter –a notication sent to violators to resolve minor,and/or rst-time
violations.
●Early Settlement Agreement –a less formal administrative resolution of an alleged
violation(s)in which the Division and the recipient agree in writing to specic
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 46 of 74
actions taken to correct the alleged violation(s).Any stipulated penalties are
discounted by 20%to encourage quick resolution.Supplemental Environmental
Projects or payment to the DEQ Environmental Mitigation Fund may be used to
offset a portion of any cash payments for stipulated penalties.All collected cash
penalties become part of the State General Fund.
●Notice of Violation and Order for Compliance –a formal,traditional declaration of a
violation(s)which involves the Attorney General’s Office.The cited violation(s)
become nal after 30 days,unless formal appeal procedures are followed.
●Settlement Agreement –a resolution of a Notice of Violation and Order for
Compliance.The Division and the recipient agree to specic actions taken to correct
the potential violation(s).No discounts of stipulated penalties are offered.The
Division legal costs may also be collected.Supplemental Environmental Projects
may be agreed to,or payment to the DEQ Environmental Mitigation Fund to offset a
portion of any cash payments for stipulated penalties.All collected cash penalties
become part of the State General Fund.
Most enforcement actions are resolved through Warning Letters or Early Settlement
Agreements.In rare instances,Notices of Violations and Orders for Compliance are used.In
the extremely rare instance where the aforementioned enforcement actions fail to resolve
a compliance issue,procedures are in place for Board hearings,administrative law judge
review,or formal judicial action.Environmental criminal cases are referred to the
appropriate law enforcement agency.
Emissions Inventories
The Inventory Section has the primary responsibility to collect and collate emissions
inventories in order to understand the origins of the various contaminants detected in the
air.This includes both historic inventories and projection inventories,reecting current
and proposed control strategies.The data is used for SIP planning purposes as well as to
meet EPA inventory reporting requirements.Every three years,EPA develops the National
Emissions Inventory (NEI),and requires each state to submit its inventory data into the NEI
directly.To do so,the Division collects information about the quantity and characteristics
of the various air pollutants released by all emission sources in the state.In addition to
these triennial inventories,emissions information is also collected annually from the
largest industrial sources to meet the fee requirements of Title V Operating Permits of the
CA A,or requirements in various sections of the SIP.Finally,additional detailed inventories
are prepared,as needed,for special projects such as SIP development and to quantify
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 47 of 74
emissions during specic seasonal air pollution episodes.Much of this data is uploaded
into the NEI annually,as available.
Once collected,the inventory information is reviewed,quality assured,analyzed,stored in
the DAQ data system and the NEI,if required,and made available to the public.Inventories
entirely collected by the state,such as the point source inventory,are generally available
two years following the year of collection;however,inventories dependent on
EPA-controlled calculations are available an additional six months later.For example:the
2020 point inventory is collected in 2021,and will be available in 2022 and area and mobile
NEI inventories became available in 2023.The Division uses this emissions information to
review trends over time,as input data for air quality modeling analysis and as an indicator
of the effectiveness of existing and projected control strategies.
Sources of Air Contaminants
Emission inventories are typically organized into three types of sources:Point,Area,and
Mobile.Point sources are stationary industrial or commercial sites,such as power plants,
reneries,and manufacturing facilities.Air pollutants released from these sources are
reported directly to the Division’s staff through the State and Local Emissions Inventory
System (SLEIS).The mobile sector consists of emissions from non-stationary sources such
as cars,trains,and aircraft.
Mobile emissions are further broken down into on-road and non-road categories.On-road
mobile sources primarily consist of personal and commercial cars and trucks,and
contribute the largest part of the mobile source emissions.Non-road mobile sources
consist of a diverse group of heavy construction equipment,small engines (lawnmowers
and snow blowers),trains,and aircraft.Estimating emissions from mobile sources requires
understanding vehicle emission characteristics and model years.It is also necessary to
know how they are driven,where they are driven,and the distances they are driven.
Area sources are generally much smaller stationary sources,and due to their greater
number,are generally accounted for in a group.However,as the NAAQS become more
restrictive,it is necessary to start tracking emissions more closely from smaller industrial
sources.Additionally,as mobile source emissions drop,area sources are quickly becoming
the largest source of emissions.Home heating,agricultural burning and harvesting,
construction,residential and commercial energy generation,wildres,and biogenics
(emissions from vegetation)are examples of area source categories.
The upstream oil and gas inventory is part of the area source inventory,but because oil
and gas companies submit an inventory for their facilities,it is assigned its own sector.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 48 of 74
Triennial Emissions Inventory
Under current federal law,Utah is required to collect a statewide emission inventory every
three years.The 2020 triennial inventory is the most recent statewide inventory available.
The 2020 triennial inventory covers 485 individual point sources,154 area categories,67 oil
and gas categories,37 on-road categories,and 57 non-road categories.The 2020 inventory
introduces a new sector,EPA Point Source,of which there are 14 individual sources.Table 6
shows total emissions,by county,of the criteria pollutants,CO,NOx,PM10,PM2.5,SO2,and
VOCs.Figures 23 through 28 show the 2020 triennial emissions inventory in six pie charts,
displaying the relative proportion of emissions generated within source categories.
The gures in the charts represent statewide annual emissions and should not be
compared to the inventories used in the PM2.5,ozone,or other SIP revisions,which are
seasonal and area specic.Biogenic and wildre emissions produced from
non-anthropogenic (non-human)natural activity are usually estimated as segments within
the area source category,but have been listed separately due to their unique nature and
impact.
Biogenic emissions dropped from 2017 to 2020 primarily due to an updated model and
inputs.EPA calculates these emissions,and updated their Biogenic Emission Inventory
System from BEIS3.61 to BEIS4,and their Biogenic Emissions Landuse Database from
BELD5 to BELD6.Updates included changes to where vegetation and associated biogenic
emissions are located in Utah based on new landuse characterization,and improved
characterization of leaf area index and other biogenic emissions parameters from
meteorological datasets.In Utah,these updates resulted in a decrease in biogenic
emissions relative to the previous version used in 2017.Wildre emissions increased from
2017 to 2020 as there were comparatively more wildre events in 2020 than 2017.Volatile
chemical products (VCPs)in the area source sector are calculated using the VCPy
framework in the 2020 NEI,resulting in increased VOCs from this sector in 2020 relative to
2017.Additionally,the 2020 data will reect emissions during the beginning of the
COVID-19 Pandemic,and users should assess how representative this data is for Utah.
Table 6:2020 Triennial Inventory
2020 Triennial Inventory (tons/year)
County Name CO NOx PM10 PM2.5 SO2 VOC
Beaver 5,246.31 1,353.96 2,249.81 457.13 14.10 9,763.31
Box Elder 20,387.94 3,720.20 7,493.25 1,885.51 198.99 11,045.88
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 49 of 74
Cache 10,114.76 1,887.99 9,918.69 1,536.28 42.37 8,051.85
Carbon 5,297.67 1,770.68 3,381.89 515.69 453.50 8,943.12
Dagge8,067.06 1,151.70 1,310.55 691.92 55.7 7 5,143.45
Davis 24,398.15 4,520.89 3,555.43 963.84 150.00 6,716.86
Duchesne 408,129.63 10,049.47 43,779.45 33,719.89 2,558.44 117,645.36
Emery 11,693.20 15,142.35 4,350.68 1,073.73 4,586.07 8,864.11
Garfield 4,291.98 839.25 1,819.04 258.31 3.39 15,680.18
Grand 6,633.88 2,086.44 1,477.92 228.06 5.98 11,713.24
Iron 14,805.42 2,603.51 4,306.03 1,127.44 60.51 16,425.11
Juab 25,667.06 2,021.57 3,951.08 2,228.74 193.14 12,421.25
Kane 7,251.24 916.79 2,592.24 543.96 31.40 15,174.31
Millard 40,534.98 13,449.94 8,285.74 4,336.92 2,509.22 19,195.00
Morgan 2,537.05 2,522.97 1,452.93 239.15 339.48 4,320.44
Piute 4,210.57 254.90 1,075.66 382.11 18.34 4,781.32
Rich 1,869.92 299.42 1,838.68 265.00 0.53 2,756.17
Salt Lake 97,262.51 19,028.07 19,695.36 4,770.16 744.67 18,649.97
San Juan 8,646.90 1,734.10 4,235.02 736.01 53.18 20,834.63
Sanpete 5,249.63 854.47 5,596.78 876.01 17.74 8,473.81
Sevier 13,883.46 1,310.59 5,480.16 1,451.15 86.80 10,618.35
Summit 9,624.72 2,334.80 4,477.24 853.14 143.35 9,032.68
Tooele 15,912.04 3,948.68 4,069.67 1,415.37 114.56 11,000.05
Uintah 13,330.49 8,675.53 6,018.75 1,261.54 142.84 58,144.55
Utah 47,868.48 7,134.80 15,834.65 3,523.41 17 7.14 18,371.92
Wasatch 7,145.98 916.44 5,405.15 906.09 23.40 7,713.70
Washington 23,008.65 3,370.40 5,682.84 1,354.59 123.44 14,466.10
Wayne 1,712.73 364.01 886.75 140.47 0.81 5,066.23
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 50 of 74
Weber 19,040.89 3,628.92 5,847.75 1,314.53 48.72 6,978.83
Total 863,823.29 117,892.84 186,069.20 69,056.18 12,897.90 467,991.76
Portable 144.61 459.67 119.80 30.58 16.65 25.45
Grand Total 863,967.90 118,352.51 186,189.00 69,086.76 12,914.55 468,017.21
Figure 23:CO 2020 Triennial Emissions Inventory
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 51 of 74
Figure 24:PM10 2020 Triennial Emissions Inventory
Figure 25:PM2.5 2020 Triennial Emissions Inventory
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 52 of 74
Figure 26:VOC 2020 Triennial Emissions Inventory
Figure 27:NOx 2020 Triennial Emissions Inventory
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 53 of 74
Figure 28:SO2 2020 Triennial Emissions Inventory
Air Quality Modeling
The Technical Analysis Section uses advanced air quality models to prepare attainment
demonstrations for SIPs and to meet other federal regulatory requirements.Using
computer models,advanced data visualization and statistical techniques,the modeling
team evaluates the impacts of control strategies as well as new and existing sources of air
pollution on air quality in Utah’s nonattainment areas.The modeling work also helps
improve our understanding of the coupling between source emissions,meteorology,and
chemistry,all of which are drivers of air pollution formation in Utah valleys.Findings from
this work help us better understand past and current pollution episodes and better predict
future pollution events.The modeling team is committed to continued improvement of
their technical expertise and skillset.The team uses available air monitoring data,most
recent model developments,sophisticated analysis methods and programming languages,
and ndings from projects funded through the Division’s “Air Quality Research''program to
inform and continually improve the air quality modeling platform.This includes rening
emission inventories,meteorological processes,and chemistry pathways.The team also
works closely with local researchers,the EPA ,and model developers to further rene the
air quality models they use to better predict air pollution episodes and identify effective
regulatory control strategies.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 54 of 74
Air Quality Research
Federally Funded Research Projects and Initiatives
Addressing Air Pollution Inequities in the Salt Lake Valley through
Community-Engaged Particle Monitoring
The Division is partnering with the University of Utah (Kerry Kelly,Nancy Daher)to
expand PM2.5 and coarse particulate matter PM10 monitoring around the Great Salt Lake,
Inland Port,and Beck Street areas in the Salt Lake Valley.The Division and the University
of Utah will develop community-specic PM2.5 and PM10 assessments,identify air pollution
hotspots,and provide communities with localized real-time pollution measurements.For
this study,forty low-cost sensors will be deployed in underserved communities located on
the west side of Salt Lake City.The data from these sensors will inform real-time pollution
maps that will be available on a public-facing website.This effort will increase community
awareness on air quality challenges related to particulate matter.
Combining Community Partnerships and Mobile Monitoring to
Address Inequities in Exposure to Hazardous Air Pollutants along
Utah’s Wasatch Front
The Division is expanding VOC monitoring in underserved communities along the
Northern Wasatch Front.The Division will assess VOC variability at the
neighborhood-level,identify VOC emission hotspots,and assess changes in VOC levels
over time.VOC emissions not only contribute to ozone pollution,but high levels of VOCs
can be toxic.The Division will conduct neighborhood-level mobile monitoring for
two-week periods every six weeks for three years.For each period,the Division will focus
on one region and repeat mobile routes at different times of day.Mobile routes will be
designed following feedback from local communities.Localized VOC measurements from
this effort will be used to develop interactive maps that will inform impacted communities.
The Division will be partnering with Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR)for this project.
State Funded Research Projects and Initiatives
Utah Summer Ozone Study
The Division is funding a comprehensive eld campaign to study summertime ozone
pollution in the Northern Wasatch Front.This study is called the Utah Summer Ozone
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 55 of 74
Study (USOS)and is being conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA).USOS is large in scope.NOAA will leverage a mobile laboratory van
and a fully-instrumented Twin Otter aircraft to collect measurements of ozone precursors
around the Salt Lake Valley.The Division will provide guidance and assistance to NOAA in
order to maximize the Division’s return on investment .USOS will be conducted over a
ve-week period from July 15 to August 16,2024.This period was selected because Utah
typically has the greatest frequency of ozone exceedance events in July and the most
probable occurrence of wildre inuence in August.
NOAA Twin Otter (left)and NOAA mobile laboratory (right).Both platforms will be used to take measurements during the
5-week USOS campaign.
The six key objectives of USOS include:
1.Determine spatial distributions,speciation,and sources of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs)in the Wasatch Front region.
2.Determine spatial distributions,speciation and sources of nitrogen oxides (NOx),and
total reactive nitrogen,NOy.
3.Determine spatial distributions,speciation,and sources of halogens,including
chlorine,bromine,and potentially iodine compounds.
4.Characterize important processes affecting the planetary boundary layer and
transport of pollutants within and between basins within the region.
5.Determine the sensitivity of local ozone (O3)formation to NOx and VOCs,and
potentially halogens,based on modeling of observations.
6.Determine the inuence of wildre emissions on O3 formation in the urban areas of
the Wasatch Front.
The goal of USOS is to greatly expand the Division’s understanding of the science
underlying summertime ozone pollution events that affect over 2.5 million Utah residents.
Results from USOS will help the Division improve regulatory modeling and guide effective
State Implementation Plan (SIP)development .
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 56 of 74
Air Quality Incentive Programs
The Grants/Incentives Section develops programs that offer incentives to industry,
government entities,eet owners,and private citizens to voluntarily reduce emissions.
Funding for these programs comes from various sources,including settlement agreements,
legislative appropriations,and federal grant programs.The following sections provide a
summary of each program.More information on these programs is available online here.
Targeted Airshed Grants
Through congressional appropriations,EPA provides funding opportunities to the top ve
most polluted nonattainment areas for ozone,annual PM2.5,or 24-hour PM2.5 standards
through competitive grants,also known as Targeted Airshed Grants.Successful recipients
use the funding to reduce air pollution in the nonattainment areas.UDEQ was a recipient
of these funds in 2016,2017,and 2018 for targeting emissions in the state’s three
nonattainment areas for the 24-hour PM2.5 standards:Logan,Salt Lake,Provo,and the
Uinta Basin nonattainment area for wintertime ozone.
School Bus and Heavy-Duty Truck Replacement Programs
In 2017,$3,184,875 was awarded to UDEQ for
heavy-duty diesel truck replacements in the
Logan Utah nonattainment area.Through this
award,Cache County School District will
replace eight diesel school buses,Cache
County will replace two heavy-duty diesel
trucks,Hyrum City will replace one heavy-duty
diesel truck,Logan City will replace nine
heavy-duty diesel trucks,and Nibley City will
replace two heavy-duty diesel trucks with this
funding,while just over $920,ooo is still
available for new projects.The diesel truck and
bus replacement projects are estimated to
reduce emissions over 94 tons per year and
nearly 1,800 tons over the lifetime of the
projects.
Uinta Basin Oil and Gas Engine ReplacementProgram
In October 2019,DEQ received a $5 million Targeted Airshed Grant to reduce emissions
from oil and gas production in Uintah and Duchesne counties.
Participation requires replacing natural gas engines on pump jacks with electric engines.
For an engine to qualify,it must be operable and have three years left in its life.Producers
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 57 of 74
will be required to contribute a minimum of 60%of the project cost and also destroy the
gas engine within three months after the electric engine is in service.The Division is
hosting an open application period and makes awards to eligible grantees on a rst-come,
rst-served basis until the funds run out.For more information,please visit our website
here.
Vehicle Repair and Replacement Assistance Program
In March of 2017,EPA awarded $2,477,250 to DEQ for the Logan Utah-Idaho,
Nonattainment Area and in September of 2019,EPA awarded $4,698,489 to DEQ for the Salt
Lake City Utah Nonattainment Area for vehicle repair and replacement assistance
programs (VRRAP)in these areas.The VRRAP programs offer incentives to individuals
whose vehicle does not pass an emissions test .The incentive provides nancial assistance
to replace the failed vehicle with a newer,cleaner one or to repair it so that it passes a
subsequent emissions test.The amount of nancial assistance depends on household
income,household size,and whether the applicant chooses to replace or repair the failed
vehicle.Financial assistance can be as high as $5,500 for a vehicle replacement or $1,000
for a repair.The program is administered by the Bear River Health Department in the
Logan Utah-Idaho Nonattainment Area,with the Davis,Salt Lake,and Weber-Morgan
Health Departments administering the program in the Salt Lake City Utah Nonattainment
Area.
The Logan VRRAP officially opened for the public on April 20,2017.As of September 30,
2023,the VRRAP has repaired 1,191 and replaced 259 vehicles.These activities are
anticipated to reduce emissions annually by 17.89 tons of NMOG,NOx,and PM and reduce
lifetime emissions of NMOG,NOx,and PM by 128.30 tons.Weber-Morgan Health
Department officially started accepting applications for their VRRAP on March 2,2020
followed by the Davis County Health Department on March 16,2022.The Salt Lake County
Health Department had planned to start its program in the Spring /Summer of 2020;
however,COVID delayed the start of their program until September 2021.As of September
30,2023,the Salt Lake City VRRAP has repaired 271 and 86 replaced vehicles.These
activities are anticipated to reduce emissions annually by 2.11 tons of NMOG,NOx,and PM
and reduce lifetime emissions of NMOG,NOx,and PM by 20.54 tons.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 58 of 74
Wood Stove Conversion Program
The Division’s wood stove and replace conversion program helps residents,particularly
low-income households,reduce their emissions from burning wood by providing nancial
assistance to convert their wood burning devices to cleaner-burning devices.Residents in
Utah’s PM2.5 nonattainment areas are eligible to participate.The conversion program plays
an important role in reducing emissions as one wood stove is shown to emit as much as
100%more than its gas-powered counterpart .Although monitoring data shows that all
three nonattainment areas have attained the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS,wood-burning remains
a major contributor to particulate pollution.Woodstove and replace conversions will help
ensure the areas continue to attain the standard in the future.
The wood stove and replace conversion program started in December 2017 after the EPA
awarded Utah just over $9.5 million through a competitive Targeted Airshed Grant.The
Salt Lake,Provo,and Logan nonattainment areas all received approximately $3.2 million
for conversions.During the 2019 legislative session,the state legislature identied the
continued replacement of wood burning devices with cleaner-burning devices as a key
strategy to continued improvement in air
quality throughout the state.As a result,they
allocated additional funding to augment the
wood stove and replace conversion program.
As of December 2,2023,the Division has
completed 3,998 projects with the combined
funding.
Volkswagen VWSelement
In 2015,the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)issued two notices of
violation of the CAA to Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen or VW),the German automotive1
manufacturer.The EPA asserted that VW-installed software activated emissions controls
only while undergoing emissions testing,but rendered certain emissions controls
inoperative during normal driving conditions.Consequently,approximately 500,000
2.0-liter diesel vehicles (models 2009 to 2015)and 90,000 3.0-liter diesel vehicles (models
2009-2016)sold across the U.S.emitted between nine and 40 times the nitrogen oxides
(NOx)emissions allowed by federal law.
1 The Volkswagen Group collectively includes Volkswagen AG,Audi AG,Volkswagen Group of America,Inc.,Porsche AG,and
Porsche Cars North America,Inc.Notice of Violation from Phillip A.Brooks,EPA Air Enforcement Division to David Geanacopoulos
and Stuart Johnson,Volkswagen Group of America,Inc.(September 18,2015);Notice of Violation from Susan Shinkman,EPA Office
of Civil Enforcement to David Geanacopoulos and Stuart Johnson,Volkswagen Group of America,Inc.and Joseph Folz and Walter J.
Lewis,Porsche Cars North America,Inc.(November 2,2015).
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 59 of 74
Utah received approximately $35 million from a nationwide settlement with VW for
violations of the CAA .Utah’s portion will help offset excess nitrogen oxides (NOx)
emissions from the approximately 7,000 VW,Audi,and Porsche vehicles in the state
affected by the automaker ’s violations.
The Division estimates that these excess NOx emissions contributed between 351 to 1,556
tons of NOx over the span of time they were operating in Utah.Approximately 70 percent of
the affected vehicles were registered in the seven counties designated as nonattainment
for particulate matter (PM2.5)under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Governor Herbert designated the DEQ as the lead agency to administer these monies.
DEQ’s responsibilities as lead agency include the development of an Environmental
Mitigation Plan (EMP).On behalf of the DEQ,the Division oversaw this process and invited
the public to provide input on the EMP and worked with an advisory committee on
recommendations.
The VW settlement included a prescribed list of categories for NOx mitigation projects.The
Division crafted an EMP using these guidelines,input from the public,and
recommendations from an advisory committee.Final selection of Eligible Mitigation Action
(EMA)categories were based on the advisory committee’s recommendations,public input ,
and the Division’s goals to:
●achieve signicant NOx reductions that work toward fully mitigating the excess
lifetime NOx emissions from the non-compliant VW vehicles and contribute to the
state’s ongoing goal of attainment of the NAAQS;
●maximize the amount of emissions reductions for each dollar spent;
●benet areas in Utah that bear a disproportionate amount of the air pollution
burden;
●stimulate emerging vehicle technologies that result in long-term emissions benets;
and
●provide economic and health benets to the citizens of Utah.
The plan focuses the $35 million settlement funds on upgrades to government-owned
diesel truck and bus eets as well as the expansion of electric vehicle (EV)charging
equipment .Funding allocations are as follows:
●Class 4-8 Local Freight Trucks and School Bus,Shuttle Bus,and Transit Bus:73.5%
●Light-Duty,Zero EVSE:11%
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 60 of 74
●Administrative Costs:8.5%
●Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA)options:7%
Applications for funding were available from October 1,2018 to November 30,2018.
Government entities as dened in Utah Code §63G-7-102(4)and federal government
agencies were eligible to apply.
The Division received 50 applications for the Class 4-8 Local Freight Trucks,School Bus,
Shuttle Bus,and Transit Bus categories and 25 applications for the Light-Duty,Zero
Emissions Vehicle Supply Equipment category with combined projects totaling over $71
million.Projects were prioritized and selected based on their reduction of nitrogen oxides
(NOx),cost-per-ton of NOx reduced,and value to the nonattainment areas and community
benets.Successful projects are shown in Table 7 below.Awardees have three years to
complete their projects.More information on the VW Settlement is available here.
Table 7:State of Utah VW Settlement Awards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles
State of Utah VW Selement Awards
Class 48 Local Freight Truck,School Bus,Shule Bus,and Transit Bus Categories
Awardee Replacement
Type Award Amount
#of
Vehicles
Awarded
Eligible Mitigation
Action Category
Bountiful City Diesel to Diesel $145,000 2 Class 8 Local Freight Truck
Canyons School District Diesel to Diesel $826,000 14 School Buses
Jordan School District Diesel to Diesel $138,992 2 School Buses
North Salt Lake City Diesel to Diesel $108,741 1 Class 8 Local Freight Truck
Orem City Diesel to Diesel $1,070,000 5 Class 8 Local Freight Truck and
Shule Bus
Park City Municipal Corp Diesel to Electric $3,129,449 5 Transit Buses
Pleasant Grove City Diesel to Diesel $410,112 5 Class 8 Local Freight Truck
Class 47 Local Freight Trucks
Salt Lake City Corp Diesel to Diesel $956,503 7 Class 8 Local Freight Truck
Salt Lake City School
District Diesel to Electric $699,660 4 School Buses
Salt Lake Urban Search and
Rescue Diesel to Diesel $86,740 1 Class 8 Local Freight Truck
Tooele County School
District Diesel to Diesel $132,000 2 School Buses
UDOT Diesel to Diesel $2,604,948 22 Class 8 Local Freight Truck
Utah Transit Authority Diesel to Electric $13,079,240 20 Transit Buses
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 61 of 74
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment EVSEProjects
Workplace Electric Vehicle Charging Funding Assistance Program
During the 2019 general legislative session,the
state legislature appropriated $4.9 million to
incentivize the installation of electric vehicle
supply equipment (EVSE)throughout the state.
The EVSE incentive program allows businesses,
non-prot organizations,and other governmental
entities,excluding state executive branch
agencies,to apply for a grant that reimburses up to
50%of the purchase and installation costs for a
pre-approved EVSE project .Funds can be used for
the purchase and installation of both Level 2 or DC
fast charging EVSE.
The program began to accept applications on
September 16,2019.As of December 5,2023,99
projects totaling just over $3,316,262 have been completed,with 469 Level 2 and 40 DC fast
EVSE installed throughout the state.The Division has pre-approved an additional 35
projects encumbering approximately $1,673,738 of the funds.All funds have been
allocated.
Volkswagen VWEVSE
As a result of the VW settlement described in the section below,the Division has awarded
more than $3.8 million to 18 government entities to install one single-port ,91 dual-port
Level 2,and 26 DC fast chargers throughout Utah.As of December 5,2023,89 Level 2 and
28 DC fast chargers have been installed.More details on the VW Settlement and the VW
EVSE program are provided in the section below.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 62 of 74
Table 8:State of Utah VW Settlement EVSE Awards
Light-Duty Zero Emission Vehicle Supply Equipment Category
Awardee/Locations Award
Amount1
EVSE
Type2
Number of
EVSEs3
Number
EVSE
Installed4
Dollars Paid for
Projects
Completed
Clinton City
Loc.1:Civic Center Park
Loc.2:Center Park
Loc.3:Powerline Park
$60,129 Level 2 3 Dual-port 3 Dual-port $46,808.38
Davis Technical College
Loc.:DATC Campus $49,000 Level 2 3 Dual-port
1 Single-port
3 Dual-port
1 Single-port $46,037.00
Utah DFCM5
Loc.1:MASOB6
Loc.2:Regional Building 2
$49,401 Level 2 11 Dual-port 12 Dual-port $49,401.00
Kamas City
Loc.:City Oice $41,227 Level 2 1 Dual-port In Process In Process
Kaysville City
Loc.1:City Hall
Loc.2:100 E.200 N.
Loc.3:300 N.Flint St.
Loc.4:Kaysville Operations
Center
$69,988 Level 2 9 Dual-port 9 Dual-port $69,572
Lehi City
Loc.:City Hall $16,755 Level 2 1 Dual-port 1 Dual-port $16,775
Murray City Power
Loc.:Murray Park Rec.Center $157,608
Level 2 2 Dual-port 2 Dual-port
$141,992.86DCFast
Chargers 1 1
Orem City
Loc.:City Hall $308,269 DC Fast
Chargers 4 4 $270,675
Provo City
Loc.1:Provo City Center
Loc.2:Recreation Center
Loc.3:Academy Library
Loc.4:Public Works Complex
Loc.5:Provo Power Complex
Loc.6:Rock Canyon
Loc 7:North Park
$752,500 Level 2 20 Dual-port
16-Dual-port
4 Dual-Port
In process)
$222,030 (In
progress)
S.L.Co.Health Dept.
Loc.:S.L.County Environmental
Health Department
$603,095
Level 2 8 Dual-port 8 Dual-port
$577,7 71.88DCFast
Chargers 2 2
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 63 of 74
Sandy City
Loc.:City Hall $118,982 DC Fast
Chargers 3 3 $118,982
Saratoga Springs
Loc.:Municipal Campus $26,788 Level 2 3 Dual-port 3 Dual-port $26,788
South Salt Lake City
Loc.:City Hall $136,517 Level 2 4 Dual-port 4 Dual-port $79,586
Timpanogos Cave National
Monument
Loc.:Visitor Center
$10,966 Level 2 1 Dual-port 1 Dual-Port $7,860.80
UDOT7
Loc 1:Calvin Rampton
Loc 2:Garden City
Loc 3:Castle Dale City Museum
Loc 4:Monticello Visitor Center
Loc 5:BluMaintenance Station
Loc 6:Richfield Admin.Oice
Loc 7:Kanab
Loc 8:The Fork Rest Area
Loc 9:Grassy Mtn Rest Area8
Loc 10:UDOT Price District Oice
$1,047,623
Level 2 11 Dual-port 18 Dual-port )
$940,240
DC Fast
Chargers 16 17
Utah Valley University
Loc 1:Orem Main Campus
Loc 2:Lehi Campus
Loc 3:Aux.Services Building
$99,000 Level 2 6 Dual-port 6 Dual-port $99,000
Weber State University
Loc 1:Campus Services Bldg.
Loc 2:Hurst Center
Loc 3:Reed K.Swenson Bldg.
Loc 4:Dee Event Center
$143,694 Level 2 4 Dual-port 4 Dual-port $76,912
West Valley City
Loc 1:City Hall
Loc 2:West Valley City Fitness
Center
$140,564 Level 2 4 Dual-port Withdraw Withdraw
project
Total $3,832,10
6
Level 2 91 Dual-port
1 Single-port
89 Dual-port
1 Single-port
$2,790,431.92
DC Fast
Chargers 26 28
Notes:
1.(based on vendor bids at time of application submial -November,2018 )
2.Included in Project Proposal
3.As Proposed in Project Proposal
4.by Project Completion Date
5.Division of Facilities and Construction Management
6.Multi-Agency State Oice Building
7.Utah Department of Transportation
8.West Bound and East Bound
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 64 of 74
Utah Clean Fleet Program
The Utah Clean Fleet Program,formerly known as the Utah Clean Diesel Program,offers
incentives to heavy-duty diesel eet owners who operate their vehicles or equipment in
the state’s nonattainment areas to
replace their older vehicles or
equipment with new.Roughly $9
million in federal funding is available to
eet owners for replacing diesel
short-haul delivery trucks,refuse
haulers,school buses,and non-road
equipment with newer,cleaner
versions.Up to 45 percent toward the
purchase of new vehicles and
equipment is available upon scrapping
the original diesel vehicle or equipment .
Early retirement of older diesel trucks can achieve approximately 71 to 90 percent
reductions in NOx,97 to 98 percent reductions in PM2.5,and 89 to 91 percent reductions in
VOCs,according to the EPA Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Highway Engines and
Vehicles.Replacing diesel vehicles and equipment with electric achieves 100 percent
reductions in emissions.
EPA provides a separate allocation of clean diesel funding for participating states,known
as the State Clean Diesel Grant (SCDG)program.The UDEQ will use $3,190,922 for the
replacement of refuse trucks,re trucks,Class 5-8 trucks,school buses,and non-road
diesel vehicles.VW Settlement funding of $2,160,572 will provide added funds for these
projects for a total of $5,351,494.
Through the SCDG,the Division awarded Salt Lake City School District (SLCSD)$700,357
for the replacement of four diesel school buses to electric.SLCSD will receive an additional
award of $1,751,450 to replace eight more diesel school buses with electric school buses.
Alsco Inc.will also receive an award of $40,000 to replace one Class 8 diesel truck.Ace
Disposal will receive a $1,250,000 award to replace seven Class 8 diesel refuse trucks—six
to compressed natural gas (CNG)and one to electric.Waste Management of Utah will
receive an award of $350,000 to replace ten diesel refuse trucks with CNG refuse trucks.
Weber Fire will receive an award of $200,000 to replace one Class 8 diesel re truck with
new diesel,and United States Cold Storage who will be awarded $145,000 to replace one
non-road diesel terminal tractor to electric through this program.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 65 of 74
Over $26 million in federal funding has been awarded to UDEQ for the Utah Clean Fleet
Program since 2008.
State of Utah Charge Your Yard Incentive Program
On April 17,2023,the Division launched the Charge Your Yard Incentive Program for
licensed yard care businesses in Davis,Salt Lake,Tooele,Utah,and Weber counties to
upgrade their gas-powered leaf blowers and string trimmers to battery-powered electric.
This program remains ongoing.Applications are accepted and selected on a rolling basis as
funding is available.Selection priority criteria is as follows:
1.Business location in Salt Lake City;
2.A low number of employees (relative);
3.Primary operation in Environmental Justice areas as dened by the EPA EJ Screen
Tool;and
4.BIPOC-and women-owned businesses.
Following notication of selection,businesses are required to recycle gas-powered leaf
blowers and string trimmers in order to initiate participation.Participants receive a $500
credit for each unit recycled,up to a maximum of $3,000 credit per business.Credit
obtained by recycling gas-powered equipment is redeemed in the form of a discount on
the purchase of battery-operated electric string trimmers,leaf blowers,and their
associated batteries and chargers.Electric equipment must be purchased online through
one of the participating retailers of the Charge Your Yard Program:Al’s the Chainsaw King,
Cutler’s,Home Depot,Lowe’s,Redback,and Wilkinson Supply.As of December 2023,126
lawn care businesses applied and were selected to participate.Of those,110 recycled their
gas-powered equipment and received a promotional credit incentive.To date,417 string
trimmers and 188 leaf blowers have been recycled,resulting in the Charge Your Yard
Program distributing over $300,000 in incentives to lawn care businesses along the
Wasatch Front.The program is made possible by the Utah Division of Air Quality in
partnership with SLCgreen.
Alternative Fuel Heavy-Duty Vehicle Tax Credit Program
The state provides an income tax credit for the qualied purchase of a natural gas,a 100%
electric,or a hydrogen-electric heavy-duty vehicle which is dened in 59-7-618.1 and
59-10-1033.1 Utah Code Annotated as a commercial category 7 or 8 vehicle that has never
been titled or registered.Class 7 and Class 8 vehicles are classied by the gross vehicle
weight rating (GVWR).A Class 7 vehicle has a GVWR between 26,001 and 33,000 pounds.A
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 66 of 74
Class 8 vehicle has a GVWR higher than 33,000 pounds.These vehicles usually have three
axles,but some will have ve axles in order to haul a trailer with substantial weight on it .
Some examples would be a ve-axle tractor-trailer (semi or 18-wheeler),cement trucks,
dump trucks,and refuse haulers.Operators of Class 7 and 8 trucks must have a commercial
driver’s license.
The Utah legislature authorized the credit during the 2021 General Session for the tax year
2021 through 2030.The following table shows the tax credit for each tax year.
Table 9:Tax Credits Per Tax Year
Tax Year Credit
2021 $15,000
2022 $13,500
2023 $12,000
2024 $10,500
2025 $9,000
2026 $7,500
2027 $6,000
2028 $4,500
2029 $3,000
2030 $1,500
Free-Fare Day Pilot Project
During the 2019 Legislative Session,the
legislature appropriated $500,000 to the
Division to administer a Trip Reduction
Program.A primary component of the Trip
Reduction Program is a Free-Fare Day Pilot
Project.The Division has worked closely
with the Utah Transit Authority (UTA)to
provide free fares during inversion periods
when pollution concentrations are
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 67 of 74
increasing and projected to reach levels that are harmful to human health.The Division
originally anticipated the provision of seven free fare days over the life of the program.
However,due to ridership changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,the total
number of free fare days will be determined based upon estimated foregone fare revenues
and remaining available funding.As a result of favorable air quality conditions,no free fare
days were implemented in 2020.In 2021,UTA implemented four free days,including two
during the summer ozone season and two during the winter particulate matter season.In
2022,the Division funded an additional four free fare days,including two as part of Free
Fare February,and another two in early-September.Funding remains for approximately
two more days at recent foregone revenue levels.In 2023,the Division funded two nal free
fare days in August.The Division is currently working with UTA and other project partners
to develop a nal report for the Legislature that will analyze the air quality benets of the
program.UTA will provide much of the data necessary for the report,including ridership
data and results from surveys administered on free fare days.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 68 of 74
Ancillary Programs
Transportation Conformity
Several Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)are responsible for developing,
producing,and adopting Metropolitan (or Regional)Transportation Plans (MTP or RTP)and
Transportation Improvement Programs (TIP)within the state.The MPOs include Cache
MPO (CMPO),Dixie MPO,Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG),and the
Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC).MPOs located in nonattainment and/or
maintenance areas have the responsibility to ensure that the current MTP and TIP conform
to the Utah SIP through a process known as transportation conformity.The Federal
Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration review the conformity
determinations along with the MTP and TIP in consultation with the EPA to ensure that the
relevant planning and air quality regulations have been adequately addressed.The Utah
Department of Transportation (UDOT)is responsible for transportation conformity within
isolated rural nonattainment areas when a non-exempt FHWA/FTA project(s)needs
funding or approval.
●CMPO,MAG,and WFRC demonstrated conformity to the SIP for the Plans and TIPs
for their respective areas.
●CMPO established conformity for the 2050 RTP in July of 2023 and the 2024-2029 TIP
in October 2023:Cache County,Utah portion of the PM2.5 moderate nonattainment .
●MAG established conformity for the 2050 RTP in June 2023 and the 2024-2029 TIP in
October 2023 for the Provo/Orem City CO maintenance area,Utah County PM10 and
PM2.5 moderate nonattainment area,and the Southern Wasatch Front,UT Ozone
marginal nonattainment area (portion of Utah County).
●WFRC established conformity for the 2024-2029 TIP in October 2023 and the 2050
RTP in May 2023 for the Salt Lake County and Ogden City PM10 nonattainment areas,
Salt Lake PM2.5 moderate nonattainment area (Davis,Salt Lake,and Weber Counties
and portions of Box Elder and Tooele Counties),and the Northern Wasatch Front,UT
Ozone marginal nonattainment area (Davis,Salt Lake,and Weber Counties and
portions of Box Elder and Tooele Counties).
●UDOT was not required to establish conformity for the Uinta Basin,UT Ozone
marginal nonattainment area including portions of Duchesne and Uintah Counties.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 69 of 74
Utah Air Quality Public Notifications
The Division provides air quality forecasting on its webpage for the current and next two
days.The Air Monitoring Section (AMS)provides air pollution information based on the
daily air quality status.The AMS data is used to determine the relationship of existing
pollutant concentrations to the NA AQS.There is a three-tiered air quality alert system
including unrestricted,voluntary action,and mandatory action.This system is used to
implement winter and summer controls on the use of solid fuel burning devices,re places,
and motor vehicles,and to advise the public and industrial sources to act to reduce their
pollution footprint during these events.
The forecast call determines which restrictions are in place for a given county.In addition,
the webpage advises the public as to current air quality conditions using the standard Air
Quality Index (AQI)categories including good,moderate,unhealthy for sensitive groups,
unhealthy,and very unhealthy.Each advisory category listed on the webpage is
accompanied by a health protection message that recommends actions affected groups
can take to mitigate the effects of pollution on them and links to the AQI website for
further information.The AMS advisory is calculated for ve major pollutants including
ground-level ozone,particulate pollution (particulate matter),carbon monoxide,sulfur
dioxide,and nitrogen dioxide.The outreach program information consolidated in the
three-day forecast includes the Summer and Winter Control Programs and Choose Clean
Air information.
The Division also sponsors an electronic mail server (Listserv).Subscribers are
automatically notied by e-mail when unhealthy air pollution levels are forecast
throughout Utah and when action alerts are issued.The National Center for Automotive
Sciences and Technology at Weber State University developed a mobile app called Utah
Air for the Division.It provides similar information directly on smart phones and other
mobile devices.The application is free and can be downloaded from both the Android and
Apple app stores.
Winter Control Program (unrestricted,voluntary action,
mandatory action)
This program originated with the PM10 SIP,but was signicantly strengthened in
December 2012 to be much more proactive and less reactive.Now,instead of waiting until
an area is exceeding a standard,action alerts are called when the DAQ meteorologists see
that we are in the early building stages of an inversion that will likely lead to pollution
concentrations at or above the trigger level of 25µg /m3.The program runs annually from
November through early March.In addition to the burning restrictions,residents are
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 70 of 74
encouraged to drive less and are directed to information on other ways they can reduce
pollution.
Summer Control Program (unrestricted,voluntary action,
mandatory action)
Action days are announced whenever the probability of exceeding the ozone standard is
forecasted to be high.High temperature and stagnant air masses contribute to this
probability.Residents are encouraged to minimize driving whenever the ozone or PM
standards are approached.
Smoke Management in Utah
Utah’s rst Smoke Management Plan (SMP)
was written in 1999.The plan is designed to
meet the requirements of Title R307,state
administrative rule for air quality,Regional
Haze Rule,40 CFR 51.309(d)(6),and the
policies of the EPA Interim Air Quality Policy
on Wildland and Prescribed Fires.The
signatories to the SMP are:US Forest Service,
Bureau of Land Management,National Park
Service,US Fish and Wildlife Service,Bureau of Indian Affairs,and the Utah Division of
Forestry,Fire,and State Lands.
The SMP serves as an operational plan for the state administrative rule,R307-204 Emission
Standards:Smoke Management,by providing direction and operating procedures for all
organizations involved in the management of prescribed re.R307-204 establishes by rule
the procedures and the permitting process that land managers are required to follow to
mitigate the impact of smoke on air quality and visibility in the state.
The following table provides a ve-year view of the number of prescribed burn days and
acres burned across Utah.
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 71 of 74
Table 10:2023 Five-Year Review of Prescribed Burn Days and Acres Burned in Utah
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 72 of 74
Year Acres Burned Number of Prescribed-Burn
Ignition Days
2019 18,171 188
2020 5,636 120
2021 11,818 245
2022 17,750 268
2023 27,470 295
Figure 29:2023 Utah Prescribed Burn Days
Each dot in Figure 29 represents a prescribed re burn day in Utah in 2023 for a total of 295
days.
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Utah Department of Natural Resources
US Forest Service
Bureau of Indian Affairs
National Park Service
Local or Private Entity
Bureau of Land Management
UTAH’S AIR QUALITY •2023 ANNUAL REPORT 73 of 74
Vehicle Inspection/Maintenance Programs
In the early 1980s,Inspection/Maintenance (I/M)programs were introduced as a necessary
strategy to achieve the ozone and carbon monoxide NAAQS.These programs have been
highly effective in improving air quality and have played a crucial role in reducing
emissions that contribute to ozone and carbon monoxide.The continued operation of these
programs is essential for the Wasatch Front to remain in compliance with these standards
and to achieve the 2015 ozone standard.The county health departments are responsible for
administering these programs.The most recent I/M program was implemented in Cache
County Utah,and has been running smoothly since January 1,2014.
Smoking Vehicles
Excessive smoke emissions from vehicles can contribute to poor air quality.To promote
clean air,several local health departments operate programs that educate and notify
people about smoking vehicles.During the 2015 General Legislative Session,two bills were
passed to enhance these programs in Utah:
●HB17 claried that visible emissions from gas or certain diesel-powered vehicles are
not allowed on Utah roads.
●HB110 gave the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles the authority to suspend a vehicle's
registration if it does not meet air emissions standards.
●The Division worked with the local health departments,the Utah Division of Motor
Vehicles,and the Utah Highway Patrol to develop a method of enforcing these laws.
If you spot a vehicle producing excessive smoke,you can report it through your respective
county health department:
●Cache County:435-792-6570 or click here to report online.
●Davis County:801-525-4975 or click here to report online.
●Salt Lake County:Click here to report online.
●Utah County:801-851-7600 or click here to report online.
●Weber County:801-399-7140 or click here to report online.
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