The Utah Department of Environmental Quality told the Utah Federalism Commission on Thursday that proposed cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s budget would “dramatically impact” the state’s ability to implement Clean Air, Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water statutes and urged state officials to consider funding and efficiency options if federal support is reduced.

DEQ Executive Director Tim Davis said the administration’s proposed EPA reductions would place most of the burden on states: “That would dramatically impact the ability of the states, including Utah, including your Department of Environmental Quality, to be able to effectively and efficiently, oversee those, federal federal statutes.” He told commissioners state staff are exploring where Utah could assume program authority and asked legislative leaders to consider contingency funding and efficiency measures.

Why it matters: Utah already implements many federal environmental programs under cooperative federalism. DEQ officials said they are preparing applications to assume primacy or receive delegation on selected programs to preserve state control of standards and permitting if EPA steps back.

What DEQ said it will pursue: Director Davis identified three short-term targets for state primacy or agreement with federal agencies — coal combustion residuals (coal-CCR) management (solid waste from coal-fired power plants), Clean Water Act dredge-and-fill (Section 404) functions, and select Safe Drinking Water Act responsibilities including PFAS and lead/copper rule implementation. Doug Hansen, director of the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control, said DEQ expects to submit its initial application for coal-CCR primacy in the coming weeks. Nathan Lundstead, drinking water director, and John Mackey (division of water quality) are preparing related packages.

DEQ officials also noted policy changes at the federal level. Director Davis cited the EPA repeal-and-replace activity around the Clean Power Plan and other rule reconsiderations, and he said the department will press the region and EPA headquarters to “hold the states harmless” as federal priorities shift.

Operational impacts and concerns: DEQ warned that reduced federal funding would slow permitting, reduce regulatory certainty, and could undermine timely reviews if the state cannot replace federal grant dollars. Division of Air Quality Director Bryce Byrd summarized litigation and venue changes that affect state permitting review and said the agency expects courts to put cases into abeyance while federal reconsideration proceeds.

DEQ asked for time to provide the commission a written summary of HB 85 (2025) efficiencies and an analysis of potential state costs if federal grants decline. Director Davis said his team will return with a written report and a request for follow-up briefings, and commissioners asked DEQ to present a financial estimate of program costs and staffing needs at a future meeting.

Ending: Commissioners thanked DEQ for the status report and asked the department to return with a written briefing and a fiscal analysis in time for the August interim work period.