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Senate advances bill to create Department of Environmental Quality, citing technical needs and modest startup cost
Summary
Senators voted to advance SB 34, reorganizing the existing division into a Department of Environmental Quality to consolidate air, water and hazardous-waste programs; sponsor Senator Reese said the change clarifies authority and estimates a $297,000 startup cost.
Senate Bill 34, which would reorganize Utah's Division of Environmental Health into a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), cleared its second-reading floor action after sponsors and critics debated scope and cost.
Sponsor Senator Steven J. Reese told the chamber the bill is largely organizational: it moves existing programs into Title 19, statutorily creates the department's boards and committees, and restructures six technical program divisions including air quality, hazardous and solid waste, water pollution and drinking water. "This is the bill that creates the Department of Environmental Quality," Reese said, adding the change is meant to…
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