UDOT says expanding I-15 won’t increase pollution, here’s why they’re wrong
September 4th, 2024
The Utah Dept. of Transportation is in it’s final stages of the environmental review on their proposal to expand I-15, and we have some MAJOR concerns. Their study showed that…
Why are Utahns paying for Rocky Mountain Power to stay with coal?
September 4th, 2024
Photo above shows the Castle Gate Power Plant, one of the dirtiest in the country, which closed in 2015 as a result of tighter federal standards. Photo from Flickr We…
Project 2025 looks to resume nuclear testing that had deadly fallout for Utahns
September 4th, 2024
As a clean air and public health advocacy group, hearing of plans to resume nuclear testing, which previously had such devastating consequences for Utahns, is a nightmare come true. The…
PFAS, where they are, what they do and how to protect yourself
September 4th, 2024
PFAS, forever chemicals, teflon. Whatever you call them, two things are true; they are being widely used across the nation, and they have alarming human health consequences. PFAS, a man-made…
It’s more than just dust, and it will impact some more than others
August 27th, 2024
“Everybody studies and the dust keeps coming and we don’t do anything about it,” Terry Marasco, a west-side activist, told the Salt Lake Tribune. A recently published study revealed that…
Dr. Brian Moench – Don’t buy what the port authority is selling
August 21st, 2024
The Standard-Examiner published the following guest opinion piece from UPHE’s Dr. Brian Moench: In the waning hours of the 2018 legislative session, in a move intended to handcuff almost certain…
While we push for radiation victim protections, others want to resume the nuclear testing that did that damage
August 20th, 2024
Photo: Nuclear weapons test in Nevada in 1957. Courtesy of International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons The legislature’s inaction which allowed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to lapse is…
People are leaving because of pollution
August 13th, 2024
A sad, and excellently written op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune expressing a sentiment that many of us, especially those with health issues, can relate to. The op-ed, written by…
Two places in Utah with worse air than the Salt Lake Valley
August 13th, 2024
For many of us in the Salt Lake Valley, it’s hard to imagine that there’s somewhere else in the state with worse air quality. Last year, eastern Utah’s Uintah and…
The cost of continuing coal power
August 13th, 2024
UPHE member and retired legal and economic analyst for public utility regulators at the federal level, Malin Moench, had an excellent op-ed in the Deseret News. His op-ed highlights the…
Good news on pesticide spraying
August 6th, 2024
UPHE has been sounding the alarm on pesticide spraying for years. These toxic chemicals, aggressively marketed by agrochemical giants, permeate our daily lives, exposing us to a host of serious…
Great Salt Lake is releasing more than dust
August 6th, 2024
A new harm of allowing Great Salt Lake to shrink has come to light, thanks to research from Utah State University. By now, we’ve sounded the alarms about the lakebed…
Weber County meeting on the Inland Port, recap
August 6th, 2024
Photo from Weber County, courtesy of Ken Kraus.
Temporary good news for protecting Parley’s Canyon
July 30th, 2024
UPHE is actively engaged in efforts to squash the development of a massive gravel pit and limestone quarry proposed by Granite Construction in Parley’s Canyon. Recently, the Utah Division of…
Air pollution from warehousing, and what’s coming in Weber County
July 30th, 2024
UPHE has long been outspoken in opposition against the Utah Inland Port’s vision for our beautiful state. Utah faces unique air quality challenges. Our state is prone to winter inversions,…
Brian Moench, M.D – U.S. Supreme Court decisions will hurt Utah and its neighbors
July 30th, 2024
UPHE’s co-founder and board president, Dr. Brian Moench, had the following op-ed published in the Salt Lake Tribune on recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that will impact Utah residents health.…
Reducing single-use plastics & why it matters
July 23rd, 2024
In another significant environmental milestone, the Biden Administration recently unveiled a strategy to eliminate single-use plastics in all federal operations by 2035. The plan also aims to halt federal purchases…
UTA’s New Electric Bus Fleet: A Step Towards Cleaner Air and Environmental Justice
July 23rd, 2024
We are excited to share that the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) has been awarded over $18 million by the Federal Transit Administration to replace old diesel-powered buses with a new…
Keep a smoke-free home these wildfire ridden weeks
July 23rd, 2024
As wildfires continue to sweep across Utah, the air quality has significantly deteriorated, posing serious health risks to residents. One of the most alarming incidents occurred over the weekend, just…
Who will GSL dust impact the most?
July 16th, 2024
A recent study highlighted by The Guardian reveals that toxic dust storms from the drying Great Salt Lake disproportionately affect Utah’s Hispanic and Pacific Islander communities. As the lake continues…
Utah’s summer air, wildfires, and what you can do
July 16th, 2024
As temperatures rise and wildfires burn, Utah’s air quality is taking a severe hit, impacting the health of residents across the state. Hot weather is a major driver of poor…
Tell Utah to protect its residents, so the federal government doesn’t have to
July 16th, 2024
In a recent editorial, The Salt Lake Tribune highlighted the ongoing struggle between Utah’s state officials and the federal government over environmental protection. Despite state officials’ frequent claims that they…
We are proceeding with our Harley Davidson case, minus a few claims
July 9th, 2024
In 2022, in a significant legal move, UPHE took action against four Harley-Davidson dealerships in Utah for violating federal air and noise pollution laws. The suit, filed under the Clean…
A Utah industrial site is a major source of pollution
July 9th, 2024
Recent reports from the Salt Lake Tribune have shed light on the extensive toxic chemical releases from the Bingham Canyon Mine, operated by Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation. This mine, one…
More on the Supreme Court’s recent environmental protection failures
July 9th, 2024
In recent weeks, two significant Supreme Court rulings have shaken the foundations of environmental protection, with major implications for air quality and public health in Utah. The court’s decisions to…
Status of Great Salt Lake – lake levels, industry and governmental negligence
July 2nd, 2024
A recent Salt Lake Tribune article highlighted the current state and challenges of Great Salt Lake, emphasizing that this summer’s conditions are unlikely to be an anomaly. The lake’s southern…
The Supreme Court suspends the ‘Good Neighbor’ EPA air quality rule
July 2nd, 2024
Just prior to the devastating Chevron ruling, the Supreme Court canonized another major environmental/public health setback. It suspended a crucial air quality rule designed to protect states and residents from…
Supreme Court dismantles the historical role of federal agencies
July 2nd, 2024
With multiple radical decisions this year, the current Supreme Court has dismantled the historical role of federal agencies to protect the public from economic and environmental harm wrought by corporations…
Granite Construction shareholders oppose their proposal for Parley’s Canyon
June 25th, 2024
UPHE has been a strong voice of opposition to the proposed limestone quarry in Parleys Canyon since we found out about the proposal. The project poses severe threats to air…
Lawmakers are concerned about farmlands for GSL conservation, but quick to sacrifice them for development
June 25th, 2024
Utah has lost 20% of its farmland over the past six decades, a Salt Lake Tribune article reports. Conservation easements, where farmers are paid to limit certain development rights on…
The Supreme Court is taking up one of several issues brought up in our Uinta Basin Railway case
June 25th, 2024
In August of 2023, an Appeals Court sided with UPHE and other environmental groups and decided to throw out the permit granted for the Uinta Basin Railway. Shortly after the…
The impact of our air purifier program in Utah schools with DHHS
June 25th, 2024
We are thrilled to share the results from a recent study by Women for a Healthy Environment, which underscores the effectiveness of portable air filters in reducing indoor pollutants in…
Summer doesn’t mean safe – how to protect yourself from ozone pollution
June 18th, 2024
During the winter months, air quality is on most everyone’s minds along the Wasatch Front. It’s difficult to ignore, because we can all see it. Summer air quality is a…
Wildfire season is upon us. How it can impact your health and what you can do
June 11th, 2024
The leader of the Healthy Air Campaign for the American Lung Association, Laura Kate Bender, was recently interviewed on PBS NewsHour regarding the severe health risks posed by wildfire smoke. …
Can the military protect Great Salt Lake?
June 11th, 2024
A new federal agency has stated Great Salt Lake as a priority, and it may be unexpected to some, but after a closer look, it makes sense why. The lake,…
Update: Congress fails to continue funding for radiation victims
June 11th, 2024
Last week, UPHE board president and cofounder, Dr. Brian Moench, wrote a call-to-action op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune, urging residents to reach out to Congress over the proposed expansion…
Tell Utah’s Reps to stand with victims of radiation exposure
June 4th, 2024
Call Senator Mitt Romney: (202) 224-5251 Call Senator Mike Lee: (202) 224-5444 UPHE president and cofounder, Dr. Brian Moench, recently had the following op-ed published in the Salt Lake Tribune,…
Comments on Granite Construction’s application for stream alteration in Parley’s Canyon
June 4th, 2024
Granite Construction has been trying to build a massive mine and gravel pit in Parley’s Canyon. Despite “reassurances” they would not impact the environment, they filed for a permit to…
Listen: Utah Public Radio covers the recent approval of controversial Weber County Inland Port
May 29th, 2024
Utah Public Radio (UPR) covered a few areas of important concern on their latest “Behind the Headlines” radio segment. Last week, there were a slew of articles (↓) on the…
Dr. Moench weighs in on pesticides in Millcreek
May 29th, 2024
Pesticides are a pervasive and insidious threat to human health, undermining the very safety of our food, water, and environment. These toxic chemicals, aggressively marketed by agrochemical giants, permeate our…
Feds could pull highway funding due to Utah’s bad air
May 21st, 2024
Surprise, surprise, Utah state officials are once again attempting to dodge federal efforts to improve our air. A Salt Lake Tribune article reports that the state could lose federal funding…
Residents speak out in strong opposition of Weber County Inland Port, again citing public input issues
May 21st, 2024
Earlier this week, residents rallied at the Utah Capitol Building ahead of the Utah Inland Port’s meeting, where they once again disregarded widespread public opposition to their proposal and approved…
Another study supports our mission – we need clean air!
May 14th, 2024
A recent study out of the University of Utah resulted in alarming findings concerning indoor air quality, furthering evidence backing much of our work. The study, which focused on over…
Great Salt Lake lawsuit update – law professors agree with our claim
May 14th, 2024
In September of 2023, we announced a lawsuit with other conservation and community groups, targeting the state for their failure to protect public interests by their mismanagement of one of…
The state is attempting to dodge accountability for GSL
May 7th, 2024
The state is once again attempting to thwart their responsibility to bring water back to Great Salt Lake. UPHE, along with other groups, filed a lawsuit late in 2023 to…
Legal petition filed to try and stop Tooele rail line and protect wetlands
May 7th, 2024
In March, 2024, the Surface Transportation Board (a federal agency responsible for freight rail regulation), approved a freight line through Tooele County. UPHE, along with concerned local residents, filed a…
EPA strengthened carbon pollution standards for coal power plants
April 30th, 2024
The EPA recently tightened carbon emissions for coal power plants. States like Utah, which are dangerously lenient with industry pollution controls, rely heavily on federal standards to protect residents. Utah…
Another reason to push back on industrialization in Parley’s Canyon
April 30th, 2024
Headlines late last week served as stark reminders of why so many are opposing mining and gravel operations in Parley’s Canyon. “The truck lost control at about 4 a.m. and…
Ask Us Anything – UPHE on Reddit
April 29th, 2024
On April 23, 2024, UPHE posted an inaugural Ask Me Anything (AMA) on the social networking site, Reddit. We answered questions that concerned Salt Lake residents posted on general air…
The problem with PFAS
April 24th, 2024
What are PFAS or “forever chemicals”? Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are probably the most toxic chemicals ever produced. They’ve been nicknamed “forever chemicals” or “teflon” because they do not…
UPHE and Residents of Tooele County Appeal the Approval of a New Rail Line in Tooele
April 23rd, 2024
(Salt Lake City, UT) – Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment (UPHE), the Erda Community Association, and individual residents of Tooele County, with the support of the Stop the Polluting Port…
Diseases in desert dust
April 16th, 2024
Valley Fever is traditionally thought to only be a risk in the far southwest of the United States, barely including southern Utah’s desert. However, in 2001, archeologists were diagnosed after…
Proposal for Southern Utah Puts Residents at Risk
April 16th, 2024
A plan for a community in Ivins, Utah, could expose 47 acres of lakebed dust to a surrounding community, as the city council contemplates a $22 million plan for treated…
Tooele residents explain frustration with Inland Port
April 11th, 2024
“Tooele County moving forward with 2 inland port projects despite resident concerns,” a December, 2023 headline wrote. Following suit with their 2018 approval of an Inland Port in Utah’s capitol…
Rocky Mountain Power pushes back closing date for coal plants
April 8th, 2024
We are disappointed but not surprised to hear Rocky Mountain Power’s recent decision to backtrack on its commitment for early retirement of coal-fired power plants in Utah. Initially, the company…
Update on UPHE’s legal win against diesel pollution
April 8th, 2024
UPHE has won two lawsuits (Diesel Brothers and 4Wheel Parts) using the Clean Air Act to prevent illegal exhaust modification of diesel vehicles. The result of these lawsuits is hugely…
Petition for the Wilson’s Phalarope and the link between GSL and Inland ports
April 2nd, 2024
By now, many of you, UPHE supporters and environmental champions, are aware of the harms of the Utah Inland Port; drastically increased diesel emissions, irresponsible uses of resident tax dollars,…
Comments to the EPA on deadly paraquat use
April 1st, 2024
TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN COMMENTS: click here and use Docket ID EPA–HQ–OPP–2011–0855. DEADLINE IS APRIL 1, 2024. In the far left hand side of the page, click the box that says…
Reasons to break up with beef
March 19th, 2024
One of the most important, and easiest, things we can do to conserve water on a personal level in the West is to reduce our beef consumption. The water footprint…
Utah ranks among worst in the world in this critical climate change metric
March 19th, 2024
Utah ranks among the worst in the world in carbon footprint generated per capita. The state ranks 19th in the country. On average, each person in Utah generates more than…
Inland port darkens Utah’s future
March 12th, 2024
Utah News Dispatch published an op-ed from UPHE president and co-founder, Dr. Brian Moench, on the frightening future of Utah if the Inland Port continues. Full op-ed: Utah’s future quality…
Our lawsuit to protect GSL and why it’s needed
March 12th, 2024
NPR’s All Things Considered did a story on Great Salt Lake, the agriculture problem associated with it’s condition, and UPHE’s lawsuit to hold the state accountable. The piece mentions state…
Trying to avert disaster, Great Salt Lake
March 5th, 2024
In September of 2023, UPHE and other groups announced a lawsuit aimed at preserving Great Salt Lake. And it’s a good thing, because the legislature proved to do little to…
Ask the Governor to veto an anti-Great Salt Lake bill
March 5th, 2024
As always, there is good news and bad news to report now that the legislative session is over. First, the good news. Massive public outcry from people like you against…
Corruption causes pollution in Utah
February 27th, 2024
You may remember an article about a year ago which announced that one company, US Magnesium, was responsible for about 25% of the pollution in a typical Wasatch Front inversion. …
The future is looking polluted! What can help?
February 27th, 2024
The Guardian covered a concerning report from the First Street Foundation indicating that a significant portion of the continental US will face unhealthy air pollution levels by 2054. Currently, one…
Your support helped protect Parley’s, but we’re not done yet
February 27th, 2024
You did it! All of your emails, phone calls, and texts helped kill one of the worst bills the legislature has ever seen, S.B. 172 and modify H.B. 502. H.B.…
Don’t allow a rock quarry up Parley’s Canyon
February 20th, 2024
The Deseret News had an excellent in-house editorial against mining bills SB172 and HB502. Both bills would open the door for the highly contested rock quarry in Parley’s Canyon. Both…
Utah is trying to get out of being a Good Neighbor
February 20th, 2024
Dr. Moench took part in an Earthjustice national virtual press conference explaining why they are pushing back against the pollution industries’ attempt to get the Supreme Court to rule against…
Dr. Courtney Henley on the Inland Port
February 13th, 2024
“Local government is the last line of defense for the health and well-being of her residents,” Dr. Courtney Henley, board member of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment said at…
Responding to wildfire smoke
February 13th, 2024
When the weather starts to get nicer, our inclination is to breathe a breath of fresh air and celebrate the end of inversion season. However, a summer pollution source is…
EPA tightens some standards, but Wasatch Front needs more to improve air quality
February 13th, 2024
Utah has struggled to stay in compliance with EPA air quality standards. Instead of tightening mining, industry and vehicle emission standards, the state is trying to pass a law (SB57)…
EPA Sets Stronger Soot (PM2.5) Standards but Ignores the 24-hour Standard That Plagues the Wasatch Front
February 8th, 2024
(Salt Lake City, UT) – Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment applauds the EPA for strengthening the annual health-based national ambient air quality standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from…
Forest Service pulls permit for Uinta Basin Railway
January 30th, 2024
UPHE is proud to be part of the lawsuit against the proposed Uinta Basin Railway, whose very purpose is to quadruple the amount of climate-killing oil and gas that is…
Open letter to an ‘inland port’ community in Utah
January 30th, 2024
James Westwater is among many community members across the state who have growing concerns over their new neighbor, the Utah Inland Port Authority. The Port Authority has swept in and…
The feds want cleaner air in Utah, but the state legislature is ready to fight them
January 30th, 2024
Jan. 30, 2024 A Salt Lake Tribune headline writes, “The feds want cleaner air in Utah, but the state legislature is ready to fight them.” While unsurprising, the headline is…
Utah Public Radio: Health care professionals ask policymakers to save Great Salt Lake
January 30th, 2024
UPHE’s Dr. Brian Moench spoke on Utah Public Radio about our sign-on letter for the medical community. The letter urges the Utah legislature to take meaningful action to get water…
Over one thousand people gather to protect Great Salt Lake!
January 23rd, 2024
Sign our petition to protect Great Salt Lake and send a letter to the speaker of the house, Mike Schultz. Over the weekend, a powerful rally unfolded on the steps…
State of Utah Releases Inadequate Plan to Save the Great Salt Lake
January 19th, 2024
Great Salt Lake Commissioner, Brian Steed, released a plan that was supposed to rebuild water levels in Great Salt Lake. The plan, much like many legislative actions to improve the…
Great Salt Lake and dust storms
January 18th, 2024
UPHE Board Member and ER Physician, Dr. Tom Nelson, spoke to NPR about growing concerns of dust coming from Great Salt Lake. Dr. Tom Nelson was born and raised in…
Dr. Brian Moench: Young Utahns have a right to feel pessimistic, Gov. Cox
January 18th, 2024
UPHE’s board president and co-founder, Dr. Brian Moench, had an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune, responding to Governor Cox’s comments on Great Salt Lake: At a conference last week,…
We can’t give up on Great Salt Lake, we must stop the Inland Ports
January 17th, 2024
Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment is dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of Utah residents by promoting science-based health education and interventions that result in an environment that…
Letter calling for a full audit of the Inland Port
January 16th, 2024
House Speaker Mike SchultzState Capitol Building350 North State Street, Suite #350Salt Lake City, UT 84114 Senate President Stuart AdamsState Capitol Building350 North State Street, Suite #320Salt Lake City, UT 84114…
Doctors in the news, calling for action on Great Salt Lake
January 10th, 2024
The over 300 medical professionals who signed onto our call for legislators to take meaningful action to save the lake made headlines this week. Axios reported that we delivered the…
Over 300 Members of the Medical Community Urge Utah Policymakers to Save the Great Salt Lake
January 9th, 2024
Over 300 medical professionals based in Utah and throughout the country have signed a letter warning Utah policymakers that unless enough water reaches the Great Salt Lake to reverse its recent decline,…
Weber County Inland Port threatens GSL wetlands
January 8th, 2024
Opponents of the proposed inland port in Weber County showed up strong to the Weber County meeting, expressing concerns over the negative impacts the port would have on their community.…
Utah is asking for our lawsuit to protect Great Salt Lake to be dismissed
January 2nd, 2024
A handful of news outlets covered the latest update on our lawsuit to protect Great Salt Lake. The purpose of the lawsuit is to force state agencies to take meaningful…
Has the air quality got you worried yet?
January 2nd, 2024
Is it time we do something about it? A message from UPHE board member and emergency physician in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dr. Tom Nelson: Frightening truths that are separated…
Dr. Brian Moench: The Utah Inland Port Authority’s 21st century gold rush
December 20th, 2023
UPHE’s Dr. Brian Moench had an op-ed published in the Deseret News. Find the op-ed here, or copied below. In 1849, fantastical rags to riches rumors from the California gold…
The gondola problem and what’s being done
December 19th, 2023
An op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune points out how UDOT’s decision to proceed with the Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola is so contrary to any vestige of democracy at the…
Worst air in the country
December 19th, 2023
This week’s inversion made us home to the worst air in the country. The Salt Lake Tribune uses the Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s coding system, which marked the air…
Real stories about air quality and health
December 14th, 2023
When we talk about the health consequences of air pollution, we often talk in broad terms. You’ve probably heard the statistic that along the Wasatch Front air pollution takes an…
Utah Inland Ports Spreading Like Wildfire
December 14th, 2023
The Utah Inland Port is another assault to the climate and public trust of government funds. Where it was originally designated as a warehouse and freight loading facility for Salt…
Global tipping points, and how Utah contributes
December 14th, 2023
Every new report on the climate crisis seems worse than the last. But the latest is not just more bad news, it should serve as a wake up call to…
Bad air is costing us money and, more importantly, our health
December 7th, 2023
Oftentimes, we see public and environmental health pitted against economic interests. We hear “we need jobs,” “we need to develop,” “the economy needs it.” What we’re missing is that they…
A toxic tour of Great Salt Lake, from High Country News
December 7th, 2023
A recent article from High Country News sheds light on the alarming state of Great Salt Lake, the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere. “Flying above Great Salt Lake,…
Tooele Utah Inland Ports approved despite public protest
December 6th, 2023
The Tooele community showed up strong outside of the county building ahead of the Utah Inland Ports vote to approve two new project areas in their county. The room was…
Dr. Brian Moench: Utah is sabotaging efforts to save Great Salt Lake
December 2nd, 2023
UPHE’s president, cofounder, and resident op-ed writer Dr. Brian Moench, had another excellent piece published in the Salt Lake Tribune. This one focuses on the state’s lack of accountability and…
What we can use from Nevada’s water conservation strategy
November 30th, 2023
The Las Vegas Sun picked up UPHE and coalition partners’ lawsuit to save Great Salt Lake. “Environmental law organization Earthjustice filed a lawsuit against the state in September on behalf…
Update on industrialization, and our wetlands report
November 21st, 2023
Separate from the onslaught on wetlands and undeveloped areas perpetrated by the Utah Inland Port Authority, one of the few remaining rural areas in Salt Lake City has been approved…