Inmates, mosquitoes and pesticides
November 22nd, 2022
Over the weekend the headline story on the front page of the Tribune was an article about mosquitoes swarming the newly relocated Utah State Prison in the Northwest Quadrant and
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The dangers of indoor air quality, and what we’re doing to help
November 22nd, 2022
KSL Channel 5 did a nice piece last week on the air purifiers in schools program UPHE works on with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. We now
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Op-Ed: Utah lawmakers may yet emerge from their environmental comas
November 22nd, 2022
UPHE’s Dr. Moench has another Op Ed in the Salt Lake Tribune on the national attention on Utah for our unsolved and largely unaddressed environmental problems. Read it in full
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There is no safe level of air pollution
November 14th, 2022
You have heard us say for years that there is no safe level of air pollution exposure. New research adds even more evidence to the science behind that. Science Daily
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Prepping for the inversion
November 14th, 2022
Most of us along the Wasatch Front are familiar with the winter weather inversion. With temperatures dropping, the inversion is upon us. While we are familiar with the inversion, how
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The case the youth have against the state
November 14th, 2022
A group of Utah youth is standing up to lawmakers and outdated environmental policies with a lawsuit that outlines the effect these policies have on the future. Here in Utah,
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Where are the brine flies and why does it matter?
November 14th, 2022
An alarming report has found that the collapse of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem has already begun. Great Salt Lake brine flies have just about disappeared. They are an irreplaceable
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Utah receives EPA grant money to monitor air quality
November 8th, 2022
The EPA also announced last week that federal funds are available for air quality monitoring for 37 states, including our very own. $1,284,587 of the funds are intended for three
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The details on a UPHE prompted environmental justice study
November 8th, 2022
UPHE has been meeting with the EPA over our concerns about adding a major new source of pollution with the proposed inland port on the West side for a few
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New GSL water restrictions – is it enough?
November 8th, 2022
Great Salt Lake has been a major topic of discussion, here in Utah, and nationally. The good news is that with all of the attention and pressure to preserve our
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Utah teens take the state to court
November 8th, 2022
For decades, Utah state policy-makers have intentionally prioritized and subsidized the fossil fuel industry to the detriment of current and future generations. Earlier this year, a team of seven young
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Rail traffic in the city adds to air pollution
November 1st, 2022
Alejandro Puy, Salt Lake City Council Member for District 2 on the west side, had a letter in the Salt Lake Tribune last week, addressing the issue of rail traffic
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Utah Lake islands project rejected
November 1st, 2022
We are delighted to include the latest piece of news on the scheme to dredge Utah Lake. “A controversial application to dredge Utah Lake as part of a massive island-building
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Inland Port – it’s time to get involved
October 25th, 2022
The Utah Inland Port has been under heavy scrutiny lately with change in leadership, questionable spending of public funds, and an unconvincing business plan. There are so many issues and
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Company hogging water for Uinta drilling project
October 25th, 2022
UPHE has been one of the environmental groups suing to stop the atrocious proposal to allow an Estonian oil company to begin a large-scale oil shale operation near Dinosaur National
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UPHE helps prompt environmental justice study for SLC’s west side
October 18th, 2022
Two years ago UPHE started meeting with the EPA over our concerns about adding a major new source of pollution with the proposed inland port on the West side. With
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SLC and the Port’s new deal
October 18th, 2022
A draft plan is being reviewed by both Salt Lake City, and the Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) that outlines the city’s input on the project, and especially their role,
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Utah Lake dredging put on hold
October 18th, 2022
“Permitting for the massive dredging project proposed for Utah Lake has been suspended while the company behind the plan seeks to compile additional materials to support the controversial application to
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Air pollution on the brain — what you need to know about your child’s exposure
October 13th, 2022
UPHE fouder and board president, Dr. Brian Moench, wrote the following op-ed which was published in the Deseret News: Taking advantage of a federal grant, Utah Physicians for a Healthy
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Development in the city
October 11th, 2022
Salt Lake City needs to rethink their develop-at-all-costs attitude in order to protect the health and meet the needs of local residents. Unfortunately, it seems like they are prepared to
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Activism opposing the gondola for Little Cottonwood Canyon
October 11th, 2022
In the weeks leading up to the close of the public comment period for the proposed gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon, we’ve seen an inspiring outcry of opposition to the
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Mistakes were made – UIPA
October 10th, 2022
Salt Lake City Weekly published a recap of the most recent updates regarding the Utah Inland Port Authority. “Even while the Utah inland port is being built out, you can
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The fatal flaw in Utah’s Inland Port idea
October 5th, 2022
Malin Moench spent 37 years analyzing legal, economic, and technical issues relating to transportation and public utility regulation at the Federal level. Now retired, he volunteers for a number of
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Six arguments against a gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon
October 5th, 2022
The Salt Lake County Council voted this week to call for the gondola option to be “eliminated from consideration” as a way to manage Little Cottonwood Canyon. Thanks to all
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Inland port is another of the Utah Legislature’s masterpieces in taxpayer waste
September 29th, 2022
UPHE cofounder and board president Dr. Brian Moench wrote the following op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune: “In recent years, using special ingredients of infatuation with economic growth, not doing
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Geneva Rock sued over attempt to evade local land-use rules as it expands Point of the Mountain
September 27th, 2022
The city of Draper is suing Geneva Rock over their attempt to expand their Point of the Mountain (POM) quarry nearly 70 acres. We previously submitted comments on how horrible
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State audit knocks Inland Port over spending and transparency issues
September 27th, 2022
State auditors agreed with critics of the Utah Inland Port Authority (led by UPHE and the Stop the Polluting Port Coalition) that the port authority has been careless and wasteful
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Port expert says Utah Inland Port destined to fail as a business
September 26th, 2022
UC Berkeley business professor and logistics industry expert says the port’s transloading facility business model is not viable. (Salt Lake City, UT) – On the heels of a highly critical analysis from state auditors,
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Parley’s mine proponents apply for another dirty project in SLC
September 20th, 2022
SAY NO! TO A CONCRETE PLANT IN NORTH SALT LAKE The same company that wants to carve a limestone mine/gravel pit in Parley’s Canyon, Granite Construction, has applied for a
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UPHE and UDHHS help put air purifiers in local schools
September 20th, 2022
In an historic, far reaching clean air initiative, UPHE and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (UDHHS) have joined forces to launch a project to place air purifiers
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Doctors and Utah Health Dept. Launch Historic Air Purifiers in Utah Schools Project
September 14th, 2022
Cleaner air improves student performance, decreases COVID transmission and school absenteeism. (Salt Lake City, UT) – In an historic, far reaching clean air initiative, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment (UPHE)
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Let’s call it what it is – an emergency
September 13th, 2022
As the hottest summer ever recorded in Salt Lake City continues, we remind you that the climate crisis is just getting started. As the legislature refuses to take action, it
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UPHE takes on climate denial
September 13th, 2022
UPHE has been rallying against the Uinta Basin Railway since the project’s conception. The goal of the railway is to increase oil production and output from Utah’s Uinta Basin area,
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Harley-Davidson dealerships accused in civil suit of air, noise pollution violations
September 13th, 2022
UPHE set a precedent in a previous lawsuit we brought against the Diesel Brothers for violating the Clean Air Act. At a time where our air, and quality of life
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Federal Lawsuit Challenges Forest Service OK of Oil Railway Right-of-Way
September 12th, 2022
Railway Will Quintuple Oil Production in Utah’s Uinta Basin WASHINGTON— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Forest Service today to challenge the agency’s approval of construction of an oil railway through a protected
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Why and how to oppose the Little Cottonwood gondola
September 6th, 2022
Yesterday UDOT announced that their preferred alternative to handle traffic congestion in Little Cottonwood Canyon was a $500 million gondola. Given UDOT’s past history, and their continued lack of concern
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Utah youth hold die-in for the GSL
September 6th, 2022
Despite record breaking heat, yesterday Utah Youth Environmental Solutions Network, or UYES, organized a “die-in” event at the Great Salt Lake. “The assembly of around 100 youth and their supporters
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Update on the Inland Port – new executive director
August 30th, 2022
The Utah Inland Port Authority has a new executive director. The Salt Lake Tribune covered the change in leadership in a recent article. In 2018, the state of Utah took
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Update on Parley’s – passed through DOGM
August 30th, 2022
Granite Construction is continuing to exploit Utah’s weak environmental regulations in their efforts to build a mine in local treasure, Parley’s Canyon. Their permit passed the Utah Division of Oil
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Pollution and IQ
August 23rd, 2022
New research adds an exclamation point to previous research about how damaging air pollution is to early stage brain development. Researchers found that toddlers exposed to particulate matter score lower
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Major development on the scheme to dredge Utah Lake
August 23rd, 2022
The Utah Department of Natural Resources told a legislature interim committee last week that the Attorney General’s office considers the proposal to dredge Utah Lake unconstitutional because it is privatizing
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Not as bad as it was, but not as good as it should be
August 16th, 2022
Salt Lake City’s air quality issues are nothing new. New research out of the University of Utah shows the history of poor air quality in the area, and how certain
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What does “modernizing infrastructure” mean for SLC?
August 16th, 2022
Utah is getting over $25 million in funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The funds are dedicated to two projects being touted to modernize infrastructure, the State Route 224
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Utah Lake and forever chemicals in pesticides
August 16th, 2022
One of our most important battles right now is to stop developers who want to dredge Utah Lake and create 34 artificial islands and house up to 500,000 more people
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Developer’s plan for Utah Lake threatens to be an ‘unmitigated disaster’
August 8th, 2022
By now, most have heard of the proposal for Utah Lake, proposed by a new company called “Lake Restoration Solutions.” It doesn’t take a deep dive into the proposal to
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Escaping the pollution
August 8th, 2022
Much of the advice surrounding how to avoid air pollution revolves around staying inside. Air quality is a serious concern, even in indoor spaces however. Daniel Mendoza, a researcher at
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A SLC environmental injustice
August 2nd, 2022
Salt Lake City’s west side has been exposed to various environmental injustices, adversely affected by polluting industries. It is one of the main reasons we have been opposed to the
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Parley’s Canyon mine & DOGM’s responsibility
August 2nd, 2022
After attempting to squeak past the appropriate public input process once, proponents of the proposed limestone mine in Parley’s Canyon are still fighting residents’ wishes, and have enlisted the help
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Toxic chemicals are causing the collapse of human intelligence
July 29th, 2022
UPHE founder and board president, Dr. Brian Moench, had an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune on air pollution’s impact on brain function. He offers a solution to help mitigate
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Governor Cox speaks on drought and GSL
July 26th, 2022
In response to criticism of Utah’s water conservation efforts, Governor Cox admitted “I think we got a little lackadaisical.” It was frustrating for many to read his comments reported in
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A small step in shifting our water culture
July 26th, 2022
Despite the ongoing megadrought and looming environmental and health threats of losing our capital city’s namesake lake, Utah has struggled to change the culture around water usage. We continue to
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The state of the Great Salt Lake
July 26th, 2022
The Great Salt Lake made national news yet again in an in-depth report published by ABC News. They reported that two thirds of the lakebed, or 800 sq miles is
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Another take on the proposed gondola for Little Cottonwood
July 19th, 2022
The Salt Lake Tribune had a very well written editorial about the plans to build a gondola to increase the number of people going to ski resorts up Little Cottonwood
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A new bill on the table to “save” the GSL – but is it practical?
July 19th, 2022
A new bill was introduced by Senator Mitt Romney, and in the House by Utah Representatives Chris Stewart and Burgess Owens regarding the Great Salt Lake. The bill is touted
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Uinta Basin Railway moving forward – send a message ASAP
July 19th, 2022
Despite strong public opposition, serious environmental and health concerns, and a promise to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, the federal government recently gave the OK for the Uinta Basin Railway
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Harley Dealerships charged with motorcycle tampering that increases harmful air and noise pollution in Utah
July 18th, 2022
Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment Brings “Citizen Suit” Against Harley-Davidson Dealerships for Defeating Air and Noise Pollution Control Systems on Motorcycles (July 18, 2022 – Salt Lake City) –
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Reflections on the Stericycle Closure by UPHE Co-founder Tim Wagner
July 11th, 2022
UPHE Co-founder, Tim Wagner, wrote a lovely piece reflecting on the recent victory of the Stericycle closure of their medical waste incinerator. Read below: I rejoice with many Utahns and
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Clean air for classrooms!
July 11th, 2022
Dr. John Macfarlane, UPHE board member and local neurosurgeon, had an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune last weekend that highlights the importance of our new air purifiers in schools
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Victory for clean air: Stericycle closes medical waste incinerator
July 7th, 2022
UPHE celebrated a long fought victory today with a press conference outside of Stericycle’s office. Stericycle, for 33 years, has been polluting the air of Davis County with toxic chemicals
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Biden Administration Paves Way for Railway That Will Quadruple Oil Production in Utah’s Uinta Basin
July 7th, 2022
SALT LAKE CITY— The U.S. Forest Service has rejected challenges to the Uinta Basin Railway, saying the project is in the public interest even as it predicts the oil railway could increase
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Stericycle Shuts Down!
July 5th, 2022
Public Health and Community Activists Finally Win the Battle to Permanently Close Stericycle’s Incinerator (Salt Lake City, UT) –For the last 33 years Stericycle’s medical waste incinerator has poured a witches brew
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Parley’s mine in July?
June 28th, 2022
Salt Lake Valley residents are well aware of the negative impacts a new mine in Parley’s Canyon would have on their health and quality of life. As expected, however, Jesse
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Dr. Moench on air pollution and life expectancy for KUTV
June 28th, 2022
UPHE has been saying for 15 years that Utahns are losing about two years of their life expectancy due to air pollution. New research strengthens that claim. KUTV called us
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The case for solar
June 28th, 2022
UPHE board member, Dr. Tom Nelson, wrote a very powerful op-ed for the Deseret News describing his experience transitioning to solar, and highlighting the public funds available to help with
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Another impact of the Port
June 21st, 2022
We wrote a few weeks ago about the Utah Inland Port’s plan to purchase LDS Church property for a rail yard. The Utah Department of Transportation had secured federal funding
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No safe level of compound found in pesticides
June 21st, 2022
The EPA finally acknowledges that there is no safe level of toxic “forever” chemicals in our drinking water. That means there is no safe level of exposure from other sources.
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The immediate financial impacts of a shriveled-up Great Salt Lake
June 21st, 2022
UPHE board member Dr. Tom Nelson (ER physician) had an excellent Op Ed in the Salt Lake Tribune yesterday, about more consequences of the shriveling up of the Great Salt
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Another study on air quality and life expectancy
June 21st, 2022
Is air pollution as bad as cigarettes? A new study says even worse. We’ve seen studies on air pollution and life expectancy before, and another one confirms the findings –
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Coal over water
June 14th, 2022
A popular northern Utah fishing reservoir is being drained to facilitate a coal mine expansion. The reservoir is 1,000 feet above the underground coal seam being mined. “The need to
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An ‘Environmental Nuclear Bomb’
June 14th, 2022
The Great Salt Lake has made national news a few times lately, for unfortunate reasons. The drying of our famous lake is sparking conversation because it is increasingly stirring up
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“What are we doing here?” Op-ed on Parley’s
June 7th, 2022
In Utah, it can be difficult to stay optimistic and avoid feeling burnt out and defeated over the constant threats towards our health and quality of life. One of the
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Electric school buses for Utah?
June 7th, 2022
The EPA has released a new program to encourage schools to replace their dirty energy, diesel buses for clean electric ones. Typical school buses run on diesel and produce high
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Another Port transparency issue
June 7th, 2022
The Salt Lake Tribune has a story asking the question “Why did the Utah Inland Port give this California company a no-bid $2M contract?” regarding the Port’s partnership with the
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More transparency is needed on the Inland Port
May 31st, 2022
There is a letter to the editor, also in the Salt Lake Tribune, expressing concern over how funds are said to be used, and how they actually are. The letter
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Inland port’s effort to snatch up LDS Church property throws wrench into plan to improve air, traffic
May 31st, 2022
Not only did the Inland Port’s effort to obtain the Church’s property lack transparency, it also could block a project years in the making aimed to IMPROVE air quality. “Turns
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Clean Air Advocates Share Renewed Concerns about Utah’s Plan to Reduce Haze Pollution
May 31st, 2022
Clean air advocates reject Utah’s regional haze plan, call for immediate change to protect national parks and public health. Salt Lake City, UT – Today the Utah Division of Air
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Blue Sky Tips
May 25th, 2022
See our weekly Blue Sky Tips in our e-news! Take pictures of yourself, your friends and your family participating in our weekly tips to be featured in our e-news or
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Take saving the GSL seriously
May 24th, 2022
The Salt Lake Tribune has an in-house editorial that calls the idea of feeding water to the Great Salt Lake from a multi-billion dollar pipeline tapping the Pacific Ocean completely
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Company should listen to the public on proposed Parley’s mine
May 24th, 2022
Too often individual interests trump public health and common sense in environmental battles. Nowhere is that more the case than with the Parley’s Canyon gravel pit. Predictably, the property owner,
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Truck or train, pollution persists
May 24th, 2022
UPHE and our partners at the Stop the Polluting Port Coalition met with Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) officials recently and addressed misnomers in claims that a port could clean
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Act! Public comment & hearing on Regional Haze
May 24th, 2022
The Regional Haze Rule is a crucial piece of legislation in protecting our public lands and public health from fossil fuel pollution. Utah is a mecca for outdoor recreation. Home
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Where will we get the water for all of Utah’s growth?
May 20th, 2022
Dr. Moench had an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune this week highlighting a crucial concern at the core of growth in Utah – water. While the Utah Inland Port
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Worst dust in a decade
May 17th, 2022
What might seem a dystopian nightmare for some is becoming a regular reality for Utahns. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality issued a warning a few weeks ago cautioning against
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“An unacceptable risk” – Mosquito pesticide spraying in Utah
May 17th, 2022
We’ve been talking about the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District’s (SLCMAD) use of pesticides for years. Recently, we had an intern start looking into pesticide use across the entire
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New Port Board, same problems
May 13th, 2022
Last legislative session, the Utah legislature voted to remove Salt Lake City’s representation from the Board of the Utah Inland Port Authority. They had their first meeting with the new
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Where will the water come from?
May 11th, 2022
How will the Utah Inland Port affect Utah’s water crisis? It will only make it worse. The Utah Legislature changed the makeup of the Utah Inland Port Authority Board during
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Air pollution and mental health
May 10th, 2022
Mental Health Awareness Month – another reason to support clean air Click here for more information from the American Psychological Association.
Dust, fire, and your health
May 10th, 2022
The ongoing drought is increasing the risk of two extremely hazardous types of pollution- dust, and smoke. Last weekend’s dust storm gave the Wasatch Front a small taste of what’s
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The Utah Department of Air Quality is looking for your help
May 10th, 2022
Dr. Moench was on KPCW’s “This Green Earth” recently speaking on the “disturbing saga” of the Utah DAQ’s recent request to the EPA to exempt Utah from national ozone standards.
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Help protect yourself and your community on bad air days
May 3rd, 2022
Here are a few quick reminders of ways to keep emissions down and help promote clean air. Don’t drive! Staying local on bad air days, and in general, helps cut
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It’s Utah’s job to clean up the air
May 3rd, 2022
An excellent in-house editorial from the Salt Lake Tribune last week explains why it’s Utah’s job to clean up the air, regardless of where pollution is coming from. Utah recently
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How coal plants are contributing to the drought
May 3rd, 2022
“Power production from coal and natural gas needs large amounts of water to create the steam that drives turbines, and even more water to cool a plant’s condensers. But burning
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Dust, where it’s coming from, and what it’s doing to our health
May 3rd, 2022
Dust is common in the Salt Lake Valley. What is not common, however, is the drastically increased levels from the ongoing drought- and the heavy metals, arsenic and other pollutants
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Wildfire season already? How to protect your health this summer
April 26th, 2022
It’s only April and wildfires have been burning for weeks in Arizona, Nebraska, New Mexico, California, Colorado, and Texas. The climate crisis is not looming in the distant future, it’s
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Inject Salt Lake City environmental priorities into the Utah Inland Port
April 26th, 2022
UPHE has been opposed to the Utah Inland Port since its conception, due to the inevitable pollution a port brings to its area. A recent op-ed by UPHE member, Katie
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Dr. Moench’s “State of the Air” on Fox13
April 26th, 2022
In their “State of the Air” report, the American Lung Association gave most of Utah failing grades for air pollutants. Once again Salt Lake City, Provo, and Orem ranked in
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Earth Day
April 19th, 2022
Salt Lake County’s move to block Parley’s mine now faces legal threats
April 19th, 2022
After unanimous and passionate public outrage, Salt Lake County Council passed an ordinance that blocked a mine proposed for Parley’s Canyon. Proponents of the mine (Tree Farm LLC) are refusing
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Putin’s invasion of Ukraine exposes our fossil fuel addiction
April 18th, 2022
Our board President, Dr. Brian Moench, has an editorial in the Salt Lake Tribune on the connection between Putin’s war on Ukraine, our ongoing fossil fuel addiction, and the moral
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EPA moves to protect Utah residents from elevated ozone
April 15th, 2022
Last year, Utah failed to meet the deadline to comply with the national air quality standard for ozone, prompting reconsideration of the attainment status by the EPA. The state legislature
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