Utah legislators are considering a bill that would subject Salt Lake City street design to stricter oversight from the state, and in some cases prevent the city from adopting traffic calming measures.
A new air quality permit has been proposed for a gravel pit in Parley’s Canyon, raising concerns about air pollution in an already overburdened area near I-80. While the proposal is smaller than past plans, it still allows emissions that could affect air quality, and public comment is now open.
Since January 2025 the Trump administration has implemented a sweeping rollback of federal environmental justice efforts. The federal government has played a critical role in providing communities with the necessary resources to help them confront environmental risks, and this support must continue.
HEAL Utah is excited to be part of the AARP Community Challenge Grant, which supports our goal of building healthy, equitable, and livable communities in Utah. The Community Challenge Grant, which is part of AARP’s nationwide Liveable Communities Initiative, provides an opportunity to advance environmental justice and public health by expanding access to sustainable transportation.
Climate change relentlessly desiccates our environment, posing greater risks to our air quality every year, especially during wildfire season. Understanding the health risks of wildfire smoke can empower us to make changes in our community to advocate for cleaner air.
HEAL Utah is thrilled to announce we have been selected to receive a 2024 AARP Community Challenge grant. We are one of only 343 grantees selected (out of 3,300+ applications!) from across all 50 states, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In 2021, HEAL Utah received our first Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) project grant, partnering with Salt Lake County, the University of Utah, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, and others. Using this grant, HEAL Utah purchased and installed air quality monitors on top of electric buses traveling around the Westside of the Salt Lake Valley. These monitors are now actively collecting data as the buses move through various neighborhoods, providing a more nuanced understanding of local air quality.
Dive into Utah’s inversion season, exploring the health risks, environmental disparities, and policy efforts combating air pollution. Discover the impacts and solutions in our latest issue update.
Explore the Great Salt Lake’s ecological significance and the challenges it faces in our latest blog post, ‘The Great Salt Lake: An Update on Current Levels, Ongoing Challenges, and Our Next Steps.’ Discover how low water levels due to drought, overuse, and climate change threaten its ecosystems and communities. Stay informed about current water levels and the urgent need for conservation efforts. Explore the role of policy changes and collaborative initiatives, including HEAL Utah’s legislative impact. Address environmental justice concerns and community-driven efforts to protect the lake.
In partnership with the Utah State Legislature, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR), and the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL Utah), the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is holding Zero Fare for Clean Air days this Thursday and Friday (AUGUST 17 & 18). Zero Fare will be available on all UTA bus and rail services, including bus, TRAX, FrontRunner, the S-Line Streetcar, Paratransit, the Park City-SLC Connect, and UTA On Demand. GREENbike is also offering a free Day Pass on these days; use the promo code 8123 in the GREENbike BCycle app.
