ENRA 1: Pesticides, Food-Borne Disease, and Hazardous Wastes

PROTECT. . . THE PUBLIC AND THE ENVIRONMENT FROM EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDES, FOOD BORNE DISEASES AND TO SOLID, RADIOACTIVE, AND HAZARDOUS WASTES, AND ABANDONED MINES

Other Information:

• 152,000 pounds of unwanted or out-of-date pesticides collected and destroyed since 1993, representing the removal of about 76 tons from the environment. • 90% reduction in Salmonella Enteritidis cases between 2000 and 2001. • 100% of state’s operational underground storage tanks upgraded for leak detection. • 605 mines under environmental regulation, 156 with bonds to cover final reclamation. • 5,800 open mines safeguarded. State and federal partnerships enhance the statewide reclamation effort. • 51 of 78 areas slated for Superfund cleanup completed; 9 sites have been cleaned up in the Utah Voluntary Cleanup Program. • 1,340 soil and water conservation efforts were underway in 2002 - up from 1,120 in 1996. • Do-it-yourselfer (DIYer) used oil recycling has increased from 262,746 gallons in 1995 to 466,343 gallons in 2002. Looking Ahead: Increasing numbers of commercial chemical applicators will require monitoring. More facilities are implementing waste minimization practices as they realize the cost savings associated with being more environmentally conscious. As contaminated sites are cleaned up and process technologies improve, demand for treatment, storage, and disposal facilities will decline. Increased public interest will continue to shape Utah's commercial waste policy - including solid, hazardous, and radioactive wastes. Ongoing public dialogue and opportunities for public participation are an expected part of the planning process.

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

Content