Senate extends Uinta Basin air-quality research, adds $150,000 to fund

The Senate approved House Bill 319 to continue and expand Uinta Basin air-quality monitoring and research. Sen. Winterton presented the measure as an extension of an existing program and said the bill removes the project's sunset and adds $150,000 to the program budget to hire a new researcher at Utah State University.

Questions from Sen. Fillmore and others focused on whether the $150,000 represents a new appropriation or a reallocation from an existing dedicated account. Sen. Winterton said the funds come from a dedicated account (mineral lease or severance tax revenues) already established in 2016 and that the request represents use of that account rather than a new general appropriation. Other speakers stressed the need for targeted air-quality data outside the Wasatch Front and noted the project's role in helping the state remain marginally in attainment by improving monitoring in the Uinta Basin.

The bill passed the Senate by roll-call (record shows 28 yea votes, 0 nays, 1 absent) and will be returned to the House for the Speaker's signature.