Quick Link to
DEQ:
Who We Are and What We Do
(DEQ
Brochure, June 2005, Updated September 2006: pdf 123 kb, 2 pages)
See Also
DEQ
Divisions
How are environmental
programs and policies developed at DEQ's state office? Find out here.
DEQ
Regions
Learn how DEQ's regional offices work to protect the environment in
your area and link to region-specific environmental information.
Environmental
Stewardship
DEQ is recognized
for its pollution prevention efforts.
Contact
Us
Share your views
or report an environmental concern.
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About Us: What Does DEQ Do?
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Our
Mission
To
protect human health and
preserve the quality of Idaho's air, land, and water
for
use and enjoyment today and in the future.
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| Overview |
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DEQ
is a state department created by the Idaho
Environmental Protection and Health Act (Idaho Code §39-101
et seq) to ensure clean air, water, and land in the state and protect
Idaho citizens from the adverse health impacts of pollution.
As
a regulatory agency, DEQ enforces various state environmental regulations
and administers a number of federal environmental protection laws
including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act. DEQ manages a broad range of activities
including:
- assessment of environmental problems;
- oversight of facilities that generate air,
water, and hazardous waste pollution;
- monitoring of air and water quality;
- cleanup of contaminated sites; and
- education, outreach, and technical assistance
to businesses, local government agencies, and interested citizens.
The agency
is committed to working in partnership with local communities, businesses,
and citizens to identify and implement cost-effective environmental
solutions.
DEQ's Director is
Toni Hardesty, an Idaho native
who previously served as Administrator of DEQ's Water Quality Division
and has managed a host of multimedia environmental projects in the
private and public sectors, including the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Region 10 in Seattle. |
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| Organizational Structure |
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the department are five divisions responsible for developing, administering,
and enforcing environmental policies and for providing technical
and administrative support. Division staff are housed in the department's
state office. On-the-ground implementation of environmental programs
is conducted by six regional offices throughout the state.
Link to DEQ's
Organizational Chart.
Learn
more about DEQ's divisions.
Learn
more about DEQ's regional offices. |
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| Table of Authorities |
| DEQ
carries out its responsibilities as authorized by various legislative
mandates, many of which empower the state to implement and enforce
federally mandated environmental programs. The Table
of Authorities is a comprehensive list of the state and federal
laws under which DEQ is authorized to regulate air quality, water
quality, and solid/hazardous waste in Idaho. |
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| Federal Stimulus Funding |
As part of the federal stimulus package DEQ is receiving to support various environmental projects (including drinking water and wastewater construction, leaking underground storage tanks, and Bunker Hill), DEQ must:
(a) adhere to Section 1607(a) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): “Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, for funds provided to any State or agency thereof, the Governor of the State shall certify that: (1) the State will request and use funds provided by this Act; and (2) the funds will be used to create jobs and promote economic growth.” Click here to view gubernatorial certification.
(b) ensure that the certification is posted to its Web site and linked to www.recovery.gov.
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