The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) is recognizing the 50th Earth Day today, April 22, 2020.
The WDEQ is proud to be a leader in caring for and protecting the state’s environment for current and future generations. In the past 50 years, many environmental actions and progress have occurred across the country and in Wyoming. These efforts ensure that our air, water and land continue to be here for all to enjoy. Some accomplishments the WDEQ is proud to promote on this day include:
Some accomplishments Wyoming is proud to promote on this day include:
· Since 2008, air pollution from major industrial facilities has been reduced by over 50,000 tons (equivalent to the pollution from 5.4 million passenger cars in a year)
· In 2019, 69 school buses were replaced across 16 school districts through the Wyoming Diesel Emission Reduction Program. This reduced emissions by 48.3 Tons NOx and 4.1 Tons of particulate matter per year.
· Since 1977, Wyoming’s Abandoned Mine Land Program has reclaimed 25,197 acres of habitat and rangeland and closed 2,476 mine openings.
· Wyoming’s Storage Tank Program has cleaned up 1,322 contaminated sites.
· The Nonpoint Source Program has initiated and funded 170 voluntary projects, improving fifteen stream and river segments, totaling almost 190 stream miles being restored to meet water quality standards.
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Director Todd Parfitt acknowledged the progress Wyoming has made during the past 50 years. “Through implementation of state and federal environmental programs we have significantly improved the quality of our air, water and land. There is also an important, intrinsic quality that every Wyoming resident receives from this. Our physical and mental wellbeing are enriched and DEQ is committed to continuing our efforts for the benefit of all.”
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