Brandi O’Brien Selected as DEQ’s Land Quality Administrator

By Kimberly Mazza CHEYENNE – Brandi O’Brien has been selected to lead the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) Land Quality Division (LQD) as its new Administrator. The position became open in November, and O’Brien served as the interim administrator during that time.   “It gives me great pleasure to announce Brandi O’Brien as our new […]

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Deputy Director Edwards retires

By Kimberly Mazza CHEYENNE – After many years of service to the State of Wyoming, Alan Edwards the Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) Deputy Director, has announced his retirement, effective January 10, 2025. Alan served within the WDEQ as Deputy Director and Administrator of various departments including Administrator of the Abandoned Mine Land Division from […]

The Executive Committee and Executive Director of the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials Come to Cheyenne

By Kimberly Mazza CHEYENNE – The Executive Committee and Director of the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) were in Cheyenne recently to hold the committee’s first meeting since being elected. Suzanne Engels, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Solid and Hazardous Waste Division Administrator who stepped into her new role […]

Wyoming DEQ’s Suzanne Engels Begins Her Presidency with ASTSWMO

Suzanne Engels, Administrator for the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Solid and Hazardous Waste Division officially stepped into her new role as the 2024-2025 President for the Association of State & Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO).  The Executive Committee was announced recently at ASTSWMO’s Fall Meeting in Washington D.C. ASTSWMO is a membership-driven organization […]

Lead Service Line Update for Water Systems: State Issues “Lead Status Unknown” Notification Requirements

[Statewide, WY, Oct. 8, 2024] — The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments (OSLI) are alerting community water systems across the state about a critical compliance requirement under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). Water systems must notify customers whose service […]

Wyoming Abandoned Mine Land Division Awarded Again for Their Work

By Kimberly Mazza Statewide – On the heels of receiving the national award from the Office of Surface Mine Reclamation and Enforcement last month, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Division, brought home another national award for Wyoming.  This time, they were recognized for their work in the hard-rock sector […]

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Receives Excellence in UIC Award at 2024 GWPC Annual Forum

By Kimberly Mazza Cheyenne – The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) was recently awarded the Excellence in Underground Injection Control (UIC) Award at the Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) Annual Forum General Session.  Lily Barkau, Groundwater Section Manager for WDEQ accepted the award that recognized the department’s leadership and innovation in Class VI UIC […]

Risks Associated with Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms (HCBs) Continue Despite Cooler Temperatures

CHEYENNE, Wyo – Although fewer people are recreating in Wyoming’s lakes and reservoirs this fall as water and air temperatures decrease, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ), Wyoming Department of Health (WDH), Wyoming Livestock Board (WLB), and local, state, and federal partners want to remind people, including hunters and fisherman, to continue to avoid […]

Wyoming Receives Award for Excellence in Environmental Planning

By Kimberly Mazza Cheyenne – Wyoming’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Brownfield Program recently received The Sheldon D. Gerber Merit Award for Excellence in Environmental Planning award for their SPURR initiative. SPURR stands for State Partnership for Urban & Rural Redevelopment which is aWyoming Brownfield Initiative and provides a technical assistance toolkit calibrated to kickstart […]

Wyoming’s Department of Environmental Quality Water Monitoring Program Implements Statewide Water Quality Study

By Kimberly Mazza, Jeremy Zumberge, and Eric Hargett Statewide – Since 2010, the Surface Water Monitoring Program at the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Water Quality Division has been engaged in a study to understand the overall water quality condition of perennial streams and rivers throughout Wyoming.  For the research to be on a […]