Former President Donald Trump's move to lower environmental regulatory hurdles to jumpstart the economy was surprisingly sudden and ill-advised. This order will lead to health crises and environmental injustices. 

Utah, however, will always prioritize public health. There is a need for adherence to environmental regulations and guidelines in Utah state, which is currently facing poor air quality compared to the rest of the nation. 

This is primarily a result of the state's topography, where the winter seasons witness high-temperature inversions. Concerned stakeholders need to instate measures that help promote and support a green economy. Adherence to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act is not an option but a mandate for every resident of Utah state. These provisions are usually fair and vital in ensuring a balance between project developments and a safe environment. These initiatives should never be viewed as a stumbling block to these projects.

Instead of just scraping off and lowering the regulatory hurdles, more funds should be funneled into agencies focused on environmental regulation to help enforce these regulations. Failure to comply with these provisions should attract penalties. For proper enforcement, more funding should be made available to environmental regulatory agencies to implement consequences for violators. Environmental protection is mandatory; those failing to adhere to these regulations should face the arm of the law in full force.

To streamline the process of reaching out to violators of the NEPA provisions, proper funding should be allocated to ensure the process is efficient. Lack of adherence to these provisions can lead to devastating repercussions for the future. Public health challenges will continue to arise, and increased loss of wildlife habitats and air pollution will also escalate. All of these will negatively impact the lives of Utah's citizens. The best solution is to instate regulations and ensure that those regulations are adhered to. Those who fail to comply should be held accountable.

The role that regulatory agencies play in ensuring environmental safety is for the benefit of Utah state. Furthermore, Utah has made heavy investments, including a 2019 acquisition of $28 million that was channeled to improve air quality. Utah state needs to increase funding for the environmental regulatory agencies for the betterment of the citizens of Utah's future.