Utah now ranks second in the nation for total toxic releases per square mile, an improvement from 2023 when it held the top spot, according to newly released data.
In 2024, facilities in Utah released 243.2 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the environment — the third-highest total in the nation, trailing only Texas and Alaska.
Here’s an interactive map showing which facilities are releasing toxic chemicals near where you live. The new data comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory report for 2024.
[Read more: Utah kids are at higher risk of intellectual disabilities when grandma lived near polluting businesses, new study finds]
The Kennecott Copper Mine near Salt Lake City was the state’s top polluter, releasing 192.7 million pounds of toxic chemicals in 2024.
That’s a decrease from 260.9 million pounds in 2023, but still higher than the 151.6 million pounds it released in 2022.
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Here’s how Utah compares nationally.
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Megan Banta
