EPA Deputy Administrator Fotouhi and DOE Deputy Secretary Danly Advance President Trump’s Energy Agenda in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah
SALT LAKE CITY - On Thursday, August 20, 2026, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Deputy Secretary James Danly traveled to Utah to advance President Trump’s energy agenda across multiple sectors.
In the morning, they participated in a fireside chat at the American Coal Council’s Coal Innovation and Market Strategies Conference in Park City. The two discussed the Trump Administration’s priorities to support the development of American coal and coal-fired baseload power, which is strengthening our nation’s energy dominance and lowering costs for all Americans. Deputy Administrator Fotouhi stressed the Trump EPA’s success over the last 19 months in executing a deregulatory agenda that has provided reliable and affordable baseload power to Americans without straying away from the agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment.
“The war on coal is over. At EPA, we have been removing the regulatory burdens that impeded domestic energy production and mining,” said EPA Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi. “America’s energy production is the best in the world, and we must continue to prioritize these domestic resources—including critical minerals—here at home. I enjoyed traveling the state with Deputy Secretary Danly and hearing directly from Utahns on how we can help them achieve the President's energy priorities.”
“President Trump has charged the Department of Energy with delivering American energy dominance through abundant, affordable, reliable, and secure energy,” said DOE Deputy Secretary Danly. “Utah is exceptionally well positioned to help advance that mission, with tremendous coal, critical mineral, geothermal, and nuclear resources and a strong environment for American industry. Rebuilding these fundamental capabilities here at home, preserving the reliable generation we already have, and expanding domestic energy production are essential to meeting rising electricity demand and restoring American industrial strength.”
Later in the day, the pair traveled to the Utah State Capitol for a roundtable discussion on critical minerals and American energy dominance. They were joined by numerous state officials and industry leaders from across Utah’s mining and energy industries. They discussed how the Administration is prioritizing a strong, domestic supply chain for critical minerals to power new technologies and support our nation’s military and industrial resurgence and other essential civilian needs.
Immediately following, they held a media availability with local press.
The deputies ended the day by touring the U.S. Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon Mine—the world’s largest open pit mine. On the tour, they saw the open pit mining operation and got to experience the comminution portion of the copper mining process and finished at the refinery. They were joined by the Executive Director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ), Tim Davis. EPA is working on strategic opportunities to recover critical minerals from materials that were previously considered waste and put them back to work.
On Friday, August 21, 2026, EPA Deputy Administrator Fotouhi finished his two-day trip by touring the Richardson Flat Tailing Site in Park City, Utah. Once the location of mining operations, EPA is working closely with the UDEQ to continue to advance cleanup and return the area to productive reuse by the community. Deputy Administrator Fotouhi was joined by UDEQ Commissioner Davis for the tour.