Brent Everett on Utah Environmental Leadership, Lehi Planning, and a Life of Service | Roots & Branches of Lehi
Brent Everett shares his journey from BYU geology to Director of Utah's Division of Environmental Response and Remediation, plus nine years on the Lehi Planning Commission. An oral history of civic duty, environmental stewardship, and community growth in Lehi, Utah.
Brent Everett on Utah Environmental Leadership, Lehi Planning, and a Life of Service | Roots & Branches of Lehi
Brent Everett shares his journey from BYU geology to Director of Utah's Division of Environmental Response and Remediation, plus nine years on the Lehi Planning Commission. An oral history of civic duty, environmental stewardship, and community growth in Lehi, Utah.
Brent Everett on Utah Environmental Leadership, Lehi Planning, and a Life of Service
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Brent Everett Utah Environmental Leadership Lehi Planning Commission Interview - Roots and Branches of Lehi Podcast
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From a BYU geology lab to the Director of Utah's Division of Environmental Response and Remediation, and nine years on the Lehi Planning Commission—an oral history of civic duty, environmental stewardship, and the quiet work of making communities better.
Work Hard Mortgage helps families achieve the dream of homeownership in Lehi and across Utah.
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Some people are just beginning to dream. Others are getting financially ready. Some are already touring homes. Wherever you are in the process, this simple tool helps you understand your next best step. Take the Homebuyer Journey Quiz to see where you are — and where to go from here.
In this episode of Roots and Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with Brent Everett , a geologist turned environmental leader whose career spans more than three decades of public service in Utah. As the longtime Director of the Utah Division of Environmental Response and Remediation, Brent oversees Superfund sites, brownfields redevelopment, petroleum storage tank regulation, and emergency spill response across the state. His work touches the groundwater beneath our neighborhoods, the air we breathe, and the legal frameworks that allow communities to grow responsibly.
Brent's story is also deeply rooted in Lehi, Utah history . For nine and a half years, he served on the Lehi Planning Commission—three full terms, the maximum allowed—navigating some of the most contentious growth decisions in the city's history. From heated hearings over gas stations near residential areas to the transportation corridors that reshaped traffic patterns, Brent offers a rare inside look at how planning decisions are actually made, why commissioners sometimes feel their hands are tied by code, and what citizens can do to engage more effectively.
Beyond the conference rooms and field sites, Brent has spent 30 years as an adjunct anatomy instructor at Utah Valley University, coached struggling students through turnaround moments, and held church callings that touched hundreds of lives. For anyone interested in Lehi community growth , Utah environmental regulation , civic leadership , or the untold stories of public servants who show up year after year without fanfare, this interview is a vital addition to the Lehi oral history archive.
Prefer to listen? This episode is also available on Details Episode Overview Guest Name Brent Everett
Director, Utah Division of Environmental Response & Remediation; Former Lehi Planning Commissioner (9.5 years); Adjunct Anatomy Instructor at UVU (30 years)
1950s–2020s (childhood through current state leadership)
Ryan Harding
This interview offers valuable perspective on how environmental policy, planning law, and civic institutions have shaped Lehi's trajectory:
Throughout the interview, several broader themes emerge that reflect the values guiding Brent's life and work:
This episode connects to the broader Roots and Branches of Lehi archive. Explore these related topics:
To enhance this community profile, consider adding these visual elements to the historical record:
Brent Everett discusses his career from BYU geology to Director of Utah DEQ Division of Environmental Response and Remediation, nine years on the Lehi Planning Commission, teaching anatomy at UVU, and civic duty in Lehi Utah. Oral history interview from Roots and Branches of Lehi.
Brent Everett Lehi. Utah DEQ interview. Lehi Planning Commission stories. Utah Superfund sites. Brownfields redevelopment Utah. Lehi community growth. Utah environmental regulation. Lehi civic leadership. Lehi local government. Utah geology careers. Lehi history podcast. Roots and Branches of Lehi.
Helping families achieve the dream of homeownership in Lehi and across Utah. Work Hard Mortgage is committed to making the mortgage process simple, transparent, and accessible.
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- Details Episode Overview Guest Name Brent Everett Role in Lehi Director, Utah Division of Environmental Response & Remediation; Former Lehi Planning Commissioner (9.5 years); Adjunct Anatomy Instructor at UVU (30 years) Time Periods Discussed 1950s–2020s (childhood through current state leadership) Host Ryan Harding Primary Topics Discussed Resource for Listeners Every homeowner starts somewhere. Some people are just beginning to dream. Others are getting financially ready. Some are already touring homes. Wherever you are in the process, this simple tool helps you understand your next best step. Take the Homebuyer Journey Quiz to see where you are — and where to go from here.