Ozone Reductions Fall Short in 2005

Data from the state shows that several oil and gas companies failed to meet required ozone reductions in 2005. The chart below, which came from the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division, shows that 58% of oil and gas companies failed to achieve the required 37.5% reduction in emissions of ozone forming compounds north of Denver. Ten companies, or 38%, achieved no reductions in ozone forming compounds whatsoever.

Company	Uncontrolled Tons/Year	Controlled Tons/Year	Average % Reduction
Aceite Energy Corp.	42.59	24.84	41.67%
Blue Chip	62.12	62.12	0%
Bonanza Creek Oil	48.79	48.79	0%
City/County Denver	60.24	34.14	43.32%
Colton LLC	59.15	42.50	28.16%
Encana	1864.18	976.98	48%
Exco Resources	471.94	254.69	46.03%
Foundation Energy MG	17.05	17.05	0%
Fountainhead	34.3	34.3	0%
K.P. Kauffman Co	571.12	530.49	7.12%
Kerr McGee	7653.2	4460.4	41.7%
Machii Ross	17.04	8.28	51.39%
Matrix Energy, LLC	121.36	121.36	0%
Merit Energy Company	1188.28	792.34	33.32%
Noble Energy Inc.	11338.64	6908.51	39.07%
Paladin Energy	41.92	41.92	0%
Petro-Canada	2080.73	1190.19	42.80%
Petroleum Development	3130.19	1702.00	45.63%
Petroleum Management	22.83	22.83	0%
Red Willow Operating	137.27	137.27	0%
Setex Oil and Gas	190.38	85.70	54.99%
Starlight Resources	135.07	119.82	11.29%
Tyler Rockies Exploration	58.36	58.36	0%
United States Exploration	550.04	550.04	0%
Whitewing Resources	38.61	18.15	52.99%
Whiting Oil and Gas Corp.	59.82	39.94	33.24%

Some companies far exceeded the required 37.5% reduction in ozone forming compounds in 2005. Among them, Setex Oil and Gas seems to be the champion in ozone reductions, achieving a whopping 54.99% reduction. The majority of companies, however, failed to do their part to protect the Denver metro area from ozone pollution in 2005.

This summer, companies were required to achieve a 47.5% reduction in emissions of ozone forming compounds. We have heard that several companies may have failed to meet this requirement as well. In light of this summer's extremely unhealthy ozone pollution, this seems very likely.

Scientists Recommend Stricter Smog Standard

Scientists have unanimously recommended that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strengthen the health standard for smog, or ozone, in our air. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee has not only recommended that the EPA lower the ozone standard from 80 parts per billion to 70, averaged over an 8-hour period, but has even recommended that the EPA consider lowering the standard to as low as 55 parts per billion to fully protect human health.

This process has huge implications for the Denver metro area. Smog levels in Denver regularly exceed 55 parts per billion, raising serious questions over whether the health of communities is being protected. Although officially the standard is 80 parts per billion, it is important that we use this science to take action now to reduce smog below unhealthy levels.

Ozone Sends Denver Elderly to Hospitals

A study published in 2003 tracked hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases at all 11 Denver County hospitals during July and August between 1993 and 1997. The study focused on men and women older than 65 years of age.

Researchers found that ozone pollution increases the risk of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction, coronary atherosclerosis, and pulmonary heart disease among the elderly.

The scientists concluded that “exposures to higher air pollutant concentrations (except for particulate matter and NO2), even at levels that meet federal air quality standards, appear to have an effect of increasing the number of hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases as a whole.”

This is yet one more reason to push for strong smog reductions in the Denver metro area.

Smog Reduction Rules Need Your Support

People now have the opportunity to weigh in and support strong smog reductions in the Denver metro area. The Air Quality Control Commission is accepting public comment on a proposal that would ratchet down on emissions of smog forming compounds from oil and gas developments north of Denver. The notice is online here.

Also, for those who really want to get involved, the Notice explains what one needs to do to gain party status to the rulemaking. What does being a "party" mean? It essentially means your voice will be more powerful, but it gives you the opportunity to present testimony, file motions, cross-examine, and weigh in in a more formal manner. Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action intends to become a party to the rulemaking. This will enable us to speak effectively on behalf of clean air, rebut industry arguments against protecting clean air, and hopefully secure strong smog reductions for our health.

Keep posted for a more detailed alert on where you can send comments.

Asthma by the Numbers

Colorado has the 2nd highest prevalence of asthma of any state in the nation. The estimated rate of asthma is 7.1% in Colorado, which ties with the state of California. Colorado's population is less than 1/8 of California's.

In 2004, an estimtaed 83,763 children in Colorado had asthma, up from 48,757 in 2003, a nearly 50% increase. An estimated 250,000 adults have asthma in Colorado. Of adults with asthma in Colorado, most (14.5%) are ages 18-24.

In 2000, there were an estimated 4,000 hospitalizations due to asthma in Colorado. More than 1,700 were among children. In 2000, there were 59 deaths due to asthma in the state.

In 2001, a total of 3,897 people died from asthma in the United States.

For infants with asthmatic mothers, the incidence of difficulty breathing increases 55%for every 19 parts per billion increase in 8-hour ozone concentrations. Today's 8-hour ozone levels increased from 10 to 47 parts per billion at the CAMP monitor at 2105 Broadway. Similar increases were measured at virtually all other Denver metro ozone monitors.

Emergency room vists for asthma increase by 26% when hourly ozone levels exceed 60 parts per billion. Today, hourly ozone concentrations exceeded 60 parts per billion at 11 monitors in the Denver metro area.

For every 50 parts per billion increase in hourly ozone pollution, the chances of asthmatic children suffering asthma attacks increases by more than 35%. Just today, hourly ozone levels increased from 8 to 71 parts per billion at the Carriage monitor at 12th and Julian in Denver.

Asthma costs were estimated to be $1,238 per person in the United States in the mid-1990's. Given this, asthma costs the state of Colorado over an estimated $413,198,594 annually. This is $30,186,428 more than the total 2005 budget for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The total cost of asthma to the United States was estimated to be $16.1 billion in 2004.

In a recent article in the Boulder Daily Camera, the Executive Director of the Regional Air Quality Council, Ken Lloyd, stated that spending $100,000 for more precise and mobile ozone monitoring in the Denver metro area was too expensive. Yet this is only .02% of the cost of asthma on the state of Colorado.

The more precise and mobile monitors, which could have helped to reduce potentially unhealthy levels of ozone in parts of the Denver area that lack stationary monitors, flew away to Texas earlier this month to help Houston reduce its pollution.

Tricky Tailpipe Policy

The Denver Post's Kim McGuire also reported today on problems facing the state's new tailpipe emissions testing policy. The new policy will allow more cars to go untested longer, raising concerns that Denver's already unhealthy ozone levels will not get better.

What the article didn't discuss is that the state is also grappling with how to implement the new policy. The goal is to focus resources on detecting the older and dirtier cars, but how will the state make sure these cars get cleaned up?

The overarching concern, however is that the new policy will exempt newer cars from testing. Yet as we all know, newer cars do decline and if not maintained properly, can be as bad as some older cars. The rule assumes that all newer cars will be maintained properly, an assumption that seems very flawed. With rising smog, it doesn't seem like the new policy is a smart move.

More Drilling, More Smog

The Rocky Mountain News ran an article today by Todd Hartman explaining how transport of ozone pollution is contributing to unhealthy smog levels in the Denver metro area. The article points out the fact that booming oil and gas drilling is responsible for much of the ozone pollution transported throughout the state.

Case in point is the fact that ozone monitors in western Colorado and other rural parts of the Rocky Mountain region are registering dangerously high ozone levels. In Mesa Verde National Park, ozone levels are steadily rising. Exceedances of the health standard of 80 parts per billion have even been registered.

Peak Annual Ozone Concentrations in Mesa Verde National Park (data from EPA)

The article also points out that ozone monitors in western Wyoming have registered exceedances of the ozone health standard in the winters of 2005 and 2006. This is amazing and very disturbing for two reasons. First, the exceedances happened in the winter, a time when ozone levels are usually very low. Second, the only real source of ozone pollution in this region, which has a population of less than 10,000 people, is oil and gas development. Like western Colorado, oil and gas development is booming in this region, especially in the Jonah Field south of Pinedale, Wyoming, which is pictured below.


The data shows that oil and gas development is a serious and growing threat to clean air and our health. We need to act on this knowledge and take action now to reduce regional smog to protect not just the Denver metro area, but communities throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

Step Taken to Reduce Ozone

The Air Quality Control Commission voted today to move forward to adopt rules that would reduce ozone pollution in the Denver metro area. The proposal would ratchet down ozone-forming compound emissions from oil and gas developments. Thankfully, the oil and gas industry supported the proposal to move forward with rulemaking.

However, the oil and gas industry alluded that it won't support the proposed ozone reductions. This is too bad. The state's efforts to reduce emissions of ozone-forming compounds would make great strides towards protecting clean air in the Denver metro area. It could be enough to avoid a nonattainment designation. Although such a designation would protect clean air, it would lead to the imposition of even more stringent limits on air pollution from oil and gas developments.

In the coming month, it will be interesting to see how this process plays out. One would hope industry would be more than willing to get behind the proposed ozone reductions to avoid strict regulations. Regardless, clean air is the goal and one way or another, clean air will happen.

State to Ratchet Down on Oil and Gas Industry

Tomorrow, the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division is slated to ask the Air Quality Control Commission to initiate rulemaking to adopt stronger ozone pollution controls in the Denver metro area. If adopted, the rulemaking wil require the oil and gas industry to reduce smog forming compuond emissions from condensate tanks by 95%, do more to reduce emissions from leaky pipes, and require a 38% reduction in smog forming compounds from natural gas processing plants.

This rule is needed now, more than ever. Uncontrolled emissions of smog forming compounds from oil and gas developments are expected to increase by as much as 100% by 2008. The oil and gas industry also releases nearly 1/3 of all smog forming compounds, which react with sunlight quickly to form ozone, more than any other source in the Denver metro area.

The Black-Gray Cloud Spewing from this Condensate Tank
Consists of Smog Forming Compounds.

With the health of Denver metro communities on the line, as well as the possibility of being slapped with more stringent regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the proposed ratcheting down on the oil and gas industry should easily be approved by the Air Quality Control Commission.

Elimination of Loophole to Help Reduce Denver Smog

In response to a petition from Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action, the state is gearing up to eliminate the "upset conditions" loophole in its air quality regulations.

The loophole, which exempts compliance with the Clean Air Act during "Upset Conditions and Breakdowns," allows polluters to endanger public health and welfare and avoid compliance with clean air laws and regulations. In the Denver metro area, there have been numerous upsets related to the emission of ozone forming compounds.

A review of data on file with the state shows that between 2001-2006, the Suncor Denver oil refinery north of Denver and the BP Wattenberg natural gas processing plant east of Denver experienced 66 and 79 upsets, respectively, related to the emission of ozone forming compounds. Just in 2005, the BP Wattenberg gas plant experienced an upset that released ozone forming compounds for over 90 days.

In light of dangerously high ozone levels in the metro area, these upsets pose serious threats to our air and health. The state will formally request the Air Quality Control Commission to iniate rulemaking to eliminate the "upsets" loophole this Thursday, August 17. For more information on "upsets," visit the Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action blog.

Pollution Begets Pollution

Oil and gas developments already release more ozone forming compounds into the air of the Denver metro area than any other source of pollution. Referred to as flash emissions, 1/3 of all ozone forming compounds released by human sources comes from the oil and gas industry (see the chart below, which was prepared by the state of Colorado).

Yet a recent analysis done by the state reports that air pollution in the Denver area actually enhances the reactivity of ozone forming compounds released from oil and gas developments. What this means is that emissions from oil and gas developments, which are already high, are turning to ozone sooner as a result of Denver's existing air pollution. This report once again squarely contradicts claims by the oil and gas industry that its emissions aren't contributing to unhealthy ozone pollution.

The analysis, which is summarized here, reports that alkanes, ethane, and methane, which comprise over 80% of all ozone forming compounds released by the oil and gas industry in the Denver metro area, will react with sunlight to form ozone much sooner in polluted atmospheres. The analysis reports that alkanes will react to form ozone in less than a day in polluted atmospheres. In nonpolluted atmospheres, these compounds won't turn to ozone for weeks.

Although this report underscores the fact that all ozone forming compounds are contributing to unhealthy smog, it definitely points to oil and gas developments north of Denver as the most significant source of smog pollution. The state is proposing to impose more stringent ozone controls on the oil and gas industry in the Denver area and clearly there is every reason to do so.

Ozone Alerts Most Ever in 2006

2006 has seen more ozone alerts than any year since 1999. A total of 48 alerts have been issued so far. Even 2003, one of the worst ozone years in recent history, only saw 42 alerts. A .pdf overview of ozone alerts is available online.

Weather Keeps Ozone at Bay so Far This August

So far this August, there have been no exceedances of ozone health standards in the Denver metro area. This is a stunning achievement considering June and July's exceptionally high readings, as well as the fact that the state has admitted that its current regulations are inadequate to prevent excessive ozone pollution. The weather, fortunately, seems to have given us the biggest break. Cooler, more cloudy evenings and even some rain here and there have done wonders to keep ozone somewhat at bay.

How long will this last? Hard to tell, but probably not long. In past years, some of the highest ozone readings in the Denver area were recorded in August. According to state data, in 2003, readings exceeded 80 parts per billion numerous times, with many readings higher than 90 parts per billion at several monitors. Although 2004 seemed ot have been an anomolous year in terms of its low ozone levels, ozone levels climbed in August of 2005 as well.

We've all been able to breathe a bit easier lately, but August isn't even halfway over. Enjoy the cooler, breezier weather while it lasts.

Progress in Reducing Smog?

The Environmental Protection Agency's proposed deferral of the Denver area's 8-hour ozone nonattainment designation is online today. The deferral postpones imposing strict clean air requirements for ozone until December 31, 2007. These strict air requirements, however, would do more to protect us from ozone pollution than the current Denver Ozone Early Action Compact. The Compact is a regulatory scheme that has let ozone rise to unhealthy levels dozens of times this year.

In a news release, the EPA claims the state of Colorado has made "progress" in reducing smog in the Denver metro area. So far this summer, there's been nearly 50 exceedances of health standards for smog, also known as ozone. This is not progress.

People have until September 6 to submit comments on the EPA's proposal. Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action strongly encourages people to submit comments criticizing the EPA's dangerous cover up of Denver's ozone problem. You can e-mail comments to A-and-R-Docket@epa.gov. In your comments, please include your name and address and tell the EPA to:

• Protect the health of our children and communities by immeditaely designating the Denver metro area as nonattainment for the 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard.

We can't afford to wait until December 31, 2007 to protect clean air. We need protection now.

More on EPA Cover Up of Denver Ozone Pollution

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will formally announce tomorrow that it intends to defer Denver's 8-hour ozone nonattainment designation for another year. The posting is on the Government Printing Office's public inspection website, which shows what will be published in the federal register the following day.

What does this mean for our air?

It means that EPA approves of Denver's smoggy skies. It means the EPA will proclaim Denver's air to be healthy, despite nearly 50 ozone readings this summer that exceed health standards. It will also mean the EPA will continue to support the Denver Ozone Early Action Compact, a regulatory scheme that so far has failed to protect us from rising ozone pollution.


The EPA's proposal to defer Denver's nonattainment designation will again give industry the green light to continue polluting the air our communities and children need to be healthy. Keep in touch for more detailed analysis on this issue first thing tomorrow.

Inhofe Rebuffed by EPA

The EPA rebuffed Oklahoma Senator Inhofe's misguided criticism of efforts to detect ozone-forming compounds from oil and gas developments north of Denver. See our previous post for more background. Also, another previous post has examples of the offending images. I think an article last Friday in the Rocky Mountain News put this into much-needed perspective, stating:

Inhofe, considered a powerful ally of the oil and gas industry, is perhaps best-known for suggesting in 2003 that concern about global warming amounts to "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people."

While we're hopeful the EPA's response will put an end to Inhofe's pro-pollution interference in the Denver metro area, there's no telling what Inhofe might pull next. It would be helpful for the EPA and Denver citizens to have the support of Colorado's Senators on this, but thus far, our Senators seem to have stayed silent. One would hope that at least Senator Salazar would want to weigh in here, if not in support of ozone reductions, then to defend his constituents from outside political interference.

EPA Proposes to Cover up Smog Pollution in Denver

According to an article today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is slated to announce that Denver metro air is healthy, despite over 40 readings so far this year of unhealthy levels of smog, or ozone pollution, throughout the metro area.

The EPA is proposing to defer designating the Denver metro area as nonattainment for the federally established limit for ozone pollution, which is 80 parts per billion. This limit was established to protect human health, including the health of children and asthmatics. This summer, ozone levels have climbed to well over 80 parts per billion, with readings upwards of 97 parts per billion recorded.

A study in 2005 found that even at levels of 80 parts per billion, human health is threatened. This study concluded, "At levels of ozone exposure near or below current U.S. EPA standards, infants are at increased risk of respiratory symptoms, particularly infants whose mothers have physician-diagnosed asthma."

Under the Clean Air Act, an area failing to meet standards for ozone pollution for three years must be designated as nonattainment. Between 2001 and 2003, Denver violated ozone standards. Despite this violation, the EPA has so far deferred making such a nonattainment designation and has instead allowed the state of Colorado to rely on an Early Action Compact to avoid federal sanctions and strict ozone controls.

Yet under the Early Action Compact, we have only seen ozone that continues to exceed health limits in the Denver area. In fact, the area may again violate federal ozone standards between the years 2004-2006 if the fourth highest ozone level at Chatfield exceeds 95 parts per billion. Also as a result of this summer's dangerous ozone levels, the Denver metro area will likely violate federal ozone standards for the years 2005-2007.

The Early Action Compact has failed and the EPA needs to act to designate the Denver area as nonattainment to protect our health.

Local Governments Support Smog Reductions

Last May 3, 2006, the Denver Regional Council of Governments criticizing the state for not doing enough to control ozone pollution and urging Governor Owens to prioritize ozone reduction efforts.

The Denver Regional Council of Local Governments' letter is a surprising breath of fresh air. They state, "it is important we achieve the milestones in the Early Action Compact because we promised our citizens we would do this in order to protect the health and quality of life in their communities." This is extremely refreshing. I have yet to hear any state official or Regional Air Quality Council member say anything remotely this considerate of the needs of citizens.

Kudos to the Denver Regional Council of Local Governments for taking a stand in support of ozone reductions. If your city or county officials are on the Board of the Council, please contact them and let them know how much you appreciate their stand on ozone pollution and urge them to continue their support for clean air. You can find out if your elected officials are on the Board by visiting the Denver Regional Council of Local Governments' website. Please give special thanks to Mayor Nancy Sharpe of Greenwood Village, who signed the letter.

If anyone would like a copy of the May 3, 2006 letter from the Denver Regional Council of Local Governments, please contact me at rmcleanair@gmail.com

More on Last Weekend's Dangerous Ozone

Today's Denver Post ran a great, more in-depth article by Kim McGuire on last weekend's dangerous ozone pollution. The state commented in the article that you could not escape the pollution. In other words, everyone in the Denver metro region suffered immensely last weekend, despite promises last year from the state that ozone would not threaten our health. The picture below, taken by Eric Lutzens with the Denver Post, says it all.

Denver Post on Last Weekend's Dangerous Ozone

The Denver Post yesterday reported on the weekend's dangerous ozone pollution.

Ken Lloyd, the executive director of the Regional Air Quality Council commented that, "It means we're still in attainment, but the cushion for next year has been reduced." I have to be upfront here, Ken is not looking out for the health of the Denver metro area.

Here's a picture of Ken at a golf tournament hosted by the Colorado Petroleum Association.

That our "cushion" has been reduced is little consolation given that scientists have said that 8-hour concentrations of ozone that exceed 80 parts per billion threaten human health. This last weekend marked the highest ozone levels in the Denver metro area this year, and thereby the greatest human health threat posed by air pollution yet. This is not a cushion, this is a crisis.

When it gets down to it, it seems that Ken would rather attend Colorado Petroleum Association golf tournaments instead of actually working to reduce ozone and protect human health.

When health experts say that 80 parts per billion or lower is the limit needed to protect human health, the question of nonattainment is irrelevant. The bottomline: people suffered tremendously this last weekend, with no help from the Regional Air Quality Council. The fact that we're in attainment is beside the point.