Scientists Issue Scathing Review of EPA Ozone Proposal

On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee issued a scathing criticism of the agency's proposal to leave air standards for ozone unchanged in the coming years. The criticism merely echoes the latest science that overwhelmingly shows that current standards for ozone are not protecting the health of children, seniors, those with asthma, and many others.

According to the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee:

• There is no scientific justification for retaining the current primary 8-hr NAAQS [National Ambient Air Quality Standard] of 0.08 parts per million (ppm) [80 parts per billion], and
  

• The primary 8-hr NAAQS needs to be substantially reduced to protect human health, particularly in sensitive subpopulations.

• A new standard should be set between 60 and 70 parts per billion, averaged over an 8-hour period, at least 10 and perhaps 20 parts per billion lower than the current standard.
  

For Denver's air quality, this already has serious implications. Ozone levels consistently rise to 60 ppb or more during the summer. Just because the standard hasn't changed, doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned. For our health and that of our children, we obviously need much cleaner air in Denver.

Local Governments Supporting Smog Reductions

The City of Fort Collins, Larimer County, and the Denver Regional Council of Governments are the latest local governments and governnmental organizations to come out in support of the state's proposal to ratchet down on emissions of smog forming compounds from oil and gas developments north of Denver. The proposal would require a 95% reduction in smog forming compounds from condensate tanks that release 11 tons/year or more into our air.

Condensate tanks, like the one above, spew out smog forming compounds.

While Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action has moved to support the proposed smog reductions, the support of local governments is crucial and needed. Echoing the oil and gas industry, Weld County has voiced opposition to the smog reductions, claiming that oil and gas developments don't contribute to smog. This defies data from the industry itself, which shows that oil and gas developments are the largest source of smog forming compounds in Weld County.

The support of Larimer County, Fort Collins, and others shows that there is support for clean air and healthy communities in the Denver metro area, and for the state's proposed reductions in smog forming compounds. Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action would like to give a big thanks and a big hand to those county and municipal governments that are sticking up for clean air and the health of their citizens. We heartily encourage everyone else to do the same.

Denver Mayor Has Yet to Support Denver Smog Reductions

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper is pushing for the planting of one million trees in the next 20 years. According to the Denver Post, the push aims to help reduce air pollution in Denver.

While it's great that Mayor Hickenlooper wants to plant trees to help reduce air pollution, it's unfortunate that the Mayor has yet to support proposed smog reductions for the Denver metro area. It's especially unfortunate given that the Mayor's Greenprint Denver plan calls for air pollution reductions.

It's even more unfortunate though, given that the oil and gas industry is opposing state efforts to reduce emissions of smog forming compounds from oil and gas wells north of Denver. While industry has launched opposition to a major smog reduction effort, Mayor Hickenlooper has yet to support smog reductions. Either he's squandering a major opportunity to reduce air pollution, or his commitment to reducing pollution is nothing more than hot air. Either way, the result will be more smog and more asthma for Denver.

All the planned tree plantings in the world won't do much to curb smog pollution in the coming years. Hopefully Mayor Hicklenlooper will support the proposed Denver smog reductions.

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action Moves to Support Denver Smog Reductions

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action yesterday filed its prehearing statement in support of the state's proposal to ratchet down on emissions of smog forming compounds from oil and gas developments north of Denver. The statement sets forth the reasons why smog must be reduced in Denver and why the oil and gas industry should be responsible for these reductions. Here's just a few of those reasons:

• There were 66 exceedances of the federal health standard for smog just this last summer.

• In Weld County alone, oil and gas developments annually contribute 95% of smog forming compound emissions released by stationary sources, which amounts to over 50,000 tons year.

• The amount of smog forming compounds released by oil and gas developments in Weld County amounts to nearly 73% of all smog forming compounds released by oil and gas developments in the entire state of Colorado, and over 50% of all smog forming compounds released from all stationary sources in the entire state.

• The amount of smog forming compounds released annually by oil and gas developments just in Weld County is equivalent to the amount released by 1,315,967 cars each driven 12,500 miles a year. This would be as if each person in Weld County, including all children, owned six cars apiece and drove them each from San Francisco to New York four times

• Emissions of smog forming compounds from oil and gas developments in Weld County have increased 6.8% just since 2002.

• Under the current regulations, controlled emissions of smog forming compounds were projected to be 91.3 tons per day in 2007. Yet according to recent data, as of 2004, controlled emissions had already reached 150 tons per day—almost 65% more than projected.

• The state's proposal calls for a 95% reduction in smog forming compounds from condensate tanks that release 11 tons or more of smog forming compounds. This would reduce emissions of smog forming compounds by over 50%, and would only affect 5.5% of all condensate tanks.

Condensate tanks, like the one below, spew smog forming compounds. The below image was taken with an infrared camera and shows smog forming compounds as a grey cloud.

Colorado Scientists Studying Texas' Ozone Pollution

University of Colorado scientists are hard at work researching ozone pollution off the coast of Texas, an article reports today. Their aim is to better understand the source of Texas' ozone pollution, which is some of the most unhealthy in the nation, and better control it.

It's unfortunate the state of Colorado hasn't invested in similar research to better undrestand Denver's ozone pollution, especially since qualified scientists are obviously right here in the metro area. Say what you will about Texas, at least the state is willing to invest in scientific research that will ultimately better protect its people.

Things Could be Worse, Much Worse

According to a recent news story, the cost of meeting federal health standards for ozone in the San Joaquin Valley of southern California will be 7.5 billion dollars. This will be spent by the state of California and industry just to bring air pollution down below unhealthy levels.

The San Joaquin Valley is a perfect example of the significant economic burden of not getting ahead of air pollution problems and keeping air clean. Severe smog problems now plague the San Joaquin Valley and now carry a hefty clean up price tag.

Right now, the state of Colorado is proposing to require industry to spend only $6 million to help keep ozone, or smog, below unhealthy levels in Denver. This is truly a small price to pay considering the enormous costs of dealing with more serious smog problems.

Colorado Public Radio and Ozone

A recent interview on Colorado Public Radio's Colorado Matters discusses ozone pollution in Denver. The interview features Mike Silverstein with the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division and Ken Wonstolen with the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, and discusses the state's proposal to ratchet down on emissions of ozone forming compounds from oil and gas developments north of Denver.

Ken Wonstolen with the Colorado Oil and Gas Association claims the cost of protecting clean air is simply too great. However, the cost of reducing smog not only pales in comparison to the profits the oil and gas industry is making, but pales to the cost of asthma to Colorado and its children. Under the state's proposal, the oil and gas industry would be spending pennies, yet saving millions, not to mention giving our children a healthier future.