Warning on Ozone

The Denver Post today warned that the state of Colorado needs to move fast to reduce ozone pollution in the metro area to avoid violating federal health standards.

But move fast on what?

The Air Pollution Control Division has taken a step backward and is now proposing that the Air Quality Control Commission adopt a weaker rule. Previously, the Division wanted to reduce smog forming emissions from condensate tanks that release 11 tons/year or more. The Division now wants to let companies pick and choose which tanks they control, so long as they reduce overall emissions by 73.3%. This means that air pollution from some tanks that release 11 tons/year or more will be completely uncontrolled.

What's more, industry says the 73.3% reduction roughly amounts to reducing air pollution from all condensate tanks that emit 13-14 tons/year or more, much weaker than the original 11 ton/year threshold. To achieve the same reductions as the 11 ton/year control threshold, an overall 77% or higher reduction is needed, not 73.3%.

So what will the Commission act on? If it's a weaker rule, then the Commission risks dragging the Denver area into violation of federal health standards for ozone. While the EPA has turned the other way for the time being, citizens haven't. If strong rules are not adopted, citizens will act to hold the state of Colorado accountable to clean air standards.