Colorado has introduced new air quality standards aimed at cutting ozone-forming pollution from upstream oil and gas operations by 50% by 2030, using 2017 as a baseline. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission approved a series of regulatory changes and updates to the State Implementation Plan in an effort to reduce emissions and improve public health.
Michael Ogletree, senior director of state air quality programs, stated, “Clean air is the foundation for a thriving and sustainable community. With these strategic actions, the state reaffirms its commitment to protecting the health of our residents and the environment for future generations to come.”
Ground-level ozone is known to affect lung health, especially among children, seniors, and people with respiratory conditions. It forms when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides react in heat and sunlight. Major sources of these pollutants include gasoline-powered vehicles, oil and gas operations, and manufacturing.
In March 2023, Colorado’s governor directed agencies to create new rules targeting a reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions from upstream oil and gas by 30% in 2025 and 50% by 2030 within areas that fail to meet federal ozone standards. In response, the commission adopted updates across several regulations:
– Regulation 7 extends requirements on nitrogen oxide intensity programs and expands leak detection for oil and gas.
– Regulation 11 increases identification of high-emitting vehicles.
– Regulation 25 limits VOCs in aerospace coating materials.
– Regulation 26 tightens emission controls on combustion equipment and industrial waste in northern Weld County.
Many of these updates are now part of Colorado’s State Implementation Plan. The plan includes further technical analysis to support future efforts aimed at reducing ground-level ozone.
Administrative changes were also made to keep pollution-reducing programs like vehicle emissions testing sustainable over time. These adjustments update outdated language for alignment with current laws, revise modeling protocols, and ease compliance through updated emissions credit rules.
The commission also approved a move to voluntarily reclassify part of northern Weld County as nonattainment under the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground-level ozone. If approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this would allow Colorado to focus resources on reducing emissions rather than administrative processes.
Colorado remains focused on lowering controllable emissions as it works toward meeting federal ozone pollution standards.
