New Clean Air Rules Proposed for the Oil and Gas Industry

Will Help Protect Air Quality in Delta County

But Oil and Gas Lobby Groups and Some Western Slope Counties are Opposing the New Regulations!

 BACKGROUND

Governor Hickenlooper has proposed strong statewide air quality safeguards for the oil and gas industry. The proposed regulations would require the oil and gas industry to 1) use technologies to prevent or capture oil and gas leaks and 2) inspect their equipment to find and fix leaks.  The proposed rules would reduce smog-causing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) pollution by roughly 92,000 tons/year. That’s more than all the VOC pollution produced by all cars in Colorado annually!

These common sense rules have broad public support and are supported by the conservation community and at least three of the major oil and gas companies operating in Colorado (Anadarko Petroleum, Encana USA and Noble Energy).

The only groups absolutely opposed to the regulations are the oil and gas lobby group (Colorado Oil and Gas Association) and five Western Slope counties (Mesa, Garfield, Rio Blanco, Moffat and Montezuma) who are leading a western slope coalition to oppose any new air quality regulations on the Western Slope. 

The Air Quality Control Commission need to hear from residents of the Western Slope care about air quality!!

 Points to make in your letter to the AQCC:

The Health Impact:

• Oil and gas production is the #1 source of Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs) pollution, a toxic air pollutant that produces ozone. Ground level ozone, also known as smog, disproportionately affects children, the elderly, and those who are already sick. Among other health issues, ozone pollution causes respiratory problems (shortness of breath, wheezing, congestion) and can even lead to premature death after prolonged exposure.
• As we have seen from recent BLM lease sales, oil and gas companies want to start developing Delta County.
• Our neighboring Garfield County already has air quality problems that will only be worsened by new oil and gas development that has been proposed there.

 Air Quality Rules Make Economic Sense:

• High levels of ozone reduce yields and reduce the quality of the harvest.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports “Ground-level ozone causes more damage to plants than all other air pollutants combined.”  Measurable economic damage to plants begins at ozone concentration levels of 40 ppb.  Dicot species (most fruits and vegetables, including grapes and cherries) are more sensitive to yield loss caused by ozone than monocot species.[1]
• The beautiful views in Delta County are a draw to tourists and one of the reasons we all enjoy living here.  Polluted air would be bad for Delta County residents and bad for our economy.
• Three of the largest Colorado oil and gas companies are already taking measures to dramatically reduce leaking equipment because they have found it saves them money.  Fewer leaks means more gas in the pipeline to be sold to consumers.

The Climate Change Factor:

• Whether its floods, record droughts, decreasing snowpack, or destructive forest fires, Coloradans are experiencing the perils of climate change. These proposed rules will reduce greenhouse gas pollution from oil and gas operations by tens of thousands of tons per year.
• The Governor’s proposed rules would make Colorado the first State in the nation to directly regulate methane. Methane (raw unprocessed natural gas) is 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide in its contribution to global warming over a 20-year timeline.
• Natural Gas can help in providing cleaner-burning fuels and combating climate change – but only if we stop leaks.

Please take action today

 1)      Write to the AQCC to support the regulations (points to make below)

Colorado Air Quality Control Commission
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, EDO-AQCC-A5
Denver, Colorado 80246
Email submissions: [email protected]

Please send comments before February 7^th! 

 2)      Consider joining a group of western slope citizens who will be testifying in support of the regulations in Aurora and by phone on February 19^th.  The Conservation Center will be carpooling with Western Colorado Congress and you’re invited to join us! Contact Sarah for more information: [email protected] or (970) 527-5307×201 

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