Regional Issues Facing Colorado Regional Issues Facing Colorado and Other Western Statesand Other Western States

WESTAR Spring Business MeetingDenver, ColoradoMarch 30, 2010

Paul TourangeauDirectorColorado Air Pollution Control Division

Colorado IssuesColorado Issues

• Share a border with 7 states• 2 tribes• 12 Class I National parks/wilderness areas• Resources including minerals, forests, oil & gas

fields, oil shale, concentrated economic activities/population

• NAA for 8-Hour ozone, 9 Counties (1997 standard)

• Adjacent activities…growing oil & gas in NM, UT, WY…wintertime ozone in WY and UT

Denver Metro Population/VMT Denver Metro Population/VMT Increase TimelineIncrease Timeline

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Oil and Gas in the RegionOil and Gas in the Region

Many oil and gas reserves/areas in the WESTAR region

Historically, Problems Solved by Historically, Problems Solved by Controlling Local (Colorado) SourcesControlling Local (Colorado) Sources

• Historically, have had 17 non-attainment areas for various pollutants, and came into attainment with each one by 2002….PM10, 1-Hour O3, CO, NO2, Pb

• Local strategies have been effective at bringing areas of Colorado into attainment• E.g., wood stove bans/wood burning restrictions,

street sweeping, oxygenated fuels, scrubbers on power plants, vehicle inspection/maintenance, federal Tier II vehicle standards

Current Era – PM and ColoradoCurrent Era – PM and Colorado

• PM2.5 is presently not a problem for Colorado, and don’t expect it to be, unless NAAQS are lowered

• Only close area is Grand Junction due to deep winter inversions

• No monitoring sites in western Colorado to understand transport into CO

• EPA has moved up the NAAQS PM review dates:• Propose revised NAAQS in November 2010• Final NAAQS revisions to be promulgated in July 2011

Air Quality Snapshot Fine Particulate Matter (PM-2.5)

• 1997: new annual and 24-hour standard established• 2006: standards tightened • Basis for Trend: Same as PM-10• Region continues to be in compliance

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24-hour PM2.5 --- 98th PercentileDenver metro area

Commerce City ACC Denver CAMP

Swansea Elem Denver Animal Chatfield

98th %ile level of standard = 35 ug/m3

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PM2.5 --- Annual AverageDenver metro area

Commerce City ACC Denver CAMP

Swansea Elem Denver Animal Chatfield

Annual Avg. level of standard = 15 ug/m3

2009 thru 10/31

Current Era – O3 and ColoradoCurrent Era – O3 and Colorado• Denver metro area and Front Range region has a long history with

ozone nonattainment• Starting with the old 1-hour standard, Denver metro violated

standard in the 1980’s and was redesignated attainment in 2001• Denver/Front Range region exceeded 1997 8-hour standard in early

2000’s, entered into an Early Action Compact to quickly address problems and avoid nonattainment• Numerous controls adopted and implemented, especially O&G

measures never before deployed in Colorado• Area could not reach attainment by end of 2007 (1 ppb short at

one monitoring site), so designated nonattainment in November 2007

• Revised Ozone Action Plan adopted in 2008 and sent to EPA• Additional O&G, stationary and mobile source controls adopted

• EPA’s revised 8-hour standard of 75 ppb, and EPA’s proposed primary and secondary standards, will likely bring in more areas of the state• New measures will be necessary for areas and industries never

regulated before

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“Ozone is not getting worse. It’s been improving since 2006 when ozone controls took effect”

The Ozone ChallengeThe Ozone ChallengeTrends and StatusTrends and Status

Denver Metro/North Front Range Monitored DataDenver Metro/North Front Range Monitored Data

Modeling ResultsModeling ResultsExample: Ozone Apportionment Modeling Example: Ozone Apportionment Modeling Results for the Rocky Flats Monitoring SiteResults for the Rocky Flats Monitoring Site

• Charts represent modeling results at one monitor (Rocky Flats North) on one day.• Chart on left represents total modeled ozone including ozone (pink) transported into the area• Chart on right illustrates local ozone

EGU, nonroad and motor vehicles the largest contributors to ozone at the Rocky Flats site

Modeling ResultsModeling ResultsExample: Ozone Apportionment Modeling Example: Ozone Apportionment Modeling Results for the Ft. Collins West Monitoring Results for the Ft. Collins West Monitoring SiteSite

• Charts represent modeling results at one monitor (Ft. Collins West) on one day.• Chart on left represents total modeled ozone including ozone (pink) transported into the

area• Chart on right illustrates local ozone

O & G and vehicles the largest contributors to ozone at the Fort Collins West site

The Current 75 ppb StandardThe Current 75 ppb Standard

A Possible 70 ppb StandardA Possible 70 ppb Standard

Using 2007-2009 data, no change outside of North Front Range area from 75 ppb.(2006-2008 data showed Manitou Springs and Mesa Verde to be in non-attainment.)

A Possible 65 ppb StandardA Possible 65 ppb Standard

Statewide problem with ozone if NAAQS set at 65 ppb.

Current Era – Boundary/Transport Current Era – Boundary/Transport InformationInformation

• As standards are lowered, transport is becoming more and more important

• Haze has brought western states together for many years

• Ozone and PM2.5 planning will add additional challenges and require multi-state coordination

Satellite Imagery of NO2Satellite Imagery of NO2

Transport – Smoke from WildfiresTransport – Smoke from Wildfires

Note: Long-range transport of smoke into CO from fires in UT, AZ and NM. Transport of smoke from CO fires into WY and NE.

Transport – Blowing DustTransport – Blowing Dust

Note: Long-range transport of blowing dust from the Painted Desert area in AZ going through the Four Corners area on 4/3/2009.

PM10 exceedances were recorded in western CO on this day.

Current Era – Legal and Current Era – Legal and Administrative ConsiderationsAdministrative Considerations

• 110 SIP requirements for Non-Attainment Areas• 110(a)(2)(d) SIP requirements for interstate transport

(demonstrations, possible measures)• Cross-border Non-Attainment Areas [[4 Corners, SoCal

and SW Az, Sacto/Reno, etc.??)• 126 petitions• NEPA EISs on federal lands for energy development in

broad areas…???• EPA funding for western studies and strategies under

draft 2011 Grant Guidance…western O3???• RPO…WESTAR…coordination???