Clean Air Takes a Step Forward in the Face of Booming Oil and Gas

The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission voted Sunday to adopt new regulations to reduce air pollution from oil and gas developments across Colorado, even in the Denver metro area. For the first time ever, booming oil and gas developments across Colorado will be required to better protect community health from its harmful air pollution.

Yet while the new rules are a great step in the right direction, the Air Quality Control Commission rejected pleas from local governments and numerous citizens to strengthen the proposed rule. Rather than require increased reductions in emissions of toxic smog forming pollution from condensate tanks that emit 11 tons/year of pollution or more, the Commission voted to move forward with the original proposal, which called for reductions from tanks that emit 20 tons/year or more. The result: the oil and gas industry will be allowed to foul Colorado's air and threaten people's health.

But the Commission's new proposal did not come without its strings. As part of adopting a weaker rule, the Commission also required the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division to provide annual reports on the effects of oil and gas development on air quality and human health, and the progress made toward monitoring these effects. Hopefully, these reports will provide support for further ratcheting down on air pollution from oil and gas development and for better protecting peoples' health.

While air pollution reductions did not go far enough, one thing's for certain: the oil and gas industry can and will be held accountable to protecting community health. The latest rule is a great step forward towards holding industry accountable, but more must be done. With the citizens of Colorado showing that they are willing to speak out convincingly for clean air and accountability, rest assured, more pollution reductions will follow.

Clean air defines Colorado. Communities throughout the state will not stand to allow oil and gas development to jeopardize this.