Western Colorado Needs Smog Monitors

Unchecked smog pollution from rampant oil and gas development threatens Western Colorado communities, prompting community groups to ask the state of Colorado of install air monitors and make industry pay for them.

In a letter sent to the Directors of the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division, community groups asked the state of Colorado to install monitors to measure smog pollution in Garfield County and the City of Grand Junction. Rising smog pollution, also known as ozone, is one of the most widespread threats to human health in the Rocky Mountains, and is linked to booming oil and gas development. Examples include:

• Denver: Smog levels exceeded health standards 66 times last summer, the result of booming oil and gas development in the Wattenberg gas field north of Denver.

• Southwestern Wyoming: Smog levels exceeded federal health standards in the Jonah gas field in 2005 and 2006 as a result of massive gas development.

• Northwestern New Mexico: Smog levels in the coalbed methane fields of the San Juan Basin have nearly violated federal health standards.
  

Western Colorado is also experiencing rising air pollution in the face of booming oil and gas development, and, most likely, unhealthy levels of smog. Unfortunately, a lack of air monitors prevents a definitive answer and definitive protection.

Studies of air quality in Grand Junction have also found levels of volatile organic compounds similar to those found in Denver. Volatile organic compounds react with sunlight to form smog, raising concerns that Grand Junction may also be experiencing unhealthy smog pollution. In addition to rising oil and gas development in Mesa County, increased traffic and industrial development contribute to air pollution. No smog monitors exist in Grand Junction.

The groups are also asking the state to require oil and gas companies that violate clean air laws to pay for smog monitoring. Several companies, including EnCana and Williams, have come under enforcement action by the Air Pollution Control Division on numerous occasions for clean air violations in western Colorado. Just this year, the state has taken enforcement action against EnCana at least three times. Oil and gas companies in western Colorado have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines over the years, money that could be directed toward better monitoring.

Oil and gas wells dot the landscape in Garfield County.

The request comes as the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission is considering adopting rules that would reduce emissions of smog forming pollution from oil and gas developments in western Colorado. The Commission is set to adopt rules at a hearing on December 17^th in Denver. Citizens are worried that without adequate monitoring, there may be no way to measure the success of the rules.