Smog Transport Needs to be Tackled

The Colorado Air Pollution Control Division says that much of Denver's ozone pollution, or smog, is blown in from neighboring states At the same time, the Division says that Colorado's smog has no effect on neighboring states.

Yes, this double standard is confusing. But more than that, it almost seems as if the state of Colorado is turning its back on smog pollution, even though it's the most widespread threat to the health of local communities.

Long thought of as an urban problem, smog is quickly becoming an issue throughout the west, primarily because of booming oil and gas development. Take a look at the smog issues Colorado's neighbors are dealing with:

• New Mexico: Health standards for smog were exceeded 15 times last summer, primarily in northwestern New Mexico, but also in the Las Cruces area.
• Utah: The Salt Lake City metro region is on the verge of violating health standards for smog. If smog levels reach 80 parts per billion or higher in Bountiful this summer, there will be a violation. Smog levels have reached 80 parts per billion 3 of the last 5 years.
• Utah: Smog levels peaked at 138 parts per billion last summer in Zion National Park, nearly 75% higher than federal health standards. This level of smog pollution was higher than Denver's and Salt Lake City's.
• Wyoming: In rural southwestern Wyoming, health standards for smog were exceeded 9 times in 2005 and 2006.

Although the situation is not dire, trends are not looking good. Under the Clean Air Act, states are supposed to make sure their air pollution doesn't affect neighboring states. Colorado, for example, needs to make sure its pollution doesn't affect Salt Lake City.

At a hearing last week however, the Division claimed that Colorado's air pollution is not blowing into downwind states and contributing to unhealthy smog. This claim doesn't entirely add up. In a presentation to the Air Quality Control Commission, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action explained why.

One need only look at the rise in air pollution from oil and gas development. In western Colorado, oil and gas developments now release 20% of all nitrogen oxides, a key smog forming pollutant, more than is released by all the traffic.

Smog is no longer an isolated problem in the west, it's a regional issue that calls for regional solutions. Colorado needs to keep its smog and smog forming pollution in check to protect downwind communities before things get even worse.