Toxic Ponds

Toxic ponds are popping up across western Colorado, the latest byproduct of the booming oil and gas drilling. The ponds, which are filled with wastewater and who knows what else from the gas fields, are used to evaporate hydrocarbons and other volatile chemicals into the air.

The thing is, virtually every pond in western Colorado is likely violating clean air laws.

Under Colorado law, industry can't just dispose of volatile chemicals like hydrocarbons through evaporation. An oil refinery can't dispose of an oil spill by letting it evaporate in the sun. The reason? These pollutants are toxic and form smog.

Colorado law requires that pollution controls be used if volatile chemicals are disposed of through evaporation. These controls range from covering ponds with scrubbers or using water treatment systems. It's a requirement called "reasonably available control technology" and it helps protect local residents and communities from hazardous air.

Many ponds in western Colorado, some of which are several acres in size, have no pollution controls. They're violating the law, and are putting nearby communities--like DeBeque and Parachute--at risk. On top of this, several more ponds are in the works. It's bad enough having to deal with the existing ponds. The thought of even more ponds spewing pollution is pretty disturbing.

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action, the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance, and others have teamed up to urge the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division to finally crackdown on these toxic ponds. In a letter sent today, the groups have called on the state to ensure ponds have pollution controls and to prevent new ponds from being build until existing ponds are complying with the law.

More pictures, including links to high-res images, are on our website.