tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319771162011-04-21T13:40:07.550-07:00Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action is the only group dedicated to protecting clean air for healthy children and healthy communities in Colorado and the surrounding region. We are fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all donations are tax deductible. Online at www.ourcleanair.org.Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.comBlogger1901100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-28477953245983007182008-02-03T20:55:00.000-08:002008-02-03T20:57:15.694-08:00

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action is moving its blogging to the Our Clean Air blog. All our old posts will continue to be here, but from here on out, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action is blogging at Our Clean Air.

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-68471564204657502482008-01-06T15:28:00.000-08:002008-01-15T07:57:31.997-08:00

UPDATE: The Salt Lake Tribune voiced its support for Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action's efforts in an editorial, stating:The EPA and the state should demand that companies do whatever it takes to keep pollution within limits and to levy consistent fines when they don't. With Salt Lake Valley air getting dirtier every year, we don't have time for governmental squabbling. Rocky Mountain Clean Air

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-916734559875195582007-12-30T10:24:00.000-08:002007-12-30T11:34:08.863-08:00

First the Denver Post wanted to open up for oil and gas drilling western Colorado's Roan Plateau. Now the Post agrees with Governor Ritter that parts of the Roan should be kept safe from drilling.It's a welcome flip-flop. But now the Post is claiming in an editorial today, along with a fringe group of drillers, that drilling the Roan is needed to reap a "windfall" of up to $1 billion. Here's

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-82249717257928359762007-12-27T18:43:00.000-08:002007-12-27T18:53:32.334-08:00

Two studies printed in the New England Journal of Medicine earlier this month confirm yet again what many of us already know: Clean air is great!The first study reports that exposure to traffic, and in particular diesel exhaust, can trigger asthma attacks. Not only that, but the longer the exposure, the more serious are the asthma symptoms.The second study reports that decreased levels of PM-10 (

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-21275902256359702222007-12-22T15:02:00.000-08:002007-12-22T15:23:24.327-08:00

Governor Ritter must have forgot to tell his staff at the Air Pollution Control Division that Colorado now has a goal of reducing greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050 to help keep the climate safe.That, or the staff is simply shirking its responsibility to keep greenhouse gases in check. Unfortunately, it seems like this may be the case.The issue has to do with whether the Colorado Air Pollution

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-68146051810621722882007-12-20T20:48:00.000-08:002007-12-20T21:09:24.928-08:00

Although Colorado's clean air laws prohibit anyone from building a source of air pollution without a permit, one oil and gas company seems to think it's above the law.That company is Plains Exploration and Production. And right now, the company is building a giant natural gas compressor station in far eastern reaches of Mesa County of western Colorado in an area called "Alkali Creek." The company

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-35894264347044906592007-12-10T15:30:00.000-08:002007-12-30T11:20:08.502-08:00

While the the Rocky Mountain News today reports that Colorado has missed out on $2,000,000,000 in tax money from oil and gas drilling, the Denver Post is worried that not enough land in western Colorado is being opened up for drilling.Talk about missing the mark.Nevermind that Colorado is making pennies off of oil and gas drilling compared to neighboring states of New Mexico and Wyoming.

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-41646177863811119642007-12-09T08:52:00.000-08:002007-12-09T09:18:23.010-08:00

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has given the green light for the CEMEX cement plant in Lyons to continue to illegally pollute the air and endanger the local community.We all remember that earlier this year, both Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action and the EPA put CEMEX on notice of hundreds of violations of the Clean Air Act. The most serious violations involve the failure

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-62670911907740443082007-12-09T07:48:00.000-08:002007-12-09T20:14:51.807-08:00

UPDATE: Be sure to catch the Rocky Mountain News' 4-day series called, Beyond the Boom. It starts tomorrow. Of the series, Rocky Mountain News publisher John Temple states, "We owe it to our children and grandchildren to make the best possible decisions. We can’t do that if we don’t ask good questions."Oil and gas drillers in Colorado are going to have to learn to play by a new set of rules.

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-61192989823882963582007-11-22T17:45:00.000-08:002007-11-22T18:31:41.153-08:00

We reported that Xcel was planning to close down some of its coal-fired power plants in Colorado in order to reduce harmful air pollution. Well, it's official. Xcel plans to shut down the Arapahoe and Cameo power plants, located in Denver and Grand Junction, respectively. And that's not all. Xcel also announced it intends to increase power generation from renewables like solar and wind, and

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-16208751680170338702007-11-14T09:28:00.000-08:002007-11-14T10:35:00.225-08:00

In a bold move, Xcel Energy says that it plans to shut down some of its power plants here in Colorado. The reason? To curb global warming and, hopefully, help make Colorado's air cleaner and safer.Although we have yet to see whether Xcel will follow through with its plans, or what power plants the company intends to shut down, the news is, to say the least, great. And the news comes both as

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-1575810431746320242007-11-05T20:16:00.000-08:002007-12-01T17:55:46.198-08:00

Governor Ritter today announced a groundbreaking plan to fight climate change, Colorado-style.The plan calls for a 20% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020 and an 80% reduction by 2050. But it doesn't end there.Governor Ritter's plan also details the path to get there. The plan calls for the adoption of clean car rules, the adoption of comprehensive greenhouse gas reporting rules, for utilities

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-22839848806242793752007-11-04T11:24:00.000-08:002007-12-01T20:22:06.162-08:00

The oil and gas industry enjoys numerous exemptions to environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, our most fundamental safeguard from air pollution.That's the finding of a new report just released by the Natural Resources Defense Council and co-authored by Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action. Exposing these exemptions, the report calls on Congress to close the oil and gas loopholes and fully

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-2933433559282001582007-10-30T19:01:00.000-07:002007-10-31T11:56:31.690-07:00

An article in the Lyons, Colorado Recorder asks if CEMEX is improving.Remember, CEMEX is the same cement plant that has chronically violated clean air laws. Most recently, a major breakdown at the plant spewed dark-grey pollution from the smokestack for several minutes. And earlier this year, both Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action and the Environmental Protection Agency put CEMEX on notice of an

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-47775978577952067252007-10-18T19:19:00.000-07:002007-10-29T06:53:41.946-07:00

Read it for yourself. The state of Kansas denied an air pollution permit for a new coal burning power plant because of its greenhouse gas emissions. This is the paradigm change, folks. Kansas took the lead and we guarantee you everyone else will follow.So long, coal.

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-38649406512447712692007-10-10T18:30:00.000-07:002007-10-10T18:44:23.217-07:00

Grand Junction has been suffering some terrible air pollution lately. Yesterday, fine particle pollution exceeded federal health standards in this western Colorado city.While federal regulations limit fine particle pollution to no more than 35 micrograms/cubic meter over a 24-hour period, concentrations reached 36 micrograms/cubic meter in the Junction.Fine particles are 2.5 microns in diameter,

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-59968189471236461172007-10-10T10:51:00.000-07:002007-10-10T11:01:45.577-07:00

Here's a gem of a quote from the coal industry in today's Casper Star Tribune in Wyoming:People use fossil fuels because the good Lord put them on earth for us to use.Right, and did the good Lord put the atmosphere in place for us to trash with pollution?

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-68779396038400488412007-10-08T16:18:00.000-07:002007-10-08T16:40:16.984-07:00

Everyone's probably wondering why we haven't posted since September 17th. No, it's not because there's been no news--there's been plenty (like the state of Colorado considering adopting clean car standards). Part of it's because we've been in New Mexico.Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action is dedicated to protecting clean air in Colorado, as well as the surrounding region. And last week, we took our

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-25757611745464166162007-09-17T05:36:00.000-07:002007-09-17T06:48:45.028-07:00

Eliot Spitzer's successor, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, has subpoenaed five energy companies, including Xcel Energy, because of their plans to build coal burning power plants without disclosing financial risks to investors.The subpoenas are seeking documents from Xcel Energy, AES Corporation, Dominion, Dynergy, and Peabody Energy to determine whether companies disclosed to investors

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-52144809704849951162007-09-15T08:52:00.000-07:002007-09-15T09:25:38.826-07:00

A federal judge in Vermont ruled this week that states can adopt greenhouse gas pollution standards for automobiles.The ruling is a huge step forward. Not only does it give Vermont authority to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from tailpipes, but it makes clear that other states, including California, have the rightful authority to keep check on tailpipe pollution, even when the federal government

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-40255635563754573792007-09-13T19:18:00.000-07:002007-09-13T19:51:44.023-07:00

Here's some recent news of note:First off, a special committee appointed by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter has issued its ideas for reducing greenhouse gas pollution in Colorado. The ideas have no official backing from the state of Colorado, but may serve to guide future action.At least we hope. There's a lot of talk about reducing greenhouse gas pollution here in Colorado, but not much progress.

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-47639213333698266452007-09-12T16:15:00.000-07:002007-09-12T17:44:04.024-07:00

Oil and gas drillers can reduce their air pollution and make money, the subject of a conference yesterday in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. According to industry, readily available technologies can both reduce methane and reduce harmful air pollutants and yield a profit.This win-win situation needs to become standard practice in the Rocky Mountain region. With air pollution from booming oil and gas

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-51126618515875755252007-09-09T10:43:00.000-07:002007-09-09T11:06:31.328-07:00

Local musician Molly Cherington is holding her first, full-length CD release show at Swallow Hill in Denver on September 22nd. As if that wasn't great news, part of the proceeds will benefit Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action!That's not all. The first ten through the door have a chance to join Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action for only $1! $1 for a membership to a cutting-edge, immensely effective,

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-20204531261371732672007-09-04T08:51:00.000-07:002007-09-04T10:10:45.750-07:00

Nitrogen oxides are a group of harmful gases spewed by tailpipes and smokestacks. They form when fossil fuels are burned and pose serious health threats.So serious in fact, that the Clean Air Act requires a limit be set on the amount of nitrogen oxides in our air. This limit is called an ambient air quality standard. By law, ambient air quality standards are supposed to be based solely on what is

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-43258191743938113102007-09-03T10:26:00.000-07:002007-09-03T14:46:47.282-07:00

Did you know Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action sends out a monthly electronic newsletter to all its members and supporters? We do! And right now, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action's August electronic newsletter is online. Check it out.If you'd like to subscribe to our e-mail list to receive news and alerts, click here, it will only take one second!

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-33564925556122340292007-08-28T16:27:00.000-07:002007-08-28T16:48:55.259-07:00

The state has embarked upon a study to understand what exactly is being spewed in the air from oil and gas wastewater evaporation ponds in western Colorado. One of those ponds is the Black Mountain disposal facility in DeBeque, which was cited for violating clean air laws earlier this year.Oil and gas wastewater ponds like Black Mountain are falling under intense scrutiny in Colorado because of

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-16896690727530893782007-08-28T08:18:00.000-07:002007-08-28T08:22:22.340-07:00

Theo Colborn, one of Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action's Advisors, a leading scientific voice for clean air in western Colorado, and the President of The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, was featured in the Glenwood Springs Post Independent last Saturday. Check out the article here >>

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-2805932270879438502007-08-25T15:57:00.000-07:002007-08-25T16:11:43.096-07:00

This was just forwarded to us by a friend in Farmington, New Mexico. According to the Farmington Daily Times:The New Mexico Department of Health released a study Thursday that shows San Juan County's ground ozone levels are comparable to urban areas and are high for the Southwest.Because of the rise in ground-level ozone, asthma-related hospital visits were reported to increase in northwestern

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-34317488750318642492007-08-24T07:46:00.000-07:002007-08-24T08:03:10.522-07:00

The Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform has developed its fifth and final plan to help fix our health care system here in Colorado.If you haven't been paying attention to what the Blue Ribbon Commission is up to, you should. Their recommendations to the legislature will have an impact on every Coloradoan. For the uninsured or underinsured, it will hopefully bring a new era of

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-80463602070122732152007-08-24T07:16:00.000-07:002007-08-24T07:37:00.606-07:00

The Bureau of Land Management got a taste of fresh air yesterday from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.While the BLM is planning to open the oil and gas drilling floodgates in the Vermillion Basin of northwestern Colorado, the EPA has demanded an air quality study be completed first. According to the Denver Post, the demand now sets back plans to drill the Vermillion Basin for at least a

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-8359454688223805992007-08-15T06:36:00.000-07:002007-08-15T06:51:43.344-07:00

It's another sign of the changing west.Ground-level ozone, the key ingredient of urban smog, is rising in rural western Colorado. Now the state is moving to install ozone monitors in western Colorado, including several in Montezuma County.What's the reason for this rise in ozone? The culprits seem to be booming oil and gas drilling, coal burning power plants in the four corners region, and more

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-78023609268304795092007-08-09T10:32:00.000-07:002007-08-09T10:44:21.602-07:00

An article in today's Durango Herald drives home what many of us have known for several months now. Under the EPA's proposal to strengthen federal health standards for ozone in our air, southwestern Colorado will violate.While ozone up high protects us from ultraviolet radiation, down low, it corrodes our lungs, putting children, seniors, those with asthma and other respiratory conditions, and

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-19153352881017710052007-08-07T08:43:00.000-07:002007-08-07T09:37:47.003-07:00

"If it's worth fighting for, we'll do it."These are the words of Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, defending his request that the Bureau of Land Management protect the Vermillion Basin proposed wilderness in northwestern Colorado from oil and gas drilling. The request has spurred ire from a handful of northwest Colorado good ol' boys who would just as soon deed Moffat County to the highest bidder

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-1752156077413264292007-07-31T22:38:00.000-07:002007-07-31T22:42:51.667-07:00

Did you know Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action sends out an electronic newsletter to all its members and supporters? We do! And right now, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action's July electronic newsletter is online. Check it out.If you'd like to subscribe to our e-mail list to receive news and alerts, just click here!

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-56749700976522666522007-07-25T08:20:00.000-07:002007-07-25T09:06:28.961-07:00

Denver's unrelenting smog pollution has been the big news of late. So far in July 17 ozone alerts have been issued and the Denver metro area just violated federal clean air standards for ozone, the ingredient of smog. The health implications are staggering.In the meantime, people are being told to go inside to avoid the harmful pollution, the state of Colorado aspires to prepare a plan, and we

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-36900320784094403242007-07-17T11:09:00.000-07:002007-07-17T11:12:56.311-07:00

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action, along with several other public health and environmental justice groups, today filed suit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen nationwide clean iar standards for carbon monoxide. Read the press release >>Children are especially at risk because of carbon monoxide pollution. Even at low levels, carbon monoxide is linked to low birth weights

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-66217056063009148472007-07-08T09:54:00.000-07:002007-07-09T17:10:07.926-07:00

It's been a few days since we've posted on our Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action blog, but rest assured there's been plenty of action lately on our Denver Ozone blog.On top of that, we've been on the road. One place we visited was wonderful western Colorado, checking out how booming oil and gas development is affecting our skies and our communities. Here's some pictures from our tour of the gas

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-55179009304302963842007-06-28T07:29:00.000-07:002007-06-28T07:47:28.246-07:00

The idea of oil shale in western Colorado sounds appealing and all. The way industry is talking they can extract it without creating open pit mines and plus we need all that petroleum anyway, right?But wait a minute. It seems that to fuel any oil shale development, industry will need monstrous amounts of power, like three times the amount of electricity used by the state of Colorado in 2005. And

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-67883576961878293572007-06-25T07:23:00.000-07:002007-06-25T08:00:58.809-07:00

The EPA finally proposed its revised health standards for ozone last Thursday, announcing it would lower the standard from 0.080 parts per million to between 0.070 and 0.075 parts per million (or 70-75 parts per billion). Ozone is the main ingredient of smog and poses a myriad of terrible health effects.Okay, for all your folks out there who think public health advocates are too cynical all the

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-57997449464554243162007-06-20T20:40:00.000-07:002007-06-20T20:44:51.234-07:00

This is it, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is set to formally announce its proposed new ozone standard early tomorrow . Reports indicate the agency is going to propose a standard that limits ozone to no more than 70-75 parts per billion over an eight hour period.The agency was under court order to propose a new standard today, but proposing a new standard and releasing it to the public

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-4875959374025328062007-06-10T10:46:00.000-07:002007-06-10T11:49:14.691-07:00

Is gas drilling affecting health? Seriously, why are we still asking this question?Donna Gray with the Glenwood Springs Post Independent and others have done a bang up job of tackling the issue of oil and gas drilling in western Colorado. However, Donna and others are not moving us past the rhetoric when it comes to tackling the health impacts of gas drilling, especially from air

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-16265175172373941982007-06-08T08:54:00.000-07:002007-06-08T09:39:17.764-07:00

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is slated to approve another record number of drilling permits this year.Unlike most records though, this certainly isn't one to tout. Record drilling has already led to record levels of air pollution, both in the Denver metro area and in western Colorado. More record drilling means Colorado is likely to endure yet another year of record air

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-36431915515686744022007-06-06T16:21:00.000-07:002007-06-06T17:10:52.441-07:00

Xcel Energy's proposal to reduce haze-forming pollution from six of its coal burning power plants here in Colorado is now open for public comment.The proposals, called "Best Available Retrofit Technology," (affectionately known as BART) are meant to protect pristine and remote wilderness landscapes here in Colorado from old, dirty coal burning power plants. The idea is to require older power

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-75627591276192221842007-06-04T07:43:00.000-07:002007-06-04T08:15:43.937-07:00

Here's one from the weekend. Michael Smith, who "made his fortune in the oil and gas industry," is sinking millions into helping National Jewish Medical and Research Center build a new lab and clinic.His reason? He has asthma.Don't get us wrong, Michael Smith's investment is a wonderful opportunity for National Jewish and promises hope for those who suffer. He obviously knows firsthand what it is

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-71469821140418276232007-05-30T11:05:00.000-07:002007-05-30T11:17:02.546-07:00

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action needs your support.Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action is a leading advocacy group working to protect clean air for healthy children and healthy communities in Colorado and the surrounding region. However, as a nonprofit organization, we rely solely on donations from our members to sustain our work.If you haven't joined, become a member today and consider giving a

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-39646335289479640852007-05-26T20:09:00.000-07:002007-05-26T20:33:18.533-07:00

The coal resurgence in the west is old news for the most part, what with all the talk today about renewable energy, climate change, mercury pollution, smog, premature death, and so on and so on. But a new report from the Department of Energy shows that the coal resurgence is, sadly, still alive and well here in the Rocky Mountains.According to the Department of Energy, 31 new coal burning power

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-33359263930373884502007-05-23T10:38:00.000-07:002007-06-11T15:56:03.355-07:00

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action and a coalition of citizens groups today petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require the state of Colorado to start regulating air pollution from oil and gas drill rigs.Drill rig engines can spew upwards of 79,000 tons of nitrogen oxides annually. Nitrogen oxides are linked to sudden infant death syndrome and a slew of negative health and

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-48199353596152743032007-05-21T14:13:00.000-07:002007-05-21T14:50:55.327-07:00

In response to comments from Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action and numerous citizens, the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division has agreed that a stronger air pollution permit is needed for Tri-State's coal burning power plant in Craig.Last January, the Division proposed to issue a permit to Tri-State so that it could burn more coal and increase its pollution at one of its boilers in Craig. The

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-47061066125635101052007-05-20T15:53:00.000-07:002007-05-20T16:33:11.934-07:00

The Denver Post should have done its homework here.It's true that there are rising concerns over the health impacts of air pollution from gas wells here in Colorado. A story in the by Nancy Lofholm two weeks ago certainly hit the nail on the head, quoting doctors and others who have experienced first hand how benzene and other chemicals spewed from these wells are creating a health nightmare.But

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-32375998576209428562007-05-16T14:55:00.000-07:002007-05-16T15:51:24.832-07:00

Nitrogen deposition is the greatest threat to Rocky Mountain National Park and it's all because of air pollution.Fortunately, the state of Colorado, National Park Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency are forging a plan to cut nitrogen pollution. This means cutting nitrogen oxide emissions from smokestacks and tailpipes, and ammonia emissions from feedlots and farms.But what will the

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-54543363927397826682007-05-14T14:36:00.000-07:002007-05-14T14:38:31.484-07:00

With rising ozone trends in the Denver metro area, we may be on track to violate fedreal health standards and ensure some of the smoggest and most unhealthy air in recent times. So far in 2007, the highest ozone levels in recent times have been recorded. Check out the post at Denver Ozone.

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-66837211336961210892007-05-07T16:48:00.000-07:002007-05-08T07:47:32.096-07:00

The Denver Post reports yesterday on how oil and gas developments are spewing out harmful air pollution, making nearby residents sick.The oil and gas industry of course "downplays" the connection. In other words, industry doesn't believe there's a link between peoples' illnesses and the benzene and other toxic gases that are released by their developments. The burden of proof, industry says, lies

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-30092805776813379662007-05-05T13:08:00.000-07:002007-05-05T13:59:59.907-07:00

A key Colorado budget provision has survived a bout of constitutional squabbling, meaning western Colorado is on track to get the smog monitors it needs to protect communities from rising air pollution.The provision was a footnote to the budget bill (footnote 108a to be precise) and stated:It is the intent of the General Assembly that at least $380,000 of this appropriation be used for the

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-7982457267771315542007-05-03T17:07:00.000-07:002007-05-03T17:42:47.570-07:00

Five new members of the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, the body of government that makes clean air rules and keeps the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division on task, were unanimously confirmed today by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action was there to lend support.Who are these new Commissioners? They include:Barbara Roberts, a former

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-57801523660085012522007-05-01T10:00:00.000-07:002007-05-01T10:43:15.621-07:00

The American Lung Association has released their "State of the Air: 2007 Report," and while Coloradoans are breathing easier than those in Los Angeles, we still have a ways to go before our air is truly healthy.We took at a look at how Denver's air quality ranks. For ozone pollution, or smog, Denver gets a C and for particulate pollution, we get a D. Those are passing grades, but they're enough

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-75593820459261455612007-04-26T15:50:00.000-07:002007-04-26T16:04:15.458-07:00

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action and the Colorado Citizens Against ToxicWaste today filed a notice of intent to file suit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency because of its failure to strengthen clean air standards for radon at uranium mill tailings.Radon, a radioactive gas, is a serious health threat. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there is no safe level of

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-52590109629227065282007-04-25T14:37:00.000-07:002007-04-25T14:48:19.283-07:00

Sadly, the Town Council of Erie, Colorado approved a request by EnCana to drill six new gas wells, some near residential areas of the town.While the drill rigs will be temporary, from a clean air standpoint, the real concerns are the producing gas wells. When the wells are drilled, the natural gas will flow, along with toxic gases like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. It's pretty much

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-56897582043377304092007-04-23T06:32:00.000-07:002007-04-23T07:05:14.452-07:00

David Harsanyi of the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News' Vince Carroll are the latest to join Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action in questioning our move toward more ethanol burning here in Colorado.While their rhetoric is geared toward bashing public health advocates, they raise some good points. Why are we pushing for more ethanol use when the science seems to indicate it won't protect clean

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-55748143117290357102007-04-21T19:49:00.000-07:002007-05-05T13:58:09.091-07:00

It's not just Denver with unhealthy smog lately, monitors in the Colorado Springs area have also been registering unhealthy levels. In fact, recent smog readings show that Colorado Springs has had some of the worst smog pollution so far this year in Colorado.Whenever smog, also known as ozone, reaches 60 parts per billion or more over an 8-hour period, human health is at risk. So far this year, 8

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-56876294759291441342007-04-20T15:45:00.000-07:002007-04-20T15:50:36.651-07:00

It's being described as a smoking "ban," but really it's a boost for the health of the children, families, and workers at the Denver Children's Hospital. Although Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action doesn't weigh in on smoking issues that often, this is good news that we just have to trumpet. Clean air comes in many ways, including by promoting a healthy, smoke-free environment. Kudos to the

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-8098163290384292662007-04-19T10:04:00.000-07:002007-04-19T10:17:12.848-07:00

Burning ethanol will increase smog and public health risks according to Scientific American:burning ethanol adds 22 percent more hydrocarbons to the atmosphere than burning gasoline and this would lead to a nearly 2 parts-per-billion increase in ozone. This ozone, which has been linked to inflamed lungs, impaired immune systems andheart disease by prior research, would in turn lead to a 4 percent

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-60235136173265914102007-04-18T07:22:00.000-07:002007-04-18T07:51:55.983-07:00

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which has been responsible for issuing record numbers of oil and gas drilling permits at the expense of clean air, is facing the reality of reform.In response rising concerns over the impacts of oil and gas development to our health, the Colorado Legislature is likely going to pass HB-1341, a bill that would require more health oversight of the

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-11535332833775107962007-04-17T09:10:00.000-07:002007-06-28T07:37:04.033-07:00

While the Denver Department of Environmental Health is giving lip service to protecting citizens from air pollution, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action is actually doing something about it.Today, we moved to make sure that vehicle tailpipe testing here in the Denver metro area fully protects our health. Air pollution from vehicle tailpipes contributes to smog, microscopic particulate pollution, and

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-67804652214447507132007-04-16T09:43:00.000-07:002007-04-16T09:57:45.332-07:00

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action Board Member and Director of the Environmental Integrity Project, Eric Schaeffer, was recently on NPR's Living on Earth. Eric used to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where he led efforts to clean up dirty coal burning power plants. In response to Bush Administration efforts to rollback enforcement of clean air laws, he resigned from the EPA and

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-42154317191322252672007-04-15T18:18:00.000-07:002007-04-16T07:25:50.393-07:00

That's the headline of CEMEX's latest guest editorial in the Boulder Daily Camera.Maybe it's a typo, but we're not so sure. After all, both Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action and the Environmental Protection Agency have put CEMEX on notice of numerous violations of the Clean Air Act.We'll let our readers make the call.UPDATE: CEMEX's editorial headline has apparently been "corrected, but the link

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-68927368854276848802007-04-12T13:58:00.000-07:002007-04-12T16:52:33.497-07:00

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more ethanol use is going to lead to more smog forming pollution across the country. Adding to this, the EPA just announced that it's weakening clean air rules for ethanol production plants.These announcements come as Colorado Governor Bill Ritter is also pushing for increased ethanol production and use throughout the state.Ethanol may have a

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-24872299878608994752007-04-11T19:58:00.000-07:002007-04-21T20:47:43.868-07:00

The Colorado Air Pollution Control Division just posted its 1st quarter 2007 summary enforcement report. Some findings of note:The oil and gas industry dominates the Division's clean air enforcement work. Of the 53 enforcement cases in Colorado, 22 (43%) are against oil and gas facilities, more than any other industry.Canyon Gas Resources had more facilities violate clean air laws than any other

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-41672534983311545742007-04-11T13:06:00.000-07:002007-04-11T13:16:59.556-07:00

All we have to say is, thank you.That's because the building site at 1515 Wynkoop in lower downtown Denver, which is being developed by Hines Development has stepped up to keep its particulate pollution in check. Not only do they have water trucks and hoses spraying down the dust, they've actually decided to cease digging today because of more high winds.This response is refreshing to say the

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-62541829462139729182007-04-11T06:06:00.000-07:002007-04-11T06:27:37.195-07:00

Hines Development, which is beginning construction on 1515 Wynkoop in downtown Denver, really made a mess of things yesterday. Excavation activities kicked up huge clouds of particulate pollution for hours while trucks tracked out dust all over the streets. Anyone walking within a block of this building site likely ended up with gritty teeth and watery, dust-filled eyes. We did.Yesterday was an

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-67429346878785202262007-04-10T07:39:00.000-07:002007-04-10T07:48:47.099-07:00

Colorado House Bill 1293, which would safeguard schools and kids from busy highway air pollution, is coming up for a vote before the House Appropriations Committee. The Mothers for Clean Air Colorado are leading the charge.The bill, which would require highways to be located away from schools, has already passed one committee in the Colorado House, but now faces scrutiny because of its perceived

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-85892890902309935802007-04-07T07:28:00.000-07:002007-04-07T07:55:14.577-07:00

Tri-State Generation is delaying construction of one of two coal burning power plants in southwestern Kansas. Its reason? The "company plans to pursue other natural gas and renewable energy plants to serve customers' immediate needs," according to a Wichita Eagle article today.These bold plans are certainly welcome news for clean air and our health. In previous posts, we've labeled Tri-State a "

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-30340899135501634702007-04-05T11:30:00.000-07:002007-04-05T12:13:24.869-07:00

Xcel Energy's coal burning Pawnee Power Plant, located in Morgan County northeast of Denver, last year spewed over 26,000,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide pollution, more than the four other coal burning power plants in the Denver metro area combined. On a per-megawatt basis, the one coal-fired boiler at the Pawnee power plant also releases more nitrogen oxides.What's worse, all this pollution is

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-80443617709639243592007-04-05T10:49:00.000-07:002007-05-05T13:43:32.703-07:00

At the heels of Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action's efforts to clean up the CEMEX cement plant in Lyons, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now following suit.Last week, the EPA put CEMEX on notice that their cement plant violated the Clean Air Act hundreds of times since 1997. Not only that, but the cement plant is currently operating without legally required air pollution controls.The

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-27476744344607242242007-04-03T15:28:00.000-07:002007-04-03T16:17:22.885-07:00

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action works to safeguard clean air in Colorado and the surrounding region. That includes the Black Hills of western South Dakota.And just recently, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action scored a major victory for clean air in the Black Hills.In 2006, we challenged the state of South Dakota's decision to give an air pollution permit to Pope and Talbot, Inc., a logging company

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-14013935205746435382007-04-02T08:35:00.000-07:002007-04-02T09:12:51.449-07:00

The Supreme Court today made two landmark rulings today that will leave our air cleaner and our climate safer.First, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Duke Energy, the largest utility in the country, could not escape clean air laws by only keeping hourly smokestack pollution in check. Duke Energy had argued that, even though annual emissions increased at some of its power plants, because

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-54057306226164410242007-04-01T11:42:00.000-07:002007-04-01T13:03:51.291-07:00

The Grand Junction City Council again passed a resolution asking the state of Colorado to install a network of smog monitors in Grand Junction and other parts of western Colorado.Remember, this is the second time in four months that the City Council has made such a request. At a December 6, 2006 meeting, the Council passed a similar resolution, supporting stronger clean air rules and requesting

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-84396358067149285682007-03-30T09:42:00.000-07:002007-03-30T09:44:13.893-07:00

Duke Cox, Silt, Colorado resident and President of the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance, hits the nail on the head.

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-88039148999628791282007-03-30T08:55:00.000-07:002007-03-30T09:09:01.455-07:00

Next week is National Public Health Week and to promote the occasion, Colorado Lieutenant Governor Barbara O'Brien is going to lead a walk on April 3rd from the Denver Health headquarters at 8th and Bannock to the west steps of the Capitol building. According to a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment news release, the walk starts at midday and culminates with a noon ceremony at

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-28255564979583433202007-03-29T07:43:00.000-07:002007-03-29T09:03:13.268-07:00

If you've ever been pulled over for speeding, have you ever tried to argue that you weren't actually "violating" the speed limit, just speeding "excessively"? If you have, you've probably found that the cop didn't care whether you called it excess speed or a violation of the speed limit. The simple fact of the matter was you were speeding.Things are different if you're a polluter, though. Even if

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-63856030710947117662007-03-27T08:29:00.000-07:002007-03-27T08:33:35.423-07:00

The Mothers for Clean Air Colorado have formed recently to safeguard children from air pollution, especially air pollution from vehicle traffic.Study after study after study after study has found that kids living or going to school near busy highways are often denied the healthy future they deserve. Some of these studies are posted on the Mothers' website.The issue is a no-brainer; who could

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-13686313434487847882007-03-24T19:36:00.000-07:002007-03-24T19:53:22.767-07:00

This American Life has been a staple of our weekend unwinding for years. The once-a-week, hour-long radio show is probably the most entertaining, inspiring, and impacting radio show on the air right now. It's never been a let down, not once.Recently, This American Life featured a story entitled "Yes in My Backyard," the story of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency cracking down on

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-30676225616934988592007-03-23T09:49:00.000-07:002007-03-23T15:22:50.393-07:00

The Environmental Protection Agency released toxic release inventory data from 2005 yesterday. The data shows what toxic chemicals are dumped in our water, on land, and in our air. Nearly 35% of all the toxic releases were in our air.And on the air front, things aren't looking good. Toxic air pollution increased by 116.9 million pounds, or 3%, between 2004 and 2005. Rising toxic air pollution is

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-42116599934025637102007-03-23T09:17:00.000-07:002007-03-23T09:46:21.047-07:00

Senator Barbara Boxer, now chair of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, put the smackdown on Senator James Inhofe. Inhofe was bullying Al Gore, who was there testifying on the need to curb greenhouse gas emissions.Inhofe is an industry slut who used to chair the Environment and Public Works Committee. Under his reign, he rolled back clean air laws and chastised public health

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-14267419480612584342007-03-21T20:51:00.000-07:002007-03-21T20:53:24.731-07:00

It's time for the city of Denver to come clean.

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-28298032716406289162007-03-18T09:43:00.000-07:002007-03-26T14:49:02.223-07:00

It's bad enough that one oil refinery may be built in Green River, Utah, but local officials there must love the stink and air pollution from oil refineries because they want five.At least the local residents there have a better understanding of just how disastrous an oil refinery could be to the health of their community. As one resident commented, "the jobs the refineries may provide aren’t

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-26004756226187761812007-03-16T10:57:00.000-07:002007-03-22T11:09:17.535-07:00

The Bureau of Land Management says it will consider applications by oil and gas companies to build toxic evaporation ponds on public lands. The statement comes in response to concerns voiced by citizens in DeBeque, Colorado that toxic evaporation ponds would be built within yards of their homes.Of course, nobody wants a toxic evaporation pond anywhere near their home, but putting these ponds on

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-80745534722027336642007-03-13T11:05:00.000-07:002007-03-13T12:17:28.912-07:00

The oil and gas industry in Colorado should have known this day would come.After years of destroying people's land, contaminating our water, and polluting our air, the oil and gas industry's chicken is coming home to roost in the form of several reform bills. The bills, which seek to hold the oil and gas industry accountable to clean air, clean water, landowners, and wildlife are sailing through

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-17192331907435169692007-03-12T15:48:00.001-07:002007-06-08T09:40:06.172-07:00

The state of Colorado has taken important steps to reduce smog forming pollution from oil and gas development in the Denver metro region. Unfortunately, massive sources of smog forming pollution have yet to do anything to protect people from smog--coal burning power plants.This is going to change. In practically every other region of the United States dealing with smog pollution, coal burning

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-83898293846593216072007-03-09T09:11:00.000-08:002007-03-09T09:36:54.662-08:00

Oil and gas development in Colorado is straining the Air Pollution Control Division and posing an inordinate threat to clean air and our health. Smog levels are rising, our air is getting hazier (especially in our National Parks and wilderness areas), and health is on the decline. All the while, the Air Pollution Control Division is losing out on nearly $3,000,000 annually because it charges

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-84742423923007664312007-03-09T08:51:00.000-08:002007-03-09T09:11:34.922-08:00

Smog Forming Emissions Spew From a Tank at a Natural Gas Well A recent report by the Environmental Integrity Project shows that the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division is losing out on nearly $3 million annually. The reason? Polluters are paying bargain fees in the state. In fact, Colorado charges polluters less than half what federal law requires. All the while, our air is getting smoggier

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-69971528316428028132007-03-05T16:29:00.000-08:002007-03-05T16:32:11.195-08:00

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

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-12867273992632034252007-03-05T06:48:00.000-08:002007-04-02T21:02:49.098-07:00

Yuma, in far northeastern Colorado, wants to be the renewable energy capital of Colorado. This is great news, but Yuma has its work to cut out.Right now, natural gas drilling in Yuma is booming. According to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 798 drilling permits were issued in Yuma County last year. This was a record for Yuma County, which now ranks the fourth highest in terms

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-66612489189654243102007-03-04T08:11:00.000-08:002007-04-05T11:26:10.114-07:00

The Wyoming Outdoor Council and the Sierra Club have sued Wyoming power giant Pacificorp for violating the Clean Air Act at its coal burning Jim Bridger Power Plant--1,000 times.The news is great. The Jim Bridger Power Plant is massive. It releases more nitrogen oxides than all five coal burning power plants in the Denver metro region. Nitrogen oxides degrade lungs, form smog and acid rain, and

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-41575373839683366392007-03-02T07:36:00.000-08:002007-03-02T07:53:09.338-08:00

CEMEX, Inc. claims it is "shocked" that Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action plans to take the company to court in 60 days for numerous violations of the Clean Air Act. As the Boulder Daily Camera stated, this claim "strains credulity."Since 1979, the Lyons cement plant has failed to install air pollution controls, despite steady increases in pollution. Just like when you renovate your old house, you

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-69922873011238402392007-02-26T07:26:00.000-08:002007-03-05T17:36:28.432-08:00

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action put CEMEX, Inc. on notice today that it intends to file suit in federal court to clean up the company's coal burning cement plant in Lyons, which threatens peoples' health and Rocky Mountain National Park.According to Colorado Air Pollution Control Division records, the kiln at the Lyons cement plant has been modified numerous times since 1979, leading to steady

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-7180328577690863272007-02-21T10:23:00.000-08:002007-02-21T11:13:39.122-08:00

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

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-40679196703103928862007-02-16T10:03:00.000-08:002007-02-16T10:26:35.269-08:00

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action certainly has a lot to blog about, but so do a lot of other people. We're going to shake things up a bit now, and urge you to check out some of these latest posts, while only marginally clean air related:Elevated Voices, the 5280 Blog: Jason Bane offers extremely helpful media relations advice. Please heed it, he knows what he's talking about. Critterthink, the

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-5621998916768319722007-02-16T08:52:00.000-08:002007-02-16T09:22:48.248-08:00

The Cotter Corporation uranium mill in Cañon City, Colorado has been let off the hook--again--and Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action and local citizens have fired back.Last May, the uranium mill not only violated clean air laws by failing to use best available pollution controls, but put the health of the nearby community squarely at risk. The mill, which uses solvent to extract radioactive uranium

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-1229351233758640392007-02-05T17:34:00.001-08:002007-02-07T09:53:41.496-08:00

Xcel claims that it will be reducing air pollution from the Pawnee power plant, a massive coal burning power plant located northeast of Denver. The claim is not entirely true.In 2006, the Pawnee power plant releases 3,464 tons of nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen oxides contribute to smog pollution, form acid rain, and harm the lungs of children. The amount of nitrogen oxides released from the Pawnee

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31977116.post-45605286441807416012007-02-05T17:34:00.000-08:002007-02-06T08:34:43.511-08:00

The Colorado Air Pollution Control Division claims it is playing "catch up" when it comes to protecting clean air from oil and gas drilling in western Colorado, but we can't help but wonder whether the Division will just be left in the dust on all this.The signs of impending air pollution problems in western Colorado have been obvious for years.Brown clouds, toxic fumes, and hazy skies have been

Jeremy Nicholshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545630756128820287noreply@blogger.com0