Weld County pushes for common sense ozone policies
Published on January 24, 2022
Colorado’s Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) hosted public listening sessions addressing ozone in the North Front Range (NFR) on January 20 and 22, 2022, where they shared basic ozone information, identified planning processes, and provided opportunities for stakeholders and the public to share concerns and suggestions. Three Weld County officials and staff provided concrete suggestions at the listening sessions and asked the tough questions about how we can collectively do better. Their active role in the meeting is merited since southern Weld County stands to be significantly affected by continued high concentrations of ozone.
These listening sessions come on the heels of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) troubling decision to expand the ozone nonattainment area boundary for the 2015 ozone standards at the northern border of Weld County. This EPA action was taken despite lengthy comments submitted by the Weld County Board of Commissioners in July that demonstrated through in-depth technical analyses that best available data do not support the EPA’s proposed decision. The analysis submitted by the Board indicates that the EPA did not consider relevant data that show northern Weld County does not contribute to ozone violations any more than other areas outside the current nonattainment area.
“Unfortunately, EPA did not evaluate all the facts in their decision to move the nonattainment boundary, which is why, late last year, Weld County filed a lawsuit against the EPA in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.” said Weld County Commissioner Scott James during the public listening session on January 20, 2022. “We believe EPA’s decision to revise the nonattainment area boundary, only for Weld County and only for the 2015 ozone standards, unnecessarily harms Weld County’s economy, businesses, and citizens, without any air quality benefit” said James.
Dan Joseph, the Environmental Health Director of the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, urged the APCD to consider the potential impacts of a reclassification to Severe nonattainment for the 2008 standard coupled with recent changes to CDPHE’s air dispersion modeling guidance. “Weld County is very concerned that, due to the pending reclassification to Severe nonattainment, there will be more air permit applications filed with the Division than at any prior time in the Division’s history” said Joseph. “It is estimated that thousands of sources in the state could be impacted. When this is coupled with recent changes to CDPHE’s air dispersion modeling guidance, the effects on the Division’s ability to operate could be disastrous. The timing of these two changes coinciding will delay issuance of necessary permits.” Weld County wishes to support the Division and applicants on modeling issues and work collaboratively to improve our air quality conditions in a thoughtful manner that does not have undue negative effects on the regulated community. To that end, the County hopes to work with the Division to enable permit applicants to use Weld County monitoring data to help streamline modeling analyses that may be required.
Elizabeth Relford, Deputy Director of Weld County Public Works reiterated the County’s support for common-sense policies based on sound science and the best available data: “The County’s air quality monitoring network assessment and substantial investment in federal-reference-quality air monitoring equipment will inform current and future air quality management actions and policies” said Relford. “The installation and commitment to continued operation of these three new monitoring stations will improve efforts to quantify sources and transport pathways of pollutants and precursors throughout the ozone nonattainment area.” Ms. Relford also noted that in October 2021, Weld County gave a presentation to the Air Quality Enterprise Board recommending additional locations for monitoring in order to help improve the development of targeted ozone control strategies. “Weld County looks forward to continued dialogue with CDPHE, Regional Air Quality Council, Air Quality Enterprise Board and other local agencies to support its common goal to improve air quality and make a measurable difference for its citizens,” said Ms. Relford.
As Colorado actively plans next steps in addressing ozone, the Board continues to engage with APCD and other agencies on ozone and air quality issues to push for common-sense solutions that benefit everyone.