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The sheer volume of oil and gas activity in the state has health department officials worried about impacts to air quality.
If a proposal by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to increase emissions standards passes in August, oil and gas operators will have to reduce the amount of emissions now allowed under health department regulations.
Under scrutiny are emissions of volatile organic compounds and ozone, both of which contribute to air pollution.
"If it goes into effect, it could have a significant impact" on oil and gas operations in Garfield County, said county environmental health manager Jim Rada.
The regulations would target emissions from condensate tanks and compressor engines which emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from petroleum byproducts, which contribute to air pollution.
"We've got literally thousands of those in our county," Rada said.
The county is currently conducting an air quality monitoring program that seeks to identify sources of air pollution, with particular attention to the potential impacts of oil and gas activity.
"We know (oil and gas operations) are emitting VOCs now," Rada said. "It's a fact that pretty much every aspect of oil and gas involve VOCs."
While the state health department allows certain levels of VOC emissions under their current permitting system, those levels are likely to be lowered under the proposed regulation change.
The proposal would reduce emissions from condensate tanks emitting more than 11 tons of VOCs a year on the Front Range and 20 tons in the rest of the state.
Growth of the oil and gas industry in the state "frankly is difficult to keep up with," said health department air pollution control division manager Mike Silverstein. There has been "greater and greater concern about air pollution," especially along the urban Front Range, which is caused by a variety of factors.
In addition, the state has been charged with improving visibility at national parks where air pollution has tinged the air.
Silverstein said the revised regulations, if approved, will take effect in two phases. This year, the regulations will include condensate tanks and compressor engines as well as dehydrators, equipment that dries gas for transmission through pipelines.
The following year, Silverstein said the regulations will include fugitive dust, which contributes particulates to the air and decreases visibility.
While the state health department "doesn't have a good handle" on how much the oil and gas industry contributes to air pollution across the state, he noted it also has not been subject to as much regulation as other extractive industries such as coal mining.
Contact Donna Gray: 945-8515, ext. 510
dgray@postindependent.com
If a proposal by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to increase emissions standards passes in August, oil and gas operators will have to reduce the amount of emissions now allowed under health department regulations.
Under scrutiny are emissions of volatile organic compounds and ozone, both of which contribute to air pollution.
"If it goes into effect, it could have a significant impact" on oil and gas operations in Garfield County, said county environmental health manager Jim Rada.
The regulations would target emissions from condensate tanks and compressor engines which emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from petroleum byproducts, which contribute to air pollution.
"We've got literally thousands of those in our county," Rada said.
The county is currently conducting an air quality monitoring program that seeks to identify sources of air pollution, with particular attention to the potential impacts of oil and gas activity.
"We know (oil and gas operations) are emitting VOCs now," Rada said. "It's a fact that pretty much every aspect of oil and gas involve VOCs."
While the state health department allows certain levels of VOC emissions under their current permitting system, those levels are likely to be lowered under the proposed regulation change.
The proposal would reduce emissions from condensate tanks emitting more than 11 tons of VOCs a year on the Front Range and 20 tons in the rest of the state.
Growth of the oil and gas industry in the state "frankly is difficult to keep up with," said health department air pollution control division manager Mike Silverstein. There has been "greater and greater concern about air pollution," especially along the urban Front Range, which is caused by a variety of factors.
In addition, the state has been charged with improving visibility at national parks where air pollution has tinged the air.
Silverstein said the revised regulations, if approved, will take effect in two phases. This year, the regulations will include condensate tanks and compressor engines as well as dehydrators, equipment that dries gas for transmission through pipelines.
The following year, Silverstein said the regulations will include fugitive dust, which contributes particulates to the air and decreases visibility.
While the state health department "doesn't have a good handle" on how much the oil and gas industry contributes to air pollution across the state, he noted it also has not been subject to as much regulation as other extractive industries such as coal mining.
Contact Donna Gray: 945-8515, ext. 510
dgray@postindependent.com
