Colorado: An Air Quality History WESTAR SPRING BUSINESS MEETING MAR CH 29 – 30, 2010
Dec 25, 2015
Colorado by the Numbers 5.17 million residents statewide (est.)
4.24 million residents in Front Range (est.)
54 “14ers”
29 Ski Areas
GDP by Major Industry Sector (2007):
Services – $65.7 Billion
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate – $44.1
Government - $28.0
Information – $21.4
Manufacturing - $15.2
Retail Trade - $14.3
Wholesale Trade - $13.2
Construction - $12.4
Mining - $10.9
1970 Clean Air Act
Most Sweeping Environmental Legislation in United States History
Set National Health-Based Air Quality Standards
Carbon Monoxide
Lead
Nitrogen Oxide
Ozone
Total Suspended Particulates
Sulfur Dioxide
Required States to Establish and Maintain Clean Air
Required Each State to Adopt a State Implementation Plan and Establish Permitting and Enforcement Systems
NONATTAINMENT Denver-Metropolitan Area
4 of 6 Original Criteria Pollutant Standards (Carbon Monoxide, Lead, Nitrogen Oxide, Ozone)
Also Nonattainment for PM10 Standard that replaced the TSP Standard in 1987
More Than a Dozen CO/PM10 Nonattainment Areas Throughout the State
Proactive Colorado (Firsts and Near-Firsts)
1977: Colorado Car (High Altitude Emissions Standards)
1981: Automobile Inspection and Maintenance Programs
1985: Emissions Standards for New Woodburning Stoves
1987: Mandatory Testing for Individual Diesel Vehicles and Fleets
1988: Oxygenated Fuels Program along Colorado’s Front Range
1990: Urban Visibility Standard
1990: Banned Sale of Non EPA-Certified Stoves
1993: Banned Installation of Woodburning Fireplaces in New Construction
1995: Enhanced Automobile Inspection and Maintenance
Colorado Air Quality Today
All Areas of Colorado Attaining Original National Ambient Air Quality Standards
Working Effectively Toward Attainment of Newer, More Stringent Ozone Standard
Expanding Air Quality Monitoring Network
Expanding Air Quality Forecasting Statewide
Changing Demographics
State Population Estimates
1970: 2,209,596*
1980: 2,889,733*
1990: 3,294,394*
2000: 4.33 million (2000 census)
2010: 5.17 million*
2020: 6.19 million*
2030: 7.23 million*
Front Range Population Estimates
* Colorado State Demography Office
2000: 3.54 (2000 census)
2010: 4.24 million*
2020: 5.01 million*
2030: 6.15 million*
Colorado Air Quality Challenges
More Stringent Standards Ozone
1997 Standard:.08 ppm
2008 Standard: .075 ppm
2010 (Proposed): .06 - .07 ppm
Nitrogen Dioxide
1971 Standard: .053 ppm annual average
2010 Standard: 100 ppb (1-hour daily max)
PM 2.5
1997 Standards: 65 μg/m3 (24-hour avg.) and 15 μg/m3
(annual)
2006 Standards: 35 μg/m3 (24-hour avg.) and 15 μg/m3
(annual)
Colorado Air Quality Challenges
Regional Haze Requires visibility improvements
National Parks and Wilderness Areas
Submitted BART for 12 Facilities in 2007 and 2008, plus other chapters
Working on Reasonable Progress and BART Review with U.S. EPA (Region 8) in 2010
Mercury
Over 18 Hg Fish Consumption Advisories in Colorado water bodies
Statewide Regulations to Reduce EGU Mercury Emissions (2012, 2014, 2018)
Colorado Air Quality Initiatives Proposed Clean Air/Clean Jobs Act
Sharply reduce air pollutants by retiring, retrofitting or repowering Northern Front Range coal‑fired power plants by or before the end of 2017 (or sooner)
Will help Colorado meet Regional Haze SIP Requirements
Will help Colorado meet Ozone and NO2 requirements
House Bill 10-1001
Requires 30 percent of electricity be generated by renewable sources by 2020
Requires 3 percent be met by solar power
100,000 solar rooftops
Consumer and Rate-payer protections