Denver-area counties could get an additional two years to meet federal ozone requirements under a rule proposed this week by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The metropolitan area is one of 14 communities around the country that do not meet ozone standards but were given additional time to avoid ozone-reduction requirements because they committed to meet standards by the end of 2007, up to two years earlier than required under the Clean Air Act.
Those communities had until Dec. 31 to reduce pollution to meet federal standards. Under new rule proposed Thursday, they would have until Dec. 31, 2008.
The Denver area and the other 13 communities have met progress milestones so far and are ahead of schedule to meet federal standards, the EPA said. As long as they continue to meet goals for progress in reducing ozone levels, the EPA will defer Clean Air Act requirements such as restrictions on new ozone sources, the agency said.
The public has 30 days to comment on the proposed extension.
One environmental group, Environmental Defense, said it disagreed that Colorado had made adequate progress in reducing ozone, saying levels in the metro area exceeded standards seven times in July.
“There is a sharp contrast between the EPA’s suggestion that we’re making progress in addressing smog pollution and the actual air-quality monitors on the ground this summer, which are showing consistent, unhealthy levels of smog across the Colorado Front Range,” said Vickie Patton, an attorney with the group.
“The remedy is for state and federal policymakers to put in place clean air solutions that will restore healthy air and to give serious consideration to the harmful pollution levels we’ve seen this summer,” she said.
State regulators have said emissions from natural gas wells in Weld County and elsewhere in eastern Colorado are growing at a higher-than-expected rate, jeopardizing the state’s ozone-reduction plan.
Industry officials say state data shows natural gas wells in the area are responsible for just a small portion of ozone when compared with vehicles.
Ozone is created when industrial pollution and car exhaust interact with sunlight on bright, sunny days. It poses significant health risks, especially for young children and people with respiratory problems such as asthma.
State officials are working on a proposal to mandate lower emissions from oil and gas producers in northeastern Colorado by next year and phase in similar reductions for wells in other parts of the state, including western Colorado.
