ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—The New Mexico Environment Department has delayed adoption of more stringent rules targeting emissions in the Four Corners region that contribute to ozone pollution.
State officials said Tuesday they have a good reason for not considering the rules this year, but environmentalists argue ozone is a recurring problem in the northwest corner of the state and officials are shirking their responsibility to address the region’s air quality concerns.
State law allows New Mexico to adopt tougher regulations than the federal government only if ozone levels are within 95 percent of the federal standard of 0.075 parts per million. However, readings in the Four Corners—home to two coal-fired power plants and oil and gas development—were unusually low this summer and failed to meet that threshold.
“In a way, it’s good news that we’ve had better readings. It’s good news for air quality and for residents in that area,” said Jim Norton, director of the department’s Environmental Protection Division.
Still, the Environment Department and environmentalists agree the region is not out of the woods.
If ozone levels go up next year, Norton said the state may need to consider adopting the rules that were tabled, which call for cleaner burning compression engines at oil and gas well sites and the installation of other equipment designed to capture emissions.
Northwestern New Mexico traditionally has ozone levels that are close to triggering non-attainment under federal ambient air quality standards. Environmentalists blame emissions from the two power plants and the thousands of oil and gas well sites that dot the region.
Jeremy Nichols, director of WildEarth Guardians’ climate and energy program, said New Mexico is being conservative about interpreting its authority to control emissions when other oil and gas producing states, including Colorado and Wyoming, have taken steps to improve air quality.
Nichols added that it’s possible the federal government could lower the ozone standard in the future and the state will still have to consider regulations to reduce ozone-forming emissions.
“It’s disappointing,” Nichols said of the state’s decision. “It’s setting ourselves up to violate air quality standards and it’s setting ourselves up to just exacerbate the public health impacts that we know are going on in that region.”
Ozone, the primary component of smog, can irritate the respiratory system, reduce lung capacity and aggravate asthma. It’s formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react with sunlight.
Norton said the Environment Department is bound by the authority granted by state lawmakers and until the ozone level is at least 95 percent of the federal standard, it cannot petition the state Environmental Improvement Board to enact more stringent requirements.
There’s anecdotal evidence that less industrial activity in the region may have resulted in fewer pollutants being emitted this summer, but the department’s experts believe cooler temperatures and moist weather played a role in keeping ozone levels in check.
“Hopefully, this is a trend and we’ll keep getting better and it will be less of a health problem,” Norton said.
Since the ozone level is based on a three-year average, Norton said this year’s low level may balance out next year if the readings are high.
Despite this year’s level, Nichols and other environmentalists said the state should get a head start on the problem or risk more federal oversight and potential sanctions if the region fails to meet federal standards in the future.
“The stigma of being designated a dirty air area is not anything communities in New Mexico want to deal with,” Nichols said.
