Colorado:
An Air Quality History
WESTAR SPRING BUSINESS MEETING
MAR CH 29 – 30, 2010
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

Front Range Population Estimates

1970: 2,209,596*

1980: 2,889,733*

1990: 3,294,394*

2000: 4.33 million (2000 census)

2000: 3.54 (2000 census)

2010: 5.17 million*

2010: 4.24 million*

2020: 6.19 million*

2020: 5.01 million*

2030: 7.23 million*

2030: 6.15 million*
* Colorado State Demography Office
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