Ozone
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Colorado is widely known for having some of the country’s strongest oil and natural gas regulations, particularly with respect to air emissions. While Front Range air quality has improved significantly over the past 30 years, addressing ozone challenges in Colorado is an extremely difficult, economy-wide undertaking, with only 20 to 30 percent of ozone-forming emissions produced by Colorado-based human activities.
Facts on Ozone
The oil and natural gas industry in Colorado is reducing emissions and mitigating the effects of ground-level ozone as part of its commitment to being good stewards of natural resources and protecting the environment.
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Voluntary Ozone Reduction Efforts By IndustryA variety of voluntary emissions reduction measures during forecasted high-ozone days can be deployed based on individual company assets, facilities, and production schedules. Possible ozone mitigation activities include but are not limited to the following:
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The 2019 voluntary industry program runs from June 1 to September 30
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Ozone that is found high in the Earth’s atmosphere is helpful for humans because it protects us from harmful radiation from the sun. Lower in the atmosphere, ground level ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) combine in the presence of sunlight and heat. Examples of VOC sources include paints, solvents, formaldehyde, methane, benzene, engine exhaust, household cleaners, as well as decomposing plants, animals, and landfill material.
NOx comes from fuel combustion, fertilizer, and lightning. During thunderstorms lightning will split nitrogen molecules in earth’s atmosphere, of which 78-percent is nitrogen. Ozone formation is most prevalent in urban areas when VOCs and NOx combine during hot, sunny weather.
Ozone can lead to difficulty breathing, as it causes the muscles in the airways to constrict, trapping air in the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs in the lungs. For this reason, young children, older adults, and people with asthma stand the greatest risk. This leads to wheezing, shortness of breath, and may lead to lung infections.
NOx comes from fuel combustion, fertilizer, and lightning. During thunderstorms lightning will split nitrogen molecules in earth’s atmosphere, of which 78-percent is nitrogen. Ozone formation is most prevalent in urban areas when VOCs and NOx combine during hot, sunny weather.
Ozone can lead to difficulty breathing, as it causes the muscles in the airways to constrict, trapping air in the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs in the lungs. For this reason, young children, older adults, and people with asthma stand the greatest risk. This leads to wheezing, shortness of breath, and may lead to lung infections.
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The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) develops and proposes effective and cost-efficient air quality planning initiatives with input from local government agencies, the private sector, stakeholder groups, and citizens of the Denver metropolitan area and the Denver Metro/North Front Range Ozone Non-Attainment Area. The RAQC assists with regional public/private initiatives to reduce emissions from the transportation sector, mobile sources, and other sources.
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It Takes All of Us
Learn More Here
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Resources |
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https://www.epa.gov/air-trends/air-quality-national-summary
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=26352 From the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) Simple Steps. Better Air. Moderate Area Ozone SIP Oil and Gas – Technical Support Document (TSD) Monitoring Data from Fort Collins West and NREL From the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/ozone-information https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/ract From the American Lung Association http://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota/city-rankings/states/colorado/ |
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