HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 12/24/2019 - Memorandum From Cassie Archuleta Re: Oil And Gas - Air Quality Monitoring1
Environmental Services
222 Laporte Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6600
970.224.6177 - fax
fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
DATE: December 18, 2019
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Jacqueline Kozak-Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer
Lucinda Smith, Environmental Services Director
FROM: Cassie Archuleta, Air Quality Program Manager
SUBJECT: Oil and Gas - Air Quality Monitoring
The purpose of this memorandum is to respond to a Council request during the December 3, 2019
regular meeting to provide information regarding local and regional air quality monitoring related to
oil and gas operations.
Bottom Line
A number of local and regional air quality monitoring studies have been implemented in the region
to better understand how oil and gas development contributes to emissions and air pollution. In
Fort Collins, there have been small-scale monitoring efforts to better characterize emissions related
to local operations, and efforts that have leveraged larger regional studies. Upcoming studies will
provide more information and we are seeking opportunities to enhance monitoring through
partnerships and grants.
Air Quality Monitoring Studies
Air Quality impacts are often cited as one of the highest priority concerns related to oil and gas
development. While definitive health impact information is a continuing subject of interest and
research, regulations in Colorado are continually evolving in response to best available
information, including monitoring and health assessment studies. Some key local and regional oil
and gas monitoring activities to date include:
In 2013, air sampling was performed in Fort Collins per the terms of the City’s Operator
Agreement with Prospect Energy. Measurements indicated concentrations of oil and gas
related air pollutants were lower in Fort Collins than near larger oil and gas fields in eastern
Colorado.
In 2014, several large-scale studies were performed along the Front Range to better
understand oil and gas contributions to ozone formation. In 2017, the City of Fort Collins
leveraged this work by contracting with the National Center for Atmospheric Research
(NCAR) to prepare a locally relevant assessment. This assessment indicated that oil and
gas emissions, along with transportation sources, were the largest contributors to the
region’s high ozone events.
In 2016, Colorado State University (CSU), in collaboration with the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and several operators, completed a monitoring
study that characterized emission rates from oil and gas operations along the northern
Front Range. The lowest emission rates were measured during hydraulic fracturing
operations, followed by production. The highest emissions rates were measured during
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flowback, which is a pre-production stage where the fracking fluid, produced water, oil, and
natural gas flow up and out of the well before it is placed into production.
In 2017, the City, CSU and Prospect Energy collaborated on a sampling effort just outside
City limits to characterize emissions during the hydraulic fracturing and flowback stages of a
well recompletion. Measurements indicated that emissions were lower than other
measurements along the Front Range, as characterized in the 2016 CSU study.
In 2019, the CDPHE released a health impacts study that used the 2016 CSU results. This
study concluded that air emissions related to oil and gas development may cause short
term negative health impacts (e.g., headaches; dizziness; respiratory, skin, and eye
irritation) during “worst-case” conditions at up to 2,000 feet from operations.
Currently, Broomfield, Boulder County, and the City of Longmont are investing in sampling
and analysis programs to further investigate local impacts related to oil and gas pollutants.
Next Steps
While there is little oil and gas development within Fort Collins city limits, there is urban
development interest near existing wells and concern over possible air pollutant impacts. Some air
quality monitoring has occurred related to local operations, and many of the regional air studies are
locally relevant. For next steps, staff proposes to:
Leverage updated studies to further identify ozone reduction strategies that are most
important to Larimer County and the City of Fort Collins. In 2020, the Regional Air Quality
Council (RAQC) will update emissions profiles and ozone attribution summaries as part of
efforts required by the EPA to meet federal standards for ozone.
Continue to participate in updated rulemaking regarding methane emissions from oil and
gas. Currently, the State Air Quality Control Commission is conducting public hearings on
new rules (to be completed in December 2019), and the City of Fort Collins has party status
through the Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA), in accordance with the City
approved CC4CA Policy Agenda.
Explore opportunities to enhance operator monitoring requirements, per new authorities
granted under Senate Bill 181, for oil and gas related emissions. This may include targeted
monitoring during stages of well completions and development expected to have the
highest emissions (such as flowback), and monitoring for accidental spill and release
indicators.
Seek grants and other funding opportunities to enhance and expand local monitoring
networks, including increased use of particulate monitoring instrumentation that has
become less expensive and more portable.
cc:
Caryn Champine, Planning, Development and Transportation Director
Tom Leeson, Community Development and Neighborhood Services Director
Kelly Smith, Senior Environmental Planner
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