NEWS RELEASE 

Denver Metro Area Under Siege by Smog
Children, Seniors, Active Adults at Risk as Federal Health Standards Violated

For Immediate Release: 
July 22, 2007

For More Information Contact:
Jeremy Nichols, Director, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action, (303) 454-3370;

Read More on the Denver Ozone Blog:
http://denverozone.blogspot.com  

Denver—Smog levels in Denver busted federal health standards over the weekend, putting the health of children, seniors, and active adults at serious risk. The violation also signals the end of the Early Action Compact, an attempt by the Owens Administration to subvert clean air for Denver.

"The Denver metro area is in the midst of a health crisis," said Jeremy Nichols, Director of Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action. "Air pollution is choking children and families from Douglas County north to Greeley; we need relief."

Ozone, the key ingredient of smog, peaked at levels above federal health standards throughout the Denver metro area over the weekend. At one monitoring station, located at Rocky Flats, ozone levels reached 88 parts per billion over an eight hour period on July 20th, putting the Denver metro area in violation of health standards.

A violation of federal health standards occurs when the three year average of the fourth highest maximum eight hour ozone levels reaches 85 parts per billion or higher. With the ozone readings at Rocky Flats, the three year average is squarely at 85 parts per billion. The last time the Denver metro area violated federal ozone standards was in 2003.

To safeguard public health, the violation will require the most substantial reduction in ozone forming pollution ever called for in the Denver metro area. Ozone forms when air pollution from smokestacks, tailpipes, and other sources reacts with sunlight. Key ozone forming pollutants include volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides.

Since 2003, the state of Colorado has avoided strict clean air rules by implementing an Early Action Compact. The Early Action Compact imposed new clean air rules, focusing on the oil and gas industry. Although these rules are important, they have not gone far enough. Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action has supported these rules, but challenged the Early Action Compact in federal court.

"The Early Action Compact has helped us secure strong clean air rules, but not strong enough," said Nichols. "For the sake of our health, we need to move past the Early Action Compact and secure the strongest clean air safeguards for our health."

More substantial cuts in ozone pollution will now be needed to keep the public safe. These cuts will likely come from coal burning power plants, in addition to oil and gas developments, refineries, and diesel cars and trucks. Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action is seeking a 53% cut in ozone forming pollution from coal burning power plants in the metro area. These power plants have not been required to reduce smog forming pollution, yet emit 160% more nitrogen oxides than power plants in other parts of the United States. These cuts will help keep children, seniors, and active adults safe.

"This violation is a wakeup call and an opportunity," said Nichols. "We need to cut smog forming pollution more than ever before to keep us safe and the metro area on track for clean air. We need to start by holding coal burning power plants accountable to cleaning up their smokestacks."

As of July 22, an ozone alert remained in effect and ozone levels continued to climb to unhealthy levels across the metro area. If the Denver metro area continues to violate federal ozone standards during 2007, the area faces more stringent federal regulations, limits on highway funding, and other federal sanctions.

(END) 

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