Weld County Engagement

While we all agree Coloradans want clean air, we don't agree on the current direction the state is taking on how we achieve that - a one-size-fits-all approach will not work. For years, Weld County's elected officials, staff and consultants have been engaged in air quality policy discussions that local agencies and the state legislature are having by offering public comment at rule makings, testifying before legislators, and funding third-party scientific study and analysis of northern Colorado's air. By participating in this process, Weld County hopes to encourage common-sense solutions to a state-wide problem.

 

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Regulatory Engagement

  • Weld County actively engages with the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC), has participated in their Control Strategy Committee and working group meetings since their inception in September 2021, and attends the monthly RAQC Board meetings to provide public comment when necessary and ask questions. As a vested partner, Weld County also submitted a letter to the RAQC in January providing specific, actionable recommendations to optimize ozone control strategy development in 2023.
  • Weld County provides concrete suggestions and asks clarifying questions at the Air Pollution Control Division's (APCD) public meetings.
  • Weld County continues to engage with the RAQC and APCD on ozone control strategy development to recommend common-sense solutions based on sound science and the best available data.  
  • Weld County was party to AQCC Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Low NOx rules in April 2023   
  • Weld County was party to AQCC Regulation 3 hearing in May 2023
  • Weld County was party to AQCC Regulation 29, Regulation 7, Regulation 26, and the Ozone SIP hearing in December 2023
  • Weld County is currently party to the ECMC Cumulative Impacts rules for 2024
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Legislative Engagement

  • Weld County was invited to share their local government perspectives at the third meeting of the Legislative Interim Committee on Ozone Air Quality on October 13, 2023. Dr. Annareli Morales, Air Quality Policy Analyst for the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, presented to legislators on the key actions Colorado needs to take to effectively reduce ozone. Dr. Morales proposed three actions for immediate action on ozone precursor emissions: 1) a program to repair and replace high-emitting vehicles at low or no cost to Coloradans, 2) incentivizing local governments to convert their fleets to cleaner vehicles sooner by subsidizing 50-80% of vehicle costs, and 3) coordinated efforts to effectively transition away from gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.
  • Dr. Morales also advocated for sufficient and consistent funding to conduct regular photochemical modeling, which is a valuable tool used for air quality planning and attainment demonstration to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These proposed actions were formally proposed to the legislature via Senate Bill 24-095 sponsored by Senator Kirkmeyer. After many conversations with environmental groups, legislators, RAQC, and CDPHE, seven amendments were passed in the Senate Technology & Environment Committee, Senate Finance, Senate 2nd and 3rd Reading. The bill ultimately was postponed indefinitely in the House Finance Committee with a 6-5 vote. 

 

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Agricultural solutions to reducing GHG

Weld County believes the reduction of emissions is important and must be a common sense approach that does the least harm to our state's economy. The county worked with its partners at The Context Network and Ramboll US Consulting, Inc. to prepare a white paper for the Natural and Working Land Task Force that offered solutions for reducing GHG emissions and sequestering carbon.

November 2021: Agricultural Solutions for Reducing GHG Emissions and Sequestering Carbon(PDF, 5MB)

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Comments on Colorado Greenhouse Gas Roadmap

When the State of Colorado introduced the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Roadmap, Weld County, along with other entities addressed their concerns regarding the content of the plan and the consequences the plan's implementation could have on Colorado's economy. 

News Release: CDOT's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Rulemaking - A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing That Will Negatively Impact Rural Colorado(PDF, 210KB)

 

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Weld County request to not expand the ozone nonattainment area

In November 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized it's decision to expand the ozone nonattainment area boundary to include all of Weld County. Weld County submitted testimony and scientific data to support its request to not change the boundary area.

7/14/21: Letter from Weld County to Debra Thomas, Acting Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8(PDF, 3MB)

11/19/21: Letter from Weld County to Michael Regan, Office of the Administrator, 1101A, Environmental Protection Agency(PDF, 178KB)

11/19/21: Weld County news release regarding EPA's decision to move all of Weld County into the nonattainment boundary(PDF, 178KB)

12/1/21: Letter from the Environmental Protection Agency to Weld County(PDF, 180KB)

Exhibit 1(PDF, 4MB)

Exhibit 2(PDF, 178KB)

Exhibit 3(PDF, 1MB)

The Air Quality Control Commission proposed a rule (ETPR) to mandate employers develop a plan to reduce employees driving to and from work sites. Weld County participated in public comment of this rulemaking and the proposal was withdrawn by the Commission.

9/7/21: Prehearing Statement of the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County in the matter of proposed revisions to regulation numbers 11, 20 and 22.(PDF, 350KB)

12/16/21 News Release: Board Seeks Court Review of EPA Ozone Designation(PDF, 222KB)

 

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Research Studies and Publications

March 2023:A Review of Colorado EnviroScreen(PDF, 6MB)

Independent Analysis of CDPHE Monitoring Data at the Bella Romero Academy (Ramboll, June 2020)(PDF, 1MB)

Health Consultations: Assessment of Ambient Air Exposures to Volatile Organic Compounds Measured at an Elementary School Near an Oil and Gas Development Operation (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, May 2020)(PDF, 930KB)

 

 

        
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