Colorado Perspective on Colorado Perspective on Nitrogen OxidesNitrogen Oxides

Paul TourangeauPaul TourangeauDirectorDirector

Colorado APCDColorado APCDNovember 11, 2009November 11, 2009

Multiple issues with NOxMultiple issues with NOx• Colorado and other western States face new challenges

with nitrogen oxides • Issues overlap in multiple pollutant arenas • Sources range from major stationary sources to

automobiles and minor sources related to oil and gas extraction and processing

• Impacts range from health to welfare including new issues with nitrogen deposition– NOx is a key component of Colorado’s ozone planning

efforts– NOx is a focal point of Colorado’s RMNP nitrogen

deposition issue– NOx is integral to NO2, RH and PM2.5

Nitrogen OxidesNitrogen Oxides

NOx ImpactsNOx Impacts

• Health impacts are direct from NO2 and indirect from nitrate particles• Aggravation of heart and lung diseases, with increased

hospitalizations, doctor visits, and use of medication• Heart beat irregularities and heart attacks• Coughing, wheezing, and chronic bronchitis• Premature death from heart and lung disease• Nitrates also impact acid deposition, regional haze

• Ozone formation is also tied to NOx emissions

New NO2 Standard will New NO2 Standard will Spotlight the WestSpotlight the West

• 3 of 5 likely Non-Attainment areas are in the West– Denver, Phoenix, and LA– Chicago and New York

• Denver is 5th on the list, Phoenix 4th, both cities with much smaller populations but both with ozone challenges– Denver’s terrain and propensity for temperature

inversions results in elevated NO2

Nitrogen Dioxide Levels Versus Proposed New Nitrogen Dioxide Levels Versus Proposed New NAAQS Range for Urban Sites in ColoradoNAAQS Range for Urban Sites in Colorado

NOTE: Nitrogen dioxide levels at rural sites are much lower.

0.060

0.070

0.080

0.090

0.100

0.110

0.120

0.130

0.140

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Part

s per

mill

ion

Nitrogen dioxide3-year average of 4th maximum 1-hour values

CAMP

Welby

Green lines = range of proposed new standard

Western NOx Emissions – 33% reduction by 2018Western NOx Emissions – 33% reduction by 2018

Colorado’s Projected NOx Reductions (by 2018) Colorado’s Projected NOx Reductions (by 2018)

ALLALL Initiatives to Benefit: Initiatives to Benefit: NO2, O3, RH, N Dep, PM2.5NO2, O3, RH, N Dep, PM2.5

Eagles Nest Wilderness Area

OutlookOutlook

• Even with projected NOx reductions, more needs to be done to improve visibility, reduce ozone, PM2.5 and NO2, and improve ecosystems

• These efforts should not be compartmentalized– A “one atmosphere approach” should be

utilized– Planning for all issues needs to occur

simultaneously to ensure cost-effective solutions

–Monitoring needs to be improved

OutlookOutlook

• Examples:–Monitoring in Colorado has been increased

to address multiple needs–Non-traditional, external drivers impacting

Colorado’s approaches to air quality planning and management

Example: Oil and Gas Activities Drive Example: Oil and Gas Activities Drive Different Policy InitiativesDifferent Policy Initiatives

• New regulatory framework:– Colo. Statute: “…it is in the public’s interest to foster the

responsible, balanced development of Colorado’s oil and gas resources consistent with the protection of public health, safety, and welfare…”(HB07-1341 C.R.S. § 34-60-102(1))

– New rules promulgated under HB07-1341 are now part of COGCC rules, requiring interagency coordination (2 CCR 805)• Nuisance• Condensate tanks, dehydrators….within ¼ mile of

occupied structure• Produced water pits and tanks• Pneumatic valves• Green completions

Example: Oil and Gas Activities Drive Example: Oil and Gas Activities Drive Different Policy InitiativesDifferent Policy Initiatives

• Cumulative impact analyses– For effective air quality planning, COGCC rules

acknowledge the need to fill significant air quality data gaps from oil and gas activities

• Air quality monitoring for different pollutants• Air quality loading and airshed impacts,

typically evaluated via modeling– COGCC and APCD to define air quality information

needs, methods and costs• Colorado is exploring various local and regional

approaches to address cumulative impacts

Robust Databases and Analytical Robust Databases and Analytical Tools Must be Available to Address Tools Must be Available to Address

Multiple Air Quality NeedsMultiple Air Quality Needs• Modeling and other analyses at regional scale and by States and Tribes

for more local air quality planning depend on the inventories and tools developed by the WRAP– Understanding transport and multi-pollutant interactions– Undertaking localized initiatives, such as Denver 2020 future case

modeling and sensitivities for ozone planning– Developing a modeling capability focused on the concentrated

energy development areas in west and northwest Colorado, and eastern Utah and SW Wyoming

• Credible emissions/met data, updated on a regular basis, to support ozone, PM, visibility, N modeling/analyses need to be readily available– WRAP’s TSS and similar systems need to be maintained and

improved

What is NOx?• NOx is the acronym for “Nitrogen Oxides”• NOx is technically NO + NO2 + NO3 + ….– NO = Nitric oxide– NO2 = Nitrogen dioxide

• For monitoring, NOx is assumed to be essentially NO + NO2

• NO2 is the pollutant with an associated NAAQS• NOx analyzers:– 1. Measure NO in a sample of air– 2. Convert NO2 in a sample of air to NO– 3. Measure NO again in the converted sample of air– 4. Calculate NO2 as the difference