Air Pollution Control Division

Planning and Policy Program

Garry Kaufman, Program Manager

Introduction

The Planning and Policy Program is responsible for air quality planning, policy, education and community outreach tasks. Included are: air quality plan development and implementation; assisting in the development of transportation conformity analysis; participating in air-quality-related transportation planning; division policy development; community-based environmental protection; Colorado climate change planning; air toxics reduction; pollution prevention; and public information and school education.

Nonattainment/maintenance area air quality planning

In Colorado, 11 communities formerly violated the federal standards for fine particles or carbon monoxide. These areas were classified as "nonattainment" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. All these areas have since been redesignated by EPA to "attainment/maintenance" status.

Ozone has emerged as a problem for the Front Range area, and in 2007 the Front Range Area violated the federal 8-hour ozone standard and was designated "nonattainment."  For more information see the ozone website.

A nonattainment area must develop an air quality attainment and maintenance plan to demonstrate that it can be redesignated to attainment status. These plans are prepared jointly by local governments, local planning agencies and the Air Division.

The purpose of these plans is to show how attainment and maintenance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards will be achieved. The plans describe the nature of the air quality problems and the probable causes. They provide projections of future pollutant levels and identify strategies that can be used to provide necessary pollution reductions.

Once prepared, the plans are submitted to the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission for a public hearing and upon approval sent to the legislature and the governor before submittal to the EPA. The plans can be viewed at the following site:

Attainment/Maintenance Plans for Colorado Communities

For more information contact Garry Kaufman at (303) 692-3269.

Transportation issues

The division's transportation planning activities are done throughout the state at both a technical and policy level. The goal of these activities is to ensure that transportation projects such as road and highway construction or mass transportation projects incorporate pollution prevention and air quality protection or improvement features. This is done primarily by ensuring that federal clean air and transportation legislation is followed and national air quality standards are met and maintained.

In addition, The Planning and Policy program works with transportation conformity issues to ensure that federal actions adhere to Colorado s air quality improvement plans and health-based air quality standards.

For more information contact Lisa Silva at (303) 692-3119.

Community-based air quality protection

Colorado, like many other states, has worked for years to improve air quality in areas where pollution levels have exceeded health standards. Taking what was learned in these areas, Colorado has created a voluntary program for communities that are at risk for air quality problems. These community-based projects have addressed problems such as windblown dust, wood smoke, industrial pollution and odors. The projects rely on collaboration between state and local jurisdictions, businesses and the public.

For more information contact Lisa Silva at (303) 692-3119.

Air Toxics Program

The Planning and Policy program is responsible for coordinating efforts at the state level to reduce air toxics in Colorado. Activities of the program range from reviewing and commenting on national toxics reduction efforts to assisting local communities in addressing air toxics. Division successes to date include air toxics monitoring, inventorying and inspection of air toxics sources, assistance to city and county agencies, stakeholder involvement, working with other department programs (Water Quality, Environmental Epidemiology) and collaborating with the US Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information, contact Lisa Silva at (303) 692-3119 or visit the division’s air toxics website:

•  Air Toxics Website .

Colorado climate change

Since 1993, the division has participated in an EPA-sponsored climate change grant process to gather technical information to help assess climate change from a Colorado perspective. Colorado has developed a Climate Action Plan, and evaluates the affects of Federal climate change programs and regulations on Colorado.

• Climate Change Website

Environmental education

Staff conduct air quality presentations at elementary, junior and senior high schools along Colorado's Front Range. Tours of the Air Pollution Control Division and various monitoring sites are given to provide students with a glimpse of the day-to-day work of keeping the air clean.

Staff develop informational materials including brochures, reports and videos to help in this educational process. Staff also respond to specific requests from students and others seeking information about air quality.

For more information contact Chris Dann at (303) 692-3281.

Public information

The Planning and Policy Program manages public information activities for the Air Division, including media relations, publications support, and Internet web site development.

The program issues an annual Report to the Public on behalf of the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission.

• Report to the Public

Staff collaborate with the Colorado Department of Revenue to jointly oversee public information and education activities of the Automobile Inspection and Readjustment program operated by Envirotest Systems, Inc.

For more information contact Chris Dann at (303) 692-3281 or Bob True at (303) 692-3108.

High pollution and ozone advisory

The Planning and Policy Program works with the Technical Services Program to issue air pollution forecasts. The forecasts are provided daily to media outlets, included as part of recorded messages on telephone hotlines (303-782-0211 and 303-758-4848), and featured on the web at http://www.colorado.gov/airquality.

When conditions warrant, the forecast will call for an "Action Day". An "Action Day" for fine particulates, carbon monoxide or ozone indicates that either current air quality is unhealthy or conditions are expected to worsen later in the day or on the next day. "Action Days" for air pollutants generally indicate that air quality will be in either the Unhealthy or Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups categories (according to the Air Quality Index). Action Days trigger mandatory residential burning restrictions, voluntary driving reductions and public health recommendations for the seven-county Denver-Boulder metropolitan area between November 1 and March 31. During this five-month period, an "Action Day" for visibility also may be indicated when visual air quality is expected to be poor on the current or following day. Restrictions will apply.

During the critical summer months, "Action Days" for ozone may be necessary. When ground-level ozone concentrations are expected to reach unhealthful levels, forecasts will indicate that an "Action Day" for ozone is in effect and voluntary reductions in driving, lawn mowing, painting, and other activities that create ozone-forming hydrocarbons and volatile chemicals are encouraged.

When no "Action Day" is indicated, air quality is good or moderate and is expected to remain so during the effective period of the forecast. No restrictions are in place.

For more information contact Chris Dann at (303) 692-3281.

Pollution prevention

The Planning and Policy Program works to obtain grants for pollution prevention projects. Grants have been obtained for development of a shuttle bus service to reduce motor vehicle use on Colorado Boulevard in Denver and in Denver's Cherry Creek Shopping District. Grants have also been used for a collaborative project with the department's Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division, the department's Pollution Prevention Program, and the Colorado ski industry.

The Planning and Policy Program and other groups in the air division hope to increase the use of pollution prevention both within the department and with other agencies and industries.

Air Pollution Control Division Home Page