📋 Tender Overview
February 21, 2025
Contact
Garrett Royer, Senior Government Affairs and Political Advocate, Sierra Club Colorado: (303) 524-5928; garrett.royer@sierraclub.org
Laurie Anderson, CO Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force: 920-378-9654; landerson@momscleanairforce.org
Denver, CO - Today the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) voted to approve new rules implementing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oil and gas methane reduction requirements. The Regulation 7 rulemaking requires operators to eliminate methane-emitting pneumatic devices at oil and gas sites throughout the state and prioritizes reductions in areas that are violating ozone pollution standards. Colorado is the first state to incorporate these provisions into its state methane plan—due to the EPA by March 2026.
The AQCC's rules also make improvements to the quality and consistency of air monitoring data collected at well sites, especially where people live, work and play. Advocacy groups look forward to working with the state to evaluate this important data and make further improvements to ensure that communities are informed about and protected from harmful emissions.
While the new rules strengthen Colorado's commitments to reducing climate and ozone pollution, the state is still not on track to comply with federal air quality standards, and it must adopt additional EPA methane reduction requirements before March 2026. Advocacy groups will push for stronger methane reduction requirements and are optimistic this can be accomplished by the deadline.
Coalition members had the following reactions to the final vote:
“Colorado is burdened by excessive levels of ground-level ozone and climate change impacts such as forest fires, floods, droughts, and degradation of biological resources,” said Ramesh Bhatt, Conservation Committee Chair, Sierra Club Colorado. “We are glad that the AQCC has recognized that methane pollution from oil and gas operations is a root cause of these crises and has adopted rules to reduce this pollution and conform to federal requirements. We hope to see these rules properly enforced and further regulations added to reduce pollution from the oil and gas industry.”
“Today marks another step forward in protecting children’s health by further reducing pollution from oil and gas operations for both children living in the ozone nonattainment area and also children most impacted by higher polluting facilities on the western slope,” said Laurie Anderson, CO Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force. “We appreciate the dedication and continued efforts of the Commissioners and the staff at the Division since this rule will not only improve our air quality, but also makes Colorado the first state to comply with a portion of the Federal Methane Rule - setting the stage for other states to follow.”
“The rules passed today, eliminating methane-emitting pneumatic controllers and prioritizing emission reductions in Colorado’s most heavily polluted regions, are a good step in Colorado’s fight against climate-harming emissions,” said Andrew Forkes-Gudmundson, senior manager for state policy at Earthworks. “The adoption of these rules today carries extra importance as Colorado becomes the first state to adopt portions of the EPA’s national methane rule, doing so well ahead of schedule. We appreciate the Commission’s commitment to rapid implementation of the methane rules.”
“At a time when the Trump administration is dismantling environmental safeguards and abandoning climate action, it is refreshing to see Colorado forge a different path by adopting common sense rules that will help combat ozone pollution and accelerate progress towards Colorado’s climate goals,” said Robin Cooley, Deputy Managing Attorney at Earthjustice. “We look forward to building on this progress and urge other states to follow Colorado’s lead in eliminating unnecessary methane pollution from the oil and gas industry.”
“Latino communities in Colorado have endured the harmful effects of methane pollution that have impacted our health and environment for generations,” said Patricia Garcia-Nelson, Colorado Fossil Fuel Just Transition Advocate, GreenLatinos Colorado. “As Colorado moves forward with new methane regulations, the Commission must adopt the strongest possible protections to hold polluters accountable and prevent ongoing harm. This includes enforcing shorter time frames for monitoring and repairing leaks to stop prolonged exposure to toxic emissions. We must continue to be an example to the nation while safeguarding public health and ensure a just transition away from fossil fuels.”
“Preventing methane pollution is critical for Latinos because children in our communities are twice as likely to die of asthma than white children due to exposure to environmental degradation,” said Julian Guevara, Community Organizer, Mi Familia En Acción. “We know that communities on the Western Slope and Front Range, often home to vulnerable populations, suffer the most from elevated methane and Volatile organic compounds (VOC) emission levels, leading to severe health issues such as respiratory problems and increased asthma rates among Latinos in Colorado. This rulemaking is another step in the right direction and we must continue to ensure that environmental justice remains at the forefront of Colorado's air quality strategy.”
“From the Western Slope to the Front Range, Colorado communities across the state are experiencing the impacts of a warming climate. Cutting methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by eliminating the use of natural gas-emitting pneumatic devices is essential to community health and addressing the climate crisis,” said Jessica Pace, Interim Executive Director at Western Leaders Network. “ We commend the Air Quality Control Commission for adopting key EPA methane rule provisions in this rule and look forward to working with the state to ensure all Coloradans receive timely protection from pollution.”
“The Western Slope is both one
