Air Quality – Garfield County, Colorado

Protecting outdoor workers from wildfire smoke

When smoke is in the air, take precautions to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke. Employers and outdoor workers operating in areas with high levels of wildfire smoke should frequently monitor air quality conditions in their area and take steps to reduce smoke exposure, including relocating or rescheduling work tasks to smoke-free or less smoky areas and taking frequent breaks in smoke-free areas. Reducing exposure to outdoor workers: Check the air quality and encourage employees to sign up for emergency alerts Smoke levels can change a lot during the day; if possible, wait until air quality is better before being active outdoors. Keep employees informed

Pyrocumulous clouds can be seen over the Lee Fire.

The Lee Fire is producing smoke that is affecting air quality in Garfield County. Visit AirNow to determine if it’s safe to be active outdoors. Be smoke-ready and know what steps you can take to protect yourself. If possible, have backup plans to avoid outdoor activities when smoke is thick, and learn how to keep your indoor air clean. “If you don’t have air conditioning or are feeling the effects of smoke, listen to your body. You may need to take a break in an air-conditioned space, such as a public building or shopping center,” said Garfield County Environmental Health

Aerial view of rest area near Colorado River at Rifle, Colorado.

A review of local monitoring data shows that Garfield County is home to clean air with air quality trends heading in the right direction. Data in Garfield County, which has monitored air quality since 2008, shows a decreasing trend in volatile organic compound (VOCs) levels since 2011. Garfield County Environmental Health Specialist Ted White, P.E., told the Board of County Commissioners, which was acting in its role as the Garfield County Board of Health, that local air quality remains good. The county examines air quality at its monitoring stations in Battlement Mesa, Parachute, Rifle, and Carbondale. It monitors VOCs and

Clean air over Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Garfield County’s ambient air monitoring program found that most volatile organic compounds are declining in the area and no national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) violations for ozone or particulate matter were reported in 2020. In 2020, Garfield County experienced 335 days of good air quality over a 24-hour period for particulate matter (PM) of 2.5 microns (PM2.5), with 26 moderate days, and just four days considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to a report prepared by Air Resource Specialists. The county also measured 258 days of good air quality for eight-hour ozone, with 103 in the moderate category and

An air quality monitoring network has reported that Garfield County experienced good air quality index (AQI) for all 365 days in 2019. The consultant, Fort Collins-based Air Resource Specialists, presented the report, which summarized data collected by the county at monitoring stations located in Parachute, Battlement Mesa, Rifle, Carbondale and a location south of Silt, to the Board of County Commissioners. The annual averages for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) continued to decline in the county, which has tested for these substances since 2008. The monitoring stations collect readings on 90 types of pollutants and toxins,

Pine Gulch Fire affecting Garfield County air quality

Smoke from the Pine Gulch Fire burning north of Grand Junction is affecting air quality in Garfield County, which is currently under an advisory for wildfire smoke by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The blaze is up to 28,888 acres as of Monday morning. Garfield County Public Health operates an extensive air monitoring network with two locations that collect real-time data on particulate matter (PM), which is a primary component of smoke. “We have seen a rise in particulate matter, due primarily to the Pine Gulch Fire,” said to Garfield County Environmental Health

Garfield County funds VOC source apportionment study

GARFIELD COUNTY, Colo. – The Garfield County Board of County Commissioners has approved $75,000 toward an air quality study that will analyze the sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the area. As part of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Colorado State University, the VOC Source Apportionment study will operate for one year through April 2019, at which time the results will be published. The study will focus on natural gas production, vehicle traffic, and vegetation sources, and be conducted by the same research team that collected data in the $1 million Garfield County Natural Gas Emissions study from 2008

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – The Garfield County Board of County Commissioners received an air emissions study report and presentation from Colorado State University (CSU) June 14. The three-year study is named Characterizing Air Emissions from Natural Gas Drilling and Well Completion Operations in Garfield County, Colorado. Jeffrey Collett, professor and head of CSU’s Department of Atmospheric Science is the principal investigator for the study, which collected scientific data during 21 experiments. The presentation is available online at the Garfield County website, and CSU is releasing the full report later today. The report summary to the Board of Commissioners was streamed

Health assessment finds decreased potential cancer risk in air

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Garfield County commissioners today received the results of a human health risk assessment of air quality, showing a decreasing potential for cancer risk and non-cancer risk over the years 2008-12. The assessment was requested by the Garfield County Health Department and completed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, based on data collected over five years (2008-12) at Garfield County’s air monitoring sites. The results of the report also concludes there appeared to be a shift in the types of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) driving human health risk. The top three cancer risk contributors

Air quality rulemaking

PARACHUTE, CO – Garfield County Commissioners and Mesa County Commissioners voted Thursday to submit a statement to a 2013-14 Oil and Gas Rulemaking Effort proposed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The two counties are part of the Energy Producing Attainment Counties (EPAC) coalition, consisting of Garfield, Mesa, Moffat, Montezuma and Rio Blanco counties, which supports the statement filed January 30. The response requests that the Air Quality Control Commission communicate an effective enforcement and evaluation strategy before approving new regulations. A premise of the coalition statement is that administration of air regulations statewide should be

Affecting residents and travelers of Garfield County Roads 103 and 112

January 28, 2013 update: Crews today will return to the north Carbondale area to burn 250-300 more slash piles near the intersections of Garfield County Roads 103 and 112, so smoke will definitely be visible in that area today. We expect good smoke dispersal, so there shouldn’t be much impact from the smoke, but it may catch some people’s attention. SILT, Colo. – Smoke may be visible in the Roaring Fork Valley as early as next week as fire crews begin burning slash piles from earlier fuel reduction projects. When conditions are ideal this winter crews will be burning about

Following the presentation of a CSU proposed nearly $1.76 million air quality study August 20, Garfield County Commissioners directed county staff to prepare the terms of an intergovernmental agreement for consideration at a meeting in October 2012. Gas industry operators have preliminarily agreed to provide approximately $800,000 in matching funds for the study. The county’s contribution, of which terms will now be determined for consideration by the Garfield County Commissioners, would come from the oil and gas mitigation fund. Proposal for data gathering on air emissions in Garfield County to be presented to commissioners PRESS RELEASE August 17, 2012 The

Air quality awareness: Open burning

In recognition of National Air Quality Awareness week, Garfield, Eagle, Mesa, and Pitkin counties, along with the City of Aspen and the US Environmental Protection Agency, have partnered together to raise awareness about indoor and outdoor air quality issues, encouraging our communities to ‘share the air.’ Smoke is harmful to human health, whether it’s from cigarettes or an outdoor fire. The smoke from burning agricultural fields, brush piles, or other natural material has been linked to health problems, ranging from coughing to nervous system disorders. “In Western Colorado particularly in the spring, we get complaints regarding fires and smoke,” said

Share the air through motor vehicle pollution reduction

During the month of May, Garfield County Public Health, in partnership with the City of Aspen, Eagle County, Mesa County, Pitkin County, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are trying to give the public simple practical tips to improve the air in Western Colorado. The campaign is called “share the air.” “The fact is there are so many small things that each of us can do. When we add these things up, it can really make a big difference,” said Jeanette Whitcomb, Environmental Health Program Coordinator with the City of Aspen. “As a partnership, we decided to focus on

Asthma awareness helps people identify issues in their homes

In recognition of National Air Quality Awareness week, Garfield, Eagle, Mesa, and Pitkin Counties, along with the City of Aspen and the US Environmental Protection Agency, have partnered together to raise awareness about indoor and outdoor air quality issues, encouraging our communities to ‘share the air.’ Even her own laundry detergent may trigger an attack. Sometimes it helps to go outside and get fresh air, but sometimes she just can’t catch her breath. Aspen resident Cari Anne Holcomb has had issues with asthma for the last ten years, and her condition seems to be getting worse. People often associate air

Garfield County Board of Commissioners will use the second draft of the Health Impact Assessment for decisions on natural gas development in Battlement Mesa The Garfield County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted unanimously May 2 not to extend a contract with the University of Colorado School of Public Health to produce a final report for the Battlement Mesa Health Impact Assessment (HIA). After evaluating information and comments gathered in the first and second draft stages, the commissioners concluded that the second draft has produced the information they need to make decisions regarding the potential health impacts of Antero Resource

Carbon Monoxide detection provides local family with security

In recognition of National Air Quality Awareness week, Garfield, Eagle, Mesa, and Pitkin Counties, along with the City of Aspen and the US EPA, have partnered together to raise awareness about indoor and outdoor air quality issues, encouraging our communities to ‘share the air.’ On her Facebook page that day, Lixy Alcorta posted, “everyone should get a carbon monoxide detector. I feel like it saved our lives today.” She and her two young children were just returning from church when she heard an alarm going off inside her home. The alarm said ‘Danger, Carbon Monoxide.’ “We were about to put

Public hearing for Battlement Mesa well pads if permits issued

The Battlement Concerned Citizens (BCC) group appeared on December 6 to request that the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) request a hearing on three well pad site locations Antero Resources has applied for. Antero’s proposed site locations would be well pads that would host multiple oil and gas wells if the permit applications were granted by Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC), which currently has them on hold. Antero spokesman David Strickland said that each of the proposed pads (known as Speakman A, Speakman B and Monument Ridge) is outside the Battlement Mesa Planned Unit Development (PUD),

Garfield County and the Colorado School of Public Health release Battlement Mesa Health Impact Assessment for public comment

Garfield County Public Health seeks public comments on a report regarding the potential health impact of natural gas development and production in the Battlement Mesa Planned Unit Development. Public review and comment is invited for one month, through Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 5 pm MDT. The report, released today, is a Health Impact Assessment (HIA), and was commissioned by the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners. It systematically examined currently available information regarding the environmental, social and health status of Battlement Mesa, and applied it to a review of known health impacts of natural gas drilling. The assessment was

Protecting outdoor workers from wildfire smoke

Wildfire smoke from the Lee Fire impacts Garfield County

Data shows good air quality in Garfield County

Monitoring shows good air quality in Garfield County

Report finds good air quality in Garfield County