History of the Task Force and Group

What was the purpose of the Task Force?

The original purpose of the Task Force was to bring together a diverse group of interested parties to learn about and discuss air quality issues in the Four Corners area. Task Force members developed a broad list of options for improving air quality in the area that aids the regulatory agencies in managing air quality impacts. These options were included in a Report which was finalized in November 2007. The completion of the Report ended the official business of the Task Force.

So much interest in air quality issues was generated through the Task Force, it was decided to re-convene the members and any other interested parties  into the future to review air quality progress in the Four Corners as the Four Corners Air Quality Group.

Who convened and manages the Four Corners Air Quality Group and, formerly, the Task Force?

The states of New Mexico and Colorado convened the Task Force in November 2005 and oversaw the work of the Task Force through its completion in November 2007. The States of Colorado and New Mexico will continue to oversee any future meetings of the Four Corners Air Quality Group, and will keep this website available into the future for information sharing on air quality issues in the Four Corners area.

What other agencies are involved?

Other participating agencies include the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency; the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Air Quality Program; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service; the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service; the U.S. Department of Energy; and the state of Utah.

Why does the Four Corners area need an effort such as this?

Increased development in the area including power plants, oil and gas wells, and population growth are contributing to air quality concerns. Ozone levels in the region are close to exceeding the health-based national air quality standards for outdoor air. Many residents are concerned with potential health impacts from other pollutants. An overall haze can often be seen in the skies, which impacts visibility. There are concerns for the ecosystem due to deposition of mercury and nitrogen.

The responsible regulatory agencies are addressing these issues in order to effectively manage air quality. These agencies believe input from residents of the area is important in developing and implementing an effective management plan.

Who may participate?

Anyone with an interest in air quality issues in the Four Corners area is invited to participate. Please see the website for information on how to become involved.

Partners

1. New Mexico Environment Department
2. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
3. Utah Department of Environmental Quality
4. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6
5. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8
6. The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Intermountain Region
7. The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Colorado
8. The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico
9. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Region 2
10. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Region 3
11. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Region 4
12. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe
13. The Navajo Nation

Meetings

The Four Corners Air Quality Group met Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Durango Public Library, 1900 E 3^rd Ave, Durango, CO 81301.

Meeting documents:

• 2019 4CAQG Meeting Final Agenda (10.23.2019)
• 4CAQG Agency Update_(10.23.2019)
• 4CAQG Four Corners Studies (10.23.2019)
• Four Corners Air Quality Group presentations (Oct 23, 2019)
  • Monitoring Trends Analysis (Mark Jones, Lisa Devore)
  • Ozone & Precursors  (Mark Sather)
  • San Juan Generating Station Carbon Capture and Sequestration Project (Jason Selch)
  • Southern Ute Indian Tribe Monitoring, Minor Source, and 2017 EI Details (Oakley Hayes)
  • Regional Haze Analysis and Planning (Tom Moore)
  • CDPHE-APCD Ozone Study (Erick Mattson)
  • EPA Mercury Monitoring Measurements (Mark Sather)
  • La Plata County (Gwen Lachelt)
  • Methane Capture System at Fruitland Outcrop (Mike Matheson)
  • BLM Updates (Sharay Dixon)
  • Air Quality & Title V Program Overview NNEPA (Glenna Lee, Raju Bishit)
• Four Corners Air Quality Group posters (Oct 23, 2019)
  • New Mexico Environment Department
  • Utah Department of Environmental Quality
  • Southern Ute Indian Tribe Air Program Poster

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We held a Four Corners Air Quality Group Meeting on Wednesday, Oct 24th, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the School of Energy, San Juan College located at 5301 College Blvd, Farmington, NM, 87402.

Meeting documents:

• 4CAQG_Agenda_Oct 24_2018
• 2018 4CAQG Agency Updates
• 2018 4CAQG Four Corners Studies
• Four Corners Air Quality Group presentations (Oct 24,2018)
  • 4CAQTF and Group Update (Mark Jones, Lisa Devore)
  • Monitoring Trends Analysis 2018 (Mark Jones, Lisa Devore)
  • Monitoring Trends Analysis 2018 (Joanna Gordon-Casey, SUIT)
  • Navajo Nation EPA Tribal Indoor Outdoor Program (Tennille Denetdell)
  • 2017 SUIT Emissions Inventory (Oakley Hayes)
  • Updates on San Juan Generating Station(Maureen Gannon, Omni Warren)
  • Four Corners Power Plant
  • EGU Emissions Analysis Project (Patrick Cummins)
  • Methane Synthesis Study (by Patrick Lyons)
  • Wildfire Air Quality Response (Josh Hall)
  • State Oil and Gas Emissions Reduction Initiatives  (Lisa Devore)
  • UDEQ Oil and Gas BACT (Shelia Vance)
  • Federal Executive Order Impacts on Air Quality (Sharay Dixon, BLM)
  • San Juan Citizens Matter (Sharay Dixon, BLM)
• Four Corners Air Quality Group Posters (CDPHE, NMED1, NMED2, UDEQ)

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The annual Four Corners Air Quality Group meeting was held September 13, 2017 in Durango, CO.  There was also a 2nd Four Corners Science Forum on Methane on September 12, 2017.

Meeting documents:

• 2017 Agenda
  • Durango Recreation Center Map (Sept 12 Mtg.)
  • Durango Public Library Map (Sept 13 Mtg.)
• 2017 Agency Updates
• 2017 Four Corners Studies
• Methane Forum presentations (Sept 12, 2017)
  • Current Aircraft Campaigns by Colm Sweeny, CU Bolder & NOAA
  • Current Ground Campaign  (Part1)(Part2) by Gabrielle Petron, CU Bolder & NOAA
  • Other Surveys by Christian Frankenberg, CalTech
  • Bottom-up Emissions Inventory for Greater San Juan Basin by Tom Moore, WESTAR/WRAP
  • Outcrop Flux Measurements by Ashley Anger, LT Environmental
• Four Corners Air Quality Group presentations (Sept 13, 2017)
  • Monitoring Trends Analysis and Ozone NAAQS by Mark Jones (NMED); Lisa Devore, Gordon Pierce (CDPHE) and Mark Sather (EPA Region 6)
  • Navajo Nation EPA Indoor Air Quality by Mike King, NNEPA
  • SUIT Tribe Ambient Methane Monitoring by Adrew Switzer & Matt Wampler, SUIT
  • Western Regional Analysis for Haze Planning by Tom Moore, WESTAR/WRAP
  • Low Cost Air Quality Monitoring Tools  by Gordon Pierce, CDPHE
  • EPA_Mercury Monitoring Measurements  by Mark Sather, EPA Region 6
  • Western Ozone Background Initiative by Tom Moore, WESTAR/WRAP
  • PNM_Emissions Update by Kevin Matacynski, PNM Resources
• Four Corners Air Quality Group Posters (NMED, CDPHE, NNEPA, Intermountain West Data Warehouse, WESTAR-_WRAP Poster)

• 4CAQG Dec 1, 2016 Agenda
• 4CAQG News Release (2016)
• 4CAQG Agency Update 2016
• Four Corners Studies 2016
• Posters: CDPHE, NMED,SUIT,NPS,EPA,Navajo Nation EPA
• Presentations:
  • Monitoring Trends Analysis by Mark Jones, NMED; and Lisa Devore, CDPHE
  • Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP) updates on San Juan Basin and 2017 regional analysis by Tom Moore, WRAP/WESTAR
  • Navajo Nation EPA Updates   by Michael King, Navajo Nation EPA
  • Southern Ute Indian Tribe (SUIT) Updates:
    • Emissions Inventory  Danny Powers, Southern Ute Indian Tribe (SUIT)
    • Ozone Update Mark Hutson, SUIT
    • Compliance and Enforcement, Mike Freeman, SUIT
  • Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) updates on San Juan Generating Station by Maureen Gannon, PNM
  • Conoco Phillips Environmental Projects by Clara Cardoza, Conoco Phillips
  • Update on Clean Power Plan and Western States Energy by Patrick Cummins, Center for New Energy Economy
  • EPA Methane Challenge by Lauren Wilson, Xcel Energy

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A regular meeting of the Four Corners Air Quality Group was held November 9-10, 2015 at Ft. Lewis College in Durango, CO. Here are the documents from the meeting:

• 4CAQG Agenda 2015 (November 9th and 10th)
• 4CAQG Agency Update 2015
• 4CAQG Studies 2015
• Posters: CDPHE, NMED, SUIT, BLM, NPS, EPA, WRAP
• Presentations
  • Ozone NAAQS by Jody Ostendorf, EPA Region 8
  • Ozone and NOx trends analysis  by Mark Sather, EPA Region 6
  • EPA Methane Strategy for Oil and Gas  by Jody Ostendorf, EPA Region 8
  • 111(d) – Overview  by Rob Lawrence, EPA Region 6
  • 111(d) CO State Perspective  by Chris Colclasure, CDPHE
  • SO2 NAAQS design recommendations by Lisa Devore, CDPHE and Kerwin Singleton, NMED-AQB
  • Southern Ute Indian Tribe Program Updates by Daniel Powers and Chris Ellis, SUIT
  • NNEPA Minor Sources by Tenille Begay, Navajo Nation EPA
  • Intermountain Data Warehouse Status Report by Tom Moore, WESTAR –WRAP

The Four Corners Air Quality Group met on Dec 1, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the School of Energy, San Juan College, Farmington, New Mexico. Here are the documents from the meeting:

Task Force Report (2007)

1. 4CAQG Final Report  (entire report)
2. Oil and Gas
3. Power Plants
4. Other Sources
5. Renewable Energy
6. Cumulative Effects
7. Monitoring – Large Download – 6.6 MB
8. Appendices