The Problem

The biggest concern with Street Sanding is the Particulate Matter (PM10) that can be inhaled by humans. Although the region is currently in compliance with federal PM standards, the Denver area violated those standards for this pollutant in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The Program

In conjunction with local and state street maintenance departments, the RAQC developed a street sanding program, which has achieved a weighted average region-wide emissions reduction of approximately 50% and has allowed us to comply with the PM10 federal standard since 1993. The Street Sanding Program was originally incorporated into the federally approved PM10 State Implementation Plan (SIP) as Air Quality Regulation No. 16 in 1993.  The Regulation was revised a number of times and was last updated by the State in 2000 for the 2001 PM10 SIP. Our challenge now is to maintain current street sanding practices in the face of increasing vehicle traffic and significant budget constraints in some jurisdictions.

2025/2026 Reporting Process & Timeline: 

The reporting process for the 2025/2026 street sanding and sweeping season is currently on hold. The RAQC will provide updates on the timeline and process when feasible. Reporting entities can expect an email communication when the reporting process begins, likely in or after August 2026. As usual, entities will be given about a month after the initial request to gather data and submit reports, despite the delayed timeline this year. Thank you in advance for your patience.

Downloads for Reporting:

Annual AQR #16 Street Sanding/Sweeping Form 2024/2025 – this form will be updated for the 2025/2026 reporting cycle later this year. Please see above for the most up-to-date information on the reporting timeline and process.
   (From hyperlink, click download to get Excel spreadsheet)
Technical Memorandum: Methodology
Summary Table 2024-2025
Colorado Air Quality Regulation #16
PM-10 Colorado SIP Technical Support and Inventory (Sept 2005)

Please click here to see previous summary tables