The North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) recently included an article in their quarterly newsletter on the 2019 ozone season, written by RAQC staff member Amanda Brimmer. Read the article on page 2 here.

As anticipated, on December 26^th , the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule reclassifying the Denver Metro/North Front Range ozone nonattainment area from Moderate to Serious.  The final rule outlines the planning requirements for a Serious area, which is consistent with the elements and timeline the RAQC, in close coordination with the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division and EPA Region 8 staff, have been working under for more than a year.  While the Serious Area Ozone State Implementation Plan (SIP) deadline in the final rule is August 3, 2020, due to the unique requirement in Colorado that SIP’s go through the State legislature, the SIP is anticipated to be submitted to EPA in early 2021, following RAQC and Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) approval in 2020. 

EPA’s press release can be found here.  

The RAQC’s Simple Steps. Better Air. (SSBA) ozone outreach and education program released its 2019 year-end report. You can read the report here or by going to the SSBA program page.

Governor Polis, Mayor Hancock and Lyft announced today that 200 long-range electric vehicles will be made available to rent in December for its drivers in Denver. You can read a news story about the announcement here.

In an effort to keep interested stakeholders informed of current happenings with RAQC programs, partners, and air quality news and events, the RAQC created The Air Monitor quarterly e-newsletter. You can read the fourth issue here. If you are interested in subscribing to the newsletter, sign up here or contact Sara Goodwin at sgoodwin@raqc.org.