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RAQC Welcomes New Planning Director

Feb 28, 2023

The Regional Air Quality Council welcomes a new Planning Director, Tom Moore.  He came to the RAQC after serving as the Technical Services Program manager at the State’s Air Pollution Control Division as well as working for many years for the Western Regional Air Partnership, coordinating air quality analysis and planning for the 15-state WRAP region. He has served as the Vice Chair for the Air Quality Enterprise Board and chaired the Fort Collins Air Quality Advisory Board. Tom has a B.S. degree in Physical Geography from Arizona State University.

As the Planning Director, he will be working on air quality control strategies, coordinating development of the State Implementation Plan components, and leading emission inventory and photochemical modeling analyses.

RAQC Welcomes New Board Members

Jun 22, 2022

The Regional Air Quality Council welcomed 14 board members to serve through April of 2025. The RAQC’s board, currently consisting of 29 members, is appointed by the governor of Colorado. Applicants are selected from across the front range and are chosen because of their varied backgrounds and their commitment to improving air quality:

New members to the board:

  • Lynn Guissinger of Boulder, Colorado, to serve as a representative of transportation management agencies. Guissinger is the President/Owner of Catalyst Communications Inc. and the Board Director at the Regional Transportation District (RTD).
  • Wendy Koenig of Estes Park, Colorado, to serve as a representative of Larimer County. The Honorable Wendy Koenig is the Mayor of the Town of Estes Park.
  • Michael Leccese of Boulder, Colorado, to serve as a representative with land use planning experience. Michael Leccese was the Executive Director of Urban Land Institute Colorado for 16 years. In 2022 he retired but continues to consult and volunteer. He previously had a long career as a journalist and communications consultant.
  • Margo Ramsden of Bow Mar, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the local government in the Denver metro region. The Honorable Margo Ramsden is a Town Trustee for the Town of Bow Mar.
  • Grace Rink of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of local government in the Denver metro region. Grace Rink is the Chief Climate Officer/Executive Director for the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resilience with the City and County of Denver.

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    In addition to the 5 new members, 9 members have been reappointed to an additional term.

  • Mike Foote of Lafayette, Colorado, to serve as a member with broad public interest. The Honorable Mike Foote will also continue to serve as the board chair.
  • Steven Hawks Arnold of Littleton, Colorado, to serve as a representative of broad public interest. Steve Arnold is an adjunct professor at the University of Denver’s University College, where he teaches courses in environmental policy and management program focused on environmental planning and sustainable transportation.
  • Jeffrey Lee Collett of Fort Collins, Colorado, to serve as a representative that has experience in environmental science. Jeffrey Collett is a Professor and Department Head for the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University.
  • Bill Lee Holen of Aurora, Colorado, to serve as a representative of local government in the Denver metro region. The Honorable Bill Holen is an Arapahoe County Commissioner. As Commissioner, he oversees the Community Resources and Facilities and Fleet Management departments.
  • Ryan Joseph Hurst of Boulder, Colorado, to serve as a representative of an automotive-related business. Ryan Hurst is the founder and CEO of Hurst, LLC a private investment firm.
  • Alicia Johnson of Evans, Colorado to serve as a representative of Weld County. The Honorable Alicia Johnson is a Evan’s Councilperson and social worker employed by the Weld County Department of Human Services (WCDHS).
  • Douglas Wade Rex of Castle Pines, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Denver Regional Council of Governments. Doug Rex is the Executive Director of the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), where he oversees DRCOG’s regional programs and planning for the nine-county Denver metro region.
  • Kristin Stephens of Fort Collins, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO). The Honorable Kristin Stephens is a Larimer County Commissioner.
  • Susan Alice Wood of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Regional Transportation District. Susan Wood AICP, is a Planning Project Manager (Environmental) at the Regional Transportation District (RTD) where she is responsible for environmental clearance and compliance with respect to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

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    For more information on RAQC board members, visit raqc.org/board-members

    The RAQC would also like to thank five departing board members for their service to the organization and the state. We appreciate the time they have given.

  • Kendra Black, representing local government in Denver Metro region
  • Kathleen Bracke, representing transit management agencies
  • Will Karspeck, from Larimer County
  • Marcia Kohler, with land use planning experience
  • Jackie Millet, representing local government in Denver Metro region
  • Dena Wojtach, alternate for APCD

    • EPA Proposes Reclassification under 2008 and 2015 8-hour Ozone NAAQS

    Apr 14, 2022

    On April 13, 2022 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to reclassify the Denver Metro/North Front Range Nonattainment area under both the 2008 and 2015 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS):

     

     

    The EPA will be accepting written comments on the proposals through June 12, 2022 and will be holding a virtual hearing May 9, 2022. Proposed reclassifications will not take effect until EPA publishes the final reclassification in the Federal Register.

     

    For more information on the RAQC’s planning efforts under both standards please see the RAQC’s Air Quality Planning page.

    RAQC and APCD Hosting April Public Listening Session

    Apr 8, 2022

    PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS: OZONE Colorado is actively planning next steps in addressing ozone in the North Front Range. These initial listening sessions will share basic ozone information, identify planning processes and potential reduction strategies, and provide...

    RAQC Releases 13th Issue of “The Air Monitor” Quarterly E-Newsletter

    Jan 28, 2022

    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 most current issue here and see all past issues here. If you are interested in subscribing to the newsletter, sign up here.

    RAQC and APCD hosting public listening sessions

    Dec 27, 2021

    PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS: OZONE Colorado is actively planning next steps in addressing ozone in the North Front Range. These initial listening sessions will share basic ozone information, identify planning processes and potential reduction strategies, and provide...

    RAQC’s Simple Steps. Better Air. Releases 2021 Highlight Video

    Nov 9, 2021

    The RAQC’s Simple Steps. Better Air. (SSBA) team is excited to release a video with highlights from the 2021 campaign. The SSBA team couldn’t do any of this important work without their numerous partners, who are taking action and making a positive impact more and more every year. We always welcome new partnerships, so if you are a local community or organization in the Denver Metro area looking to make a positive impact that improves air quality and public health, please contact Sara Goodwin at the RAQC. You can watch the 2021 highlight video here.