News

A new study by government researchers with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at University of Colorado Boulder and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Earth System Research Laboratory Chemical Sciences Division, finds that oil and natural gas development along Colorado’s northern Front Range is having a “small” impact on ozone formation. From a press release announcing the study:

“[Erin McDuffie] and her colleagues found that the VOCs from oil and gas contribute an average of 17 percent to local, chemically produced ozone during the summer. “Seventeen percent is small but potentially still significant,” said Steve Brown, co-author and scientist at the NOAA ESRL Chemical Sciences Division.” (emphasis added)

The study puts it this way:

“Applying NOx reductions of 5.5% based on EPA NEI-2011 inventories (see section 2.4.2), Cases 1 and 2 suggest that O&NG activity contributes 18.6% (3.1 ppbv) to maximum photochemical O3, in comparison to 17.4% (2.9 ppbv) from VOC emissions alone. However, NEI inventory estimates of O&NG NOx emissions may be overestimated [e.g., Ahmadov et al., 2015]. Thus, the total O&NG contribution to modeled maximum photochemical O3 at diel average mixing ratios of NOx and VOCs is between 17.4 and 18.6% or 2.9 and 3.1 ppbv.” (emphasis added)

In other words, the study finds that oil and gas production accounts for about 17 percent of overall ozone contribution. Longtime observers will note that these new findings debunk the talking points of activist groups who have been attempting to lay the blame for high ozone levels in the area on energy development – and that includes the previous claims of this new study’s co-author, Steve Brown.

New findings run contrary to activist air claims in Erie, CO

Brown’s statemen...