The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) has recently released updates on its 2023 control strategy evaluations and the 2023 Ozone State Implementation Plan (SIP) schedule. These updates have important implications for the air quality industry, as they outline potential new requirements and opportunities for emission reduction strategies and technologies. In this blog post, we will provide an overview of the key points from these updates and discuss their potential impact on the industry.
Control Strategy Committee Update
The Control Strategy Committee has formed two work groups, the Electrify Lawn & Garden Work Group, and the Oil and Gas Control Strategy Technical Work Group, to focus on specific areas of air quality improvement. RAQC staff are also collaborating with the Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) on their control strategy evaluation efforts.
RAQC's 2023 Control Strategy Evaluations
The RAQC is evaluating various control strategies, including:
Prohibiting gasoline-powered lawn & garden equipment sales.
Implementing seasonal use restrictions for gasoline-powered lawn & garden equipment for government and commercial operators.
Minimizing flaring requirements in the oil & gas industry.
Addressing episodic emissions from oil and gas operations.
Requiring emission offsets or aggregation of wellhead and production facility equipment when permitting oil and gas sector minor sources.
Encouraging zero-emitting retrofits for existing pneumatic devices.
Implementing an indirect source rule.
APCD's 2023 Control Strategy Evaluations
The APCD is also evaluating control strategies, such as:
Non-road equipment reduction strategies.
Stationary combustion engines.
Building efficiency standards.
Colorado clean cars program.
Advanced clean trucks rule.
Oil and gas drilling operations.
2023 Ozone SIP Schedule Update:
Severe SIP revisions for the 2008 Ozone Standard (75 ppb) are underway, with a focus on oil and gas emissions inventory improvements, photochemical dispersion modeling protocol, and emission controls assessments. The revised plan is expected to be drafted in late Spring 2023, with RAQC Board approval targeted for mid-2023 and Air Quality Control Commission consideration in late 2023.