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Air Pollution Control Division: Public participation opportunities

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Below are ongoing and upcoming public participation opportunities with the Air Pollution Control Division. These events may be in-person, virtual, or hybrid. The division holds regular events such as public meetings, tutorials, and more. The division uses these meetings to share updates, learn from community experiences, and incorporate feedback into our work protecting clean air for all Coloradans.


Questions? Contact cdphe_apcd_outreach@state.co.us. Please include the meeting topic in the subject line.
Stay connected. Sign up for email updates from the Air Pollution Control Division. Sign up for “General Air Division Updates” or a particular topic of interest. You’ll be one of the first to know about upcoming public participation opportunities.

Upcoming public participation opportunities

Air toxics reporting in Colorado

This is the third public meeting for House Bill 22-1244 on air toxics reporting. The Air Pollution Control Division will provide an update on recommendations made in the gap analysis report shared with the Air Quality Control Commission in October 2024. That report informed the division's proposed updates to air toxic reporting requirements. This meeting will be informational focused.

 

Air permit and air pollutant emissions reporting fees update

Join the Air Pollution Control Division for an update on Air Quality Control Commission Regulation Number 3 related to potential fee increases for:

  • Air pollutant emission notice (APEN) filing.
  • Permit processing.
  • Annual criteria pollutant and hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions.

These fees fund Air Pollution Control Division programs and services to improve and protect air quality in Colorado. This includes the division’s ongoing work developing and administering Colorado Air Pollution Prevention and Control Act requirements. Enhanced state statutory and federal requirements to protect clean air in recent years go beyond what current fees assessed and collected can support.

This meeting is focused on sharing an overview of these proposed updates with Colorado community members.

 

Air permitting 101 public information sessions

Want to learn more about air permits in Colorado? Join us for a presentation and public information session on:

  • What an air permit is.
  • Types of air permits.
  • How to stay informed about air permits. 
  • How to provide feedback on air permits.
  • More ways to engage with the Air Pollution Control Division.

These online meetings will provide time for community members to ask questions and share feedback. Presentation slides will be posted online after the meeting.

 

Landfill methane reduction

The Air Pollution Control Division intends to propose a rule to the Air Quality Control Commission in 2025 to reduce methane pollution from municipal solid waste landfills. Municipal solid waste landfills are significant sources of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that causes climate change. Join us for a public information meeting to learn more about the concept and requirements of the proposed rule. This online meeting will provide time for community members to ask questions and share feedback.

Landfill methane reduction

The Air Pollution Control Division intends to propose a rule to the Air Quality Control Commission in 2025  to reduce methane pollution from municipal solid waste landfills. Municipal solid waste landfills are significant sources of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that causes climate change. Join us for a public information meeting to learn more about the concept and requirements of the proposed rule. This online meeting will provide time for community members to ask questions and share feedback.

View the Air Pollution Control Division's past public participation and outreach opportunities. These serve as a historic archive. These processes are completed.

Ongoing technical expert online meetings

The Air Quality Control Commission’s procedural rules guide how the commission must run meetings and rulemaking hearings. The commission is considering changes to its procedural rules to update the rules and rulemaking process. These updates aim to modernize the process and better meet community needs.

The Air Pollution Control Division and commission are hosting online technical meetings in spring and summer 2024. Interested stakeholders are welcome to join. These meetings will go into detailed discussion about the procedural rules and proposed changes.

For more information about meeting dates and how to register, visit the Updating Air Quality Control Commission procedural rules web page.

Between January 2024 and 2025, the division is hosting a scientific community technical working group. The working group is focused on toxic air contaminants. This group will help advance the 2022 state law: Public Protections from Toxic Air Contaminants Act (House Bill 22-1244). These technical meetings are open to the public. The meetings stream live online.

For more information about meeting dates and how to register, visit the air toxics working group’s web page.

The Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Reduction Steering Committee began meeting in March 2024. The members committed to holding meetings once a month for at least six months. During these meetings, members engage in technical discussions on potential strategies to reduce NOx pollution. The focus is on reducing NOx emissions from oil and gas exploration and production processes in Colorado. 

Meetings are held virtually. Members of the public are welcome to observe. 

For more information about meeting dates and how to register, visit the reducing nitrogen oxides from oil and gas web page. 

Meeting accommodation notice

Auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities may be provided upon request. Please notify cdphe_apcd_outreach@state.co.us and the Nondiscrimination Coordinator at cdphe_nondiscrimination@state.co.us or 303-692-2102 at least one week prior to the meeting to make arrangements.

Get involved: Air permit public notices

Visit the air permit public notices web page to:

  • Submit public comments on individual air permits.
  • Sign up for email notifications about air permit public notices and comment periods.
  • Learn about, request, or register for public comment hearings on air permits.

More ways to engage with the state of Colorado

For a calendar of upcoming community engagement opportunities across the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, visit the department’s public participation website. 

If you have questions or need to contact the Air Pollution Control Division, visit the division’s contacts website.

For upcoming Air Quality Control Commission public participation opportunities, visit the AQCC website. 

For upcoming Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission hearings and public participation opportunities, visit the ECMC website. 

For upcoming Public Utilities Commission hearings and public participation opportunities, visit the PUC’s website. 

Colorado Air Quality Regulation Updates

The Air Pollution Control Division periodically proposes updates to existing air quality regulations to the Air Quality Control Commission. The commission reviews the proposals and determines whether to adopt any changes.

Many of these changes are minor or administrative. The division provides quick updates about these changes during public meetings.

The public can also learn more during the commission’s hearing requests and hearings. Visit the commission’s website and meeting calendar for more information.

To submit written public comments, email:

Questions? Contact cdphe_apcd_outreach@state.co.us.

Upcoming proposed changes to existing Colorado air quality regulations include:

  • Proposed updates include:
    • Updating and modernizing the rules dictating how the Air Quality Control Commission must run its meetings and rulemaking hearings. 
    • Simplifying the rulemaking process, making procedural rules easier to understand, and making the rulemaking process more accessible to community members. 
  • Hearing date: November 20-22, 2024

  • Proposed updates include:
    • Considering revisions to Regulation Number 7 to include the midstream segment emission reduction plan. This may also include revisions to Regulation Number 26 and Number 27.
    • The division will also request that the Commission set a hearing to consider revisions to Regulation Number 25 and Number 26 to address recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency actions on state implementation plan provisions.
  • Hearing date: December 16-18, 2024

10 tips for making effective public comments

Thank you for your interest in submitting comments to the Air Pollution Control Division. To protect public health and improve Colorado’s air quality, the division may present rules, permits, guidance documents, and other updates to communities so they can share their feedback and ask questions. 


Our team values and considers every comment we receive.
Explore our web page. These tips are for written comments but can also be helpful when planning oral comments for a public meeting.

Questions? Email us at cdphe.commentsapcd@state.co.us. 

Read now: 10 tips for making effective public comments