The San Juan Mountains are perceived as having crystal clean air due to the remoteness from large cities. These mountains are in close proximity to an industrialized area, however. The Four Corners is a center for coal-fired energy and methane (natural gas) production. For example, San Juan County in northwestern New Mexico is one of the largest emitters of power plant mercury among all counties in the nation. An additional coal-fired power plant and about 12,000 more natural gas wells are proposed for the Four Corners. Concerns about mercury, ground-level ozone, nitrogen and other pollutants and their effects on human health, visibility, and ecosystems are growing. Mercury concentrations in precipitation are alarmingly high and several water bodies in the region have fish consumption advisories due to mercury. Ozone levels are approaching the limit for public health considerations. Nitrogen concentrations in gaseous NOx and in precipitation are increasing. MSI has begun to address these concerns with a combination of research, monitoring, outreach, and collaboration.

• Mercury Study - Preliminary Results (PDF)
• Air Quality Forum (May 29, 2008)
• Mercury Advisory Committee Survey (DOC)
• How to get involved / Helpful Links
• Thanks to our Funders!
• How’s the Air Over Here? Air Quality Information for the Four Corners Region – coming soon.

 

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Air Quality Forum for the Four Corners & San Juan Mountains
Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Fort Lewis College, College Union Building Ballroom, Durango, CO

The Forum was organized by the Mountain Studies Institute to increase understanding and communication regarding pressing air quality issues. Over 40 participants attended, including concerned citizens, local government, state and tribal agencies, federal scientists, and industry. The Forum was funded by a grant from U.S. EPA Region 8 and cooperative funding from San Juan Public Lands (USFS/BLM). Fort Lewis College provided the facility free of charge. We hope to make this an annual event.

The big news was the likelihood that NW New Mexico (and possibly SW Colorado) will become non-attainment areas for ozone under the new federal standard. Mercury also was a big issue as data suggest that the Four Corners may be a hotspot for mercury emissions and deposition. While mercury is a pressing issue, regulation of mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants continues to be a challenge to policymakers. The Clean Mercury Rule was vacated on a federal level because it was not stringent enough and no other regulation has yet replaced it. The State of NM has decided to enforce it, however. Other topics discussed in the Forum include visibility and nitrogen deposition.

Participant List (PDF)
Durango Herald Article about the Air Quality Forum (PDF)

 

Air Quality Forum Agenda and Presentations


Click on the presentations below to view a pdf.
8:30-8:55         Check-in and continental breakfast buffet
8:55–9:00        Welcome (PDF)(Koren Nydick, Mountain Studies Institute)

Air Quality Planning and Management
9:00-9:15         Air Quality Overview & the Four Corners Air Quality Task Force (PDF) (Mary Uhl, NMED)
9:15-9:40         Air Quality Jurisdictions in the Four Corners (PDF) (James Temte, SUIT)

Ozone, aerosols, particulates and visibility
9:40-10:10       New ozone standards and effect of climate programs on air quality (PDF) (Patrick Cummins,                          Western Regional Air Partnership)
10:10-10:40     Ozone in Colorado (PDF) (Gordon Pierce, CDPHE, presented by Mark Sather)
                         Ozone, NOx, and ammonia trends in NM (PPT) (Mark Sather, US EPA – Reg 6)
10:50-11:15     Visibility, aerosols and particulates (PDF) (Bud Rolofson, USFS - Reg 2, presented by Ellen                          Porter)

Atmospheric Deposition
11:15-11:40     Nitrogen Deposition (PDF) (Ellen Porter, National Park Service)
11:40-11:55     Mercury in New Mexico (PDF) (Mary Uhl, NMED)
11:55-12:30     Mercury in SW Colorado (PDF) (Koren Nydick, MSI and Win Wright, Pine River Watershed                          Group)

12:30-1:30       Deli-style lunch buffet

Planning Discussion
1:30-2:00         Brief introductions
2:00-2:45         Breakout groups (6) –
Group leaders – 1) Wally White (La Plata County Commission), 2) Mike Meschke (San Juan Basin Public Health), 3) James Temte (SUIT), 4) Mark Pearson (San Juan Citizen’s Alliance), 5) Mary Uhl (NMED), plus one
Questions for groups -

• What are the priority air quality issues?
• What is your organization/agency/etc. doing in terms of air quality? (special studies, long-term monitoring, mitigation, education, etc.)
• What would you like to see happen? What are the goals?
• What are the main obstacles?
• How can we move forward strategically and collaboratively?

2:45-3:45         Groups report out (10 min each max)
                         Unedited notes from breakout groups
3:45-4:30         Large group discussion/where to go from here…





Thanks to MSI’s Air Quality Funders!

Major Contributors:

• U.S. EPA Region 8 – Regional Geographic Priorities Air Toxics Grant Program
• San Juan Public Lands Center (USFS/BLM)

Additional Supporters:

• Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forest
• San Miguel County, Colorado
• Telluride Institute





How to Get Involved / Helpful Links

• Contact Koren Nydick, 970-247-7071 or Koren@mountainstudies.org to learn about MSI’s program.
• Fill out a Survey about forming a Mercury Advisory Committee.
• Attend the Four Corners Air Quality Task Force’s meeting, August 20, 2008 in Farmington, NM (link to http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb/4C/index.html)

More Links

• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
  • Air Quality Control Division
  • Water Quality Control Division, Colorado Fish Tissue Study (Mercury)
• New Mexico Environment Department - Air Quality Bureau
• Southern Ute Indian Tribe Air Quality Program
• San Juan Basin Public Health Department – Air Quality