(OCTOBER 28, 2015) — Today, October 28, 2015, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) released the updated Ozone Strategy for the Upper Green River Basin (UGRB).
Since 2013, the Air Quality Division (AQD) has released several Ozone Strategies that address the past elevated ozone levels in the Upper Green River Basin. The October 28, 2015 Ozone Strategy largely focuses on the winter ozone season work as well as the continuation of elements from the previous released strategy in April of 2015.
The completion of elements from the Ozone Strategy are all important in building the foundation to bring the UGRB back into ozone attainment. Elements completed include:
- Existing source rule making
- Revised nonattainment permit requirements
- 2015 Upper Green Winter Ozone Study
These and previous elements completed have helped improve the ozone levels in the UGRB. Recently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency published a Proposed Rule that included a “Determination of Attainment” for the UGRB by the attainment date of July 20, 2015.
“Due to everyone’s hard work, the ozone standard has been attained for the Upper Green River Basin,” said Todd Parfitt, DEQ Director. “In order to officially remove the nonattainment designation, DEQ will need to satisfy additional criteria.”
The UGRB Ozone Strategy is available by clicking here. Or you can also access this and other technical documents here: http://deq.wyoming.gov/aqd/winter-ozone/resources/technical-documents/
DEQ to Hold Pre Winter Ozone Season Open House
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will meet with the public on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 for a Pre 2016 Winter Ozone Season Update.
The meeting will be an open house with multiple stations to provide maximum opportunity to answer questions and exchange information. The topics to be represented include the 2016 Winter Ozone Season activities, 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard, Commercial Oilfield Waste Disposal Ponds Study, Compliance activities, and the DEQ UGRB Ozone Strategy. In addition, DEQ has invited industry representatives and CURED representatives to participate at stations to help answer individual questions.
This meeting is being facilitated by DEQ at the Sublette County Library, 155 S. Tyler Ave. in Pinedale, WY. The open house meeting is slated to start November 18, 2015 at 6:00 pm and end at 8:00 pm.