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What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?
What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are class of gases that are in our air. They can be emitted by a range of natural and human sources such as trees, personal care products, cars, and oil and gas activity. Some VOCs are toxic and pose a threat to human health, and some VOCs can go on to form secondary air pollutants such as ozone and particulate matter.
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-are-volatile-organic-compounds-vocs
What are hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)?
What are hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)?
Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) are a class of air pollutants with documented negative health effects. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates a list of 188 of these air pollutants on a federal level.
What are the potential health outcomes from exposure to oil and gas emissions?
What are the potential health outcomes from exposure to oil and gas emissions?
Possible Effects on physical health:
Eyes, nose and throat: irritation, watering eyes
Lungs: cough, asthma, lung cancer
Brain: dizziness, headache, fatigue
Heart: increased blood pressure, heart failure
Possible Effects on mental health:
Increased chronic stress
Anxiety
Feelings of isolation
Longer term depression
Powerlessness
Why did we select the Hearthfire and Bella Romero Neighborhoods for monitoring?
Why did we select the Hearthfire and Bella Romero Neighborhoods for monitoring?
Both neighborhoods were selected for their proximity to oil and gas activities. There is substantial community concern in both locations.
What are the Colorado oil and gas setback distances for schools and homes?
What are the Colorado oil and gas setback distances for schools and homes?
2000 ft
New setback rules announced by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) went into effect on January 15, 2021. These rules increased well setbacks around schools and homes from 500 ft to 2000 ft.
More information on recent changes to COGCC rules and regulations is available in the Colorado Public Radio article "Colorado Has A Brand New Set Of Oil And Gas Rules With A Focus On Regulating The Industry."
While oil and gas development is encroaching on many different residential communities, there is a clear disproportionate impact on the Latinx community. Latinx residents disproportionately live within a half-mile radius of O&G facilities in Colorado (Clean Air Task Force, 2016).
Where do disproportionately impacted and underserved communities live in the northern Front Range?
Where do disproportionately impacted and underserved communities live in the northern Front Range?
In Weld County, the percentage of Hispanic/Latino population is 10% higher than the state average, and nearly 90% of the oil and natural gas production occurs in this county. The Hispanic/Latino community is disproportionately impacted in this area.
Tools for identifying other locations: EPA’s EJScreen tool, Colorado EnviroScreen’s interim environmental justice mapping tool, and Berkeley's Mapping for Environmental Justice tool
Where do disproportionately impacted and underserved communities live in the northern Front Range?
Where do disproportionately impacted and underserved communities live in the northern Front Range?
In Weld County, the percentage of Hispanic/Latino population is 10% higher than the state average, and nearly 90% of the oil and natural gas production occurs in this county. The Hispanic/Latino community is disproportionately impacted in this area.
Tools for identifying other locations:
EPA’s EJScreen tool
Colorado EnviroScreen’s interim environmental justice mapping tool
Berkeley's Mapping for Environmental Justice tool
Where are oil and gas operations in the northern Front Range?
Where are oil and gas operations in the northern Front Range?
The map above shows all oil and gas (O&G) sites in Colorado. Each dot represents an O&G site.
Do we know what pollutant concentrations are at Bella Romero Academy 4-8?
Do we know what pollutant concentrations are at Bella Romero Academy 4-8?
In short, no. Without actually measuring pollutants at the school, we don't know what they would be. However, the school is closer to the well sites than where the measurements are taken, so we used a theoretical model to estimate what the pollutant concentrations are at Bella Romero Academy 4-8.
The model is called a "Gaussian Dispersion Model," and it provides estimates for how pollutants will disperse and travel in the atmosphere. The figure below provides an example of the modeling.
We found that pollutant concentrations at Bella Romero Academy 4-8 are likely higher than concentrations we measured. This is because the school is closer to the well sites than where the measurements were taken.
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