Ruckelshaus Institute

Environment and Natural Resources

Upper Green River Basin Air Quality Citizens Advisory Task Force

The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) recognizes that ozone levels in the Upper Green River Basin are elevated and has recommended to the Environmental Protection Agency an "Ozone Nonattainment Area" in Sublette, Lincoln and Sweetwater counties. This designation requires federally mandated actions be taken.

During episodic winter ozone conditions, ozone levels are reported to be high enough to pose potential risks to human health. Along with efforts to reduce emissions of ozone precursors, measures have been taken to increase and improve monitoring, research and public information. The WDEQ is continuing to work on plans to lower ozone precursor levels, as well as engage the public on solving critical air quality issues.

WDEQ has a number of regulatory, technical and voluntary efforts underway to work toward a resolution of ozone issues. There still remains an opportunity: citizen efforts to recommend creative and innovative solutions for reducing ozone levels in the Upper Green River Basin.

The purpose of the Upper Green River Basin Air Quality Citizens Advisory Task Force is to consider and advise on potential solutions to reduce ozone. It will accomplish this through mutual education; increasing transparency in process; fostering communication among citizens, the WDEQ, other governmental agencies and other stakeholders; and coordinating information between governmental agencies.

The Task Force is an advisory group convened by WDEQ that reports its recommendations to the WDEQ. Recommendations generated by the Task Force will be considered at the discretion of the WDEQ. The Task Force may elect to identify solutions through other efforts that fall outside of the scope of the WDEQ's authority.

Foundational Documents

• Situation Assessment and Process Recommendations
• Task Force Charter
• Task Force Roster
• UGRB Air Quality Task Force Joint Fact-Finding Document
• Joint Fact-Finding Summary Points

September 19, 2012, Task Force Meeting

• Final Task Force Recommendations
• Meeting Summary
• Agenda

July 18, 2012, Task Force Meeting

• Meeting Summary
• Agenda

June 20, 2012, Task Force Meeting

• Meeting Summary
• Agenda
• Options Evaluation

May 30, 2012, Task Force Meeting

• Meeting Summary
• Options, May 9 - May 30, 2012

May 09, 2012, Task Force Meeting

• Meeting Summary
• Decision Context Diagrams
• Objectives
• Interests
• Joint Fact Finding Technical Subcommittee Presentation: Progress of JFF Document and Executive Summary
• Oil and Gas Industry Operations and Emission Control Technologies Presentation
• Ruckelshaus Institute Presentation:  Decision Worksheets 

March 21, 2012, Task Force Meeting

• Meeting Summary
• Ruckelshaus Institute Presentation: Problem-Solving Process and Joint Fact Finding
• WDEQ Presentation: Air Quality Modeling 101
• Dr. Rob Field (UW Atmospheric Science) Presentation: Pinedale Anticline Spatial Air Quality Assessment Updated Preliminary Findings and Provisional Result (Note, this is a large file and may take several minutes to download)

February 21, 2012, Task Force Meeting

• Meeting Summary
  
• WDEQ Presentation: Upper Green River Basin Ozone
• Ruckelshaus Institute Presentation: Situation Assessment