Greenhouse gas reduction planning for oil and gas midstream fuel combustion equipment

Update: The Air Pollution Control Division has completed the initial public input process for this rulemaking. Next, the Air Quality Control Commission will consider adopting the proposed rule. You can find the rulemaking hearing date and schedule on the commission’s calendar.

There are several ways to stay engaged in the rulemaking process:

• Submit written comments or questions about the proposed rule to the commission directly: [email protected]. These written comments will be included in the hearing record if submitted after the notice is published. 
• Participate in the rulemaking hearing, which is open to the public. The commission typically posts a meeting registration link, with optional public comment registration on its website about two weeks before a rulemaking hearing. Hearing documents are available on the commission’s website 3-4 months prior to the hearing.
• Become a party to the rulemaking hearing. More information is available on the commission’s web page on what party status means and how the process works.
• Sign-up for email updates from the Air Pollution Control Division for information on future air quality rulemakings and public participation opportunities.

Greenhouse gas emissions from midstream

The operation of fuel combustion equipment in the oil and gas midstream segment is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. The equipment includes engines, turbines, heaters, reboilers, and boilers. The majority of midstream facilities in Colorado are located in Rio Blanco, Garfield, and Weld counties.

The CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division and the Midstream Steering Committee conducted a two-year planning process to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from midstream fuel combustion equipment statewide.  This planning process was established by Regulation No. 7, Part B, Section VII. 

The division presented a regulatory rule proposal to the Air Quality Control Commission in August 2024. The commission scheduled a December 2024 hearing on the rule proposal. 

This rule would advance ongoing actions by the state to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets for the industrial sector in the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap.

Through this 2024 rulemaking proposal, Colorado is also exploring more safeguards for protecting disproportionately impacted communities, including for the potential greenhouse gas emissions credit trading program for this segment. This could include putting conditions on how facilities can participate in the credit market if they operate in or near disproportionately impacted communities.

Midstream Steering Committee

The Midstream Steering Committee met online at least monthly between February 2022 and March 2024. View past committee meeting recordings. 

The Midstream Steering Committee was a technical working group that:

• Developed a segment-wide report with recommendations for greenhouse gas reductions from midstream fuel combustion equipment.
• Presented the report to the Air Pollution Control Division in March 2024. 

For information on the duties, deadlines, and representatives  of the Midstream Steering Committee, refer to the committee charter.

Midstream Segment Emission Reduction Report

The Midstream Steering Committee’s proposed Midstream Segment Emission Reduction Report is available in English and Spanish. The report outlines the committee’s recommendations. The 30-day public comment period on the report closed on June 10, 2024. The report and public feedback helped inform the division’s proposed rule.

To access public comments received use the download button in the top-right of the OnBase window:

• Comments received from Midstream Steering Committee members.
• Comments received from members of the public and organizations.

Past public participation opportunities

Interactive map: Midstream locations, disproportionately impacted communities, and 2021 emissions

The interactive map dashboard shows midstream fuel combustion equipment greenhouse gas emissions statewide in 2021 within the boundaries of Colorado’s May 2023 definition of disproportionately impacted communities. Data was collected from midstream company emission reduction plans in 2023.

Use the dropdown menu at the top right to toggle between displaying:

• All midstream locations in 2021.
• Midstream locations within disproportionately impacted community boundaries.
• Midstream locations in census blocks with a Colorado EnviroScreen cumulative impact score over the 80th percentile.

To zoom the map in on specific areas, click on counties or census block numbers in the table at the bottom.

Questions, comments, or suggestions? Email [email protected].

Company emission reduction plans

By Sept. 30, 2023, each midstream segment owner or operator statewide was required to submit a company-specific emission reduction plan, or cERP, that quantifies recent emissions and explores reduction options (Regulation No. 7, Part B, Section VII.D.4.).

Compiled cERP data and source data files are available for download:

• cERP Compiled Data and source files.

In March 2023, the Midstream Steering Committee published a guidance document and workbooks for cERP development:

• cERP Guidance Document and Data Entry Workbooks.

Press releases

May 9, 2024: Colorado seeks feedback on first-of-its-kind framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas industry

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Questions? Email the CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division at [email protected].