Environment

Click here to find out more on air quality in the Pikes Peak Region.

PPACG is the lead air-quality planning agency for the Colorado Springs metropolitan area which includes most of El Paso County and a portion of Teller County, primarily within Woodland Park. We’re charged with ensuring the region remains in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency standards, developing plans to improve air quality, and reviewing any legal or regulatory changes to evaluate potential impacts to the region.

We ensure compliance with the EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six criteria pollutants:

• Carbon Monoxide
• Lead
• Nitrogen Dioxide
• Ozone
• Particle Matter
• Sulfur Dioxide

The region is designated a maintenance area for carbon monoxide and is in attainment for the other five criteria pollutants.  The region has four air-quality monitoring stations: two for ozone, one for particulate matter, and one for carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide. There are no monitoring stations for lead or nitrogen dioxide.

Air quality monitoring, modeling and data provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health’s Air Pollution Control Division can be found at https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/default.aspx

Advisory committee

The PPACG Board and staff are assisted by the Air Quality Technical Committee, which advises the Board on air-quality issues, goals, plans, and programs, and aids in the development and review of regional air-quality plans. Meetings are on a monthly or as-needed basis and are open to the public.

Carbon Monoxide

In the 1980s, the region violated the carbon monoxide standard, and federal regulations required that a plan be developed to bring the region into compliance. PPACG developed this plan in 1999 and updated it in 2009 to show continued attainment through 2020.

Ozone

Ozone is the air-quality pollutant of most concern in the Pikes Peak region. It causes a number of harmful effects on the respiratory system, particularly for children and people with asthma and pulmonary diseases. Ozone formation is very dependent on weather and meteorological conditions, with the highest concentrations usually measured during the summer months. A component of smog, ozone is not emitted directly as a pollutant, but forms when sunlight causes a chemical reaction between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Nitrogen oxide is emitted from vehicles, power plants, and other sources of combustion. Volatile organic compounds come from vehicle emissions, gasoline vapor, dry cleaners, refineries, factories, and other sources.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets a standard for maximum ozone in the air; currently, it is 70 parts per billion. Air quality in the region is monitored year-round at two monitoring stations, one in Manitou Springs and one on the U.S. Air Force Academy where ozone concentrations are usually the highest.