For more information, please visit http://deq.utah.gov

1. Uintah Basin 2012
Winter Ozone Study
Governor’s Energy Summit
2/15/2012
Brock LeBaron
Randy Martin

2. Ozone Health Effects
• Airway irritation, coughing, and pain when taking
a deep breath
• Aggravation of asthma and respiratory illnesses
• Permanent lung damage with repeated
exposures

3. Formulation of the Federal Health Standard
• 75 parts per billion (but subject to change)
• “Smooth’s” the effect of extreme events
• Protects "sensitive" populations
– Asthmatics
– Children
– Elderly

4. Ozone Formed in the Atmosphere
Ozone formation in the troposphere requires both NOx
and VOCs
NOx + VOC + Sunlight = O3

5. Natural Gas Production 1984 - 2010
Natural Gas
(million cubic feet)
350,000
Uintah
300,000
Duchesne
250,000
200,000
Unitah
150,000
Duchesne
Gas and Oil Production
100,000
1984 - 2010
50,000
0
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
00
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
1984 2010
Oil Production 1984 - 2010
18,000
Oil
(1000 barrels)
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
Unitah
Duchesne
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
00
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
* Division of Oil, Gas and Mining

6. 5-Day Episode – Ouray Site 2011
Non-regulatory Data
Peak ozone value twice the
federal standard

7. USU/EDL Special Monitoring Study
Winter 2010/2011
• Ozone 1-hour at 3 pm Feb 16, 2011
• Basin-wide O3
EDL 2011 O3 study report

8. What is the Cause of High
Wintertime O3?
• We don’t know yet, but …
• Relatively few emission source types
• Occurs during stable meteorology (physiography +
inversion = capped bowl)
• Associated with snow cover (enhanced photolysis rates,
snow chemistry?)
• WY seeing similar winter O3 values
• Cooperative study of O3 formation chemistry this winter

9. This Winter’s Ozone Study
Purpose: to understand how ozone is
formed in the Basin during wintertime
inversion conditions. Identify the
chemical pathways that are unique to the
Basin’s winter situation.

10. Uintah Basin 2012 Study Plan
UDEQ Oversight
• Study Team includes researchers from:
• Utah State University/Energy Dynamics Lab
• NOAA ‐ Chemical Sciences and Global Monitoring Divisions
• University of Colorado
• Utah Dept of Environmental Quality
• Funding:
• Uintah Impact Mitigation Special Service District
• Western Energy Alliance
• BLM Utah State Office
• EPA Region 8
• In‐kind contributions from NOAA and Utah DEQ
* Largest air quality study ever conducted in Utah

11. Study Team

12. Study Components
• Two Long‐term Trends Sites ‐
USU/EDL/UDEQ
• Distributed Monitoring Study ‐ USU/EDL
• Chemical Processes Study ‐ NOAA
• Mobile Platform Studies ‐ NOAA
• Vertical Profile Study ‐ CU
• Emissions Inventory and Activity Data ‐
EDL

13. Study Period
• Routine ambient monitoring data to be
collected throughout winter 2011‐2012
• Special research studies to be focused
on February 2012.

14. Monitor Locations
14

15. Horse Pool Super Site
15 Jim Roberts

16. Horse Pool Super Site
16

17. Horse Pool Super Site
17

18. Regulatory Authority
Tribal vs State Oil/Gas Emissions
80,000.0
70,000.0
60,000.0
50,000.0
Tons/Year
Non-Tribal
40,000.0
Tribal
30,000.0
20,000.0
10,000.0
0.0
Nox VOC CO SOx PM10
* WRAP 2006 Oil/Gas EI - mobile not included

19. Summary
• Recognition of an air quality problem
• Proactive approach to finding a solution
• Cooperative, voluntary effort
• Mitigation will be science based
• Jurisdictional issues to address
Website: www.airquality.utah.gov Click on Uintah Basin Air Quality and Energy Development

20. Questions?
andy Martin