STATE OF COLORI\00 

John W. Hickenlooper, Governor 

Larry Wolk, MD, MSPH 

Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer 

Dedicated to protecting and improving the health and environment of the people of Colorado 

4300 Cherry Creek Dr. S. Laboratory Services Division 

Denver, Colorado 80246-1530 8100 Lowry Blvd. 

Phone (303) 692-2000 Denver, Colorado 80230-6928 

Located in Glendale, Colorado (303) 692-3090 

www.colorado.gov/cdphe 

January 27, 2014 

Shaun McGrath 

Regional Administrator 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8 

1595 Wynkoop Street 

Denver, CO 80202-1129 

RE: 2013 Colorado Designations for Annual PM2.5 NAAQS 

Dear Mr. McGrath: 

Colorado Department 

of Public Health 

and Environment 

Pursuant to the provisions of section 107(d)(1) of the Clean Air Act, the state of Colorado 

submits to the Environmental Protection Agency the attached area designations for the Annual 

PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), as revised on December 14, 2012. 

Federal law requires that the state of Colorado submit the recommended designations for the 

revised Annual PM2.5 NAAQS to the EPA by December 12, 2013, and this letter provides the 

designations of "attainment" and "attainment/unclassifiable" as applicable for all air quality 

control regions (AQCRs) in Colorado. 

The enclosed table and map describes each AQCR and its designation along with an enclosed 

technical support document that provides supporting analysis. The technical support document 

makes a strong case that these designation recommendations are accurate and supportable for 

EPA approval. The attainment designation for six Colorado AQCRs (02, 03, 04, 07, 09 and 11) 

and attainment/unclassifiable designations for those areas with limited monitoring are based on 

actual air quality monitoring data for the 2010-2012 time periods. The attainment/unclassifiable 

designations for areas lacking representative monitoring are based on the state's estimation that 

Annual PM2.5 levels in these AQCRs are not out of compliance with the Annual PM2.5 

NAAQS. 

RECEIVED 

U.S. EPA Region 8 

RA'sOffice 

JAN 2 9 2014 
The enclosed area classifications for the 2012 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS were approved by the 

Colorado Air Quality Control Commission following a public hearing held on October 17, 2013. 

If you have any questions regarding this submittal, please contact Mike Silverstein, 

Administrator for the Commission, at (303) 692-3478, or William Allison, Director of the Air 

Pollution Control Division, at (303) 692-3114. 

Executive Director 

cc: Mike Silverstein, Administrator AQCC 

Garry Kaufman, Deputy Division Director APCD 

Enclosures 

Colorado Designations for Annual2012 PM2.5 NAAQS- Table and Map 

State of Colorado, Technical Support Document, For Recommended Annual PM2.5 

Designations 

2 
Colorado Designations for 2012 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS 

(based on 2010-2012 monitoring data) 

Air Quality Control Regions (AQCR) PM2.5 NAAQS Designation 

State AQCR 01 AttainmenUUnclassifiable 

Logan County 

Morgan County 

Phillips County 

Sedgwick County 

Washington County 

Yuma County 

State AQCR 02 

Larimer County 

Weld County 

State AQCR 03 

Adams County 

Arapahoe County 

Boulder County (including the portion of Rocky Mountain 

National Park therein) 

Broomfield County 

Clear Creek County 

Denver County 

Douglas County 

Jefferson County 

Gilpin County 

State AQCR 04 

El Paso County 

Park County 

Teller County 

State AQCR 05 

Cheyenne County 

Elbert County 

Kit Carson County 

Lincoln County 

State AQCR 06 

Baca County 

Bent County 

Crowley County 

Kiowa County 

Otero County 

Prowers County 

State AQCR 07 

Huerfano County 

Las Animas County 

Pueblo County 

Table of AQCR Designations 24-Hour PM2.5 NAAQS 

1 

Attainment 

Attainment 

Attainment 

AttainmenUUnclassifiable 

AttainmenUUnclassifiable 

Attainment 

November 6, 2013 
Colorado Designations for 2012 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS 

(based on 201 0-2012 monitoring data ) 

Air Quality Control Regions (AQCR) 

State AQCR 08 

Alamosa County 

Conejos County 

Costilla County 

Mineral County 

Rio Grande County 

Saguache County 

State AQCR 09 

Archuleta County (part) excluding Southern Ute Indian 

Tribe (SUIT) lands 

Dolores County 

La Plata County (part) excluding SUIT and Ute Mountain 

Ute Tribe lands 

Montezuma County (part) excluding SUIT and Ute 

Mountain Ute Tribe lands 

San Juan County 

State AQCR 1 0 

Delta County 

Gunnison County 

Hinsdale County 

Montrose County 

Ouray County 

San Miguel County 

State AQCR 11 

Garfield County 

Mesa County 

Moffat County 

Rio Blanco County 

State AQCR 12 

Eagle County 

Grand County 

Jackson County 

Pitkin County 

Routt County 

Summit County 

State AQCR 13 

Chaffee County 

Custer County 

Fremont County 

Lake County 

Table of AQCR Designations 24-Hour PM2.5 NAAQS 

2 

PM2.5 NAAQS Designation 

Attainment/Unclassifiable 

Attainment 

AttainmenUUnclassifiable 

Attainment 

Attainment/Unclassifiable 

AttainmenUUnclassifiable 

November 6, 2013 
c::J ~ .... ....,..e ... do...- 1 

o c--

.... AOCR 1 

A S 

AOCR f 

.r' 

oi.::ti.oc2Di.- oiC::=:i -41l w.__.IIJtJi1 .. 

Colorado Department of Public Huhh and Emirormtnt • t-Jr Pollution Control OMsion · August 2ll09 

Map of Air Quality Control Regions for Annual PM2.5 Designations in Colorado. 
State of Colorado 

Technical Support Document 

For 2012 Annual PM2.5 Standard Attainment 

In Colorado 

November 6, 2013 

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 

Air Pollution Control Division 

4300 Cherry Creek Drive South 

Denver, Colorado 80246 
Contents 

Designation Recommendation ............................... ... ........... ............................. .......................... 3 

Overview ................... .......................................................................................... ........................ 3 

Air Quality Data ................................................................. ......................................................... 3 

Figure 1. Map of PM2.5 Ambient Air Monitoring Sites 2013 .................. ............................. ......... .................... .4 

Figure 2. Colorado Annual PM2.5 Ambient Air Concentration Trends . ............................................................ 5 

Table 1. Colorado 3 year average Annual P M2. 5 Monitoring Data Summary. ........ .... ........................... ... ....... 5 

Table 2. Denver-Boulder Area 3-year average Annual PM2.5 Monitoring Data Summary ............................... 6 

Table 3. North Front Range Area 3-year average Annual PM2.5 Monitoring Data Summary ..... ..................... 6 

Table 4. South Front Range Area 3-year average Annual PM2.5 Monitoring Data Summary. ......................... 7 

Table 5. Western Colorado 3-year average Annual PM2.5 Monitoring Data Summary. ...................... .. ........... 7 

Summary Conclusions ...... .......................................................................................................... 8 

Table 6. Recommended Annual PM2.5 Designations byAreafor Colorado .................................................... .. 8 

Figure 3. Map of Air Quality Control Regions for Annual PM2.5 Designations in Colorado ........................ .. 11 

Colorado Recommended PM2.5 Designations 

Technical Support Document 

November 6 2013 

Page 2 of 11 
Colorado Analysis for Annual PM2.5 Attainment 

Designation Recommendation 

The State recommends that the entire state of Colorado be designated as attainment or 

attainment/unclassifiable for the 2012 revised Annual PM 2.5 standard. This recommendation is 

based on monitoring information that indicates the region is in compliance with the revised 

Annual PM2.5 standard. 

Overview 

On December 14, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed final 

rulemaking that revises the Primary Annual Particulate Matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air 

Quality Standard (NAAQS). The PM2.5 level has been lowered to 12 Jlg/m3 annual mean, 

averaged over 3 years. States are required to submit area designations to EPA by December 12, 

2013. 

The Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) currently operates 16 PM2.5 monitors in Colorado, 

(8 sites in the Denver Metro Area, 3 sites in the North Front Range, 3 sites in the South Front 

Range, and 2 sites on the West Slope). All PM2.5 monitoring for the most recent 3-year period 

shows annual values well below the level of the NAAQS. Thus, the APCD is proposing that 

Colorado be designated as attainment/unclassifiable for the entire state (excluding tribal lands 

over which the APCD has no jurisdiction). 

The EPA requires states base their designations on monitoring data results over a three year 

period for calendar years 2010-2012. Based on the 2010-2012 results, Colorado is in 

attainment of the new standard. The following analysis discusses air quality data as necessary to 

demonstrate that Colorado should be designated as attainment or attainment/unclassifiable for 

the new Annual PM2.5 NAAQS. It must also be noted that this attainment demonstration 

applies only to non-tribal lands over which the State of Colorado has direct air quality 

jurisdiction. 

Air Quality Data 

The air quality analysis looked at all known monitoring sites for the annual PM2.5 standard in 

Colorado for 2010 through 2012. A map ofthe 16 APCD PM2.5 monitoring sites is shown in 

Figure 1. Other, non-APCD sites are also shown in Figure 1. 

Figure 2 presents long term trends for the APCD PM2.5 sites. It is evident that ambient annual 

PM2.5 levels have decreased over time. Much of this decrease is likely due to emissions 

reductions in vehicles and major stationary sources as well as local constraints on wood burning 

stoves. 

The 3-year average Annual PM2.5 data for 2010 to 2012 are presented in Table 1. 

Colorado Recommended PM2.5 Designations 

Technical Support Document 

November 6 2013 

Page 3 of 11 
Figure 1. Map of Colorado PM2.5 Ambient Air Monitoring Sites 2013. 

Colorado Recommended PM2.5 Designations 

Technical Support Document 

November 6 2013 

PM2.5 sites 

2013 

lit•• ....... ,IIO(tRU ........... 

Page 4 ofll 
Figure 2. Colorado Annual PM2.5 Ambient Air Concentratio n Trends. 

PM2.5 Statewide Maxi mum 

3-Vear Annual Averag e 

... 16.00 

Gl 

~ 14.00 --------~d-NAAnsNewNAAQS 

.... ..... .... 

e 12.00 

:g 10.00 1"'::=-:" ..:::::!':----=~~ ............. ~ ....... 

u 

-;;; 8.00 -1----------------

E 6.00 +---------------- ~ 

eo 4.00 .-t N M <:t 1.1) <0 ...... 00 en 0 .-t N u 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .-t .-t .-t 0 0 0 0 N N N N 

r-:. oO a. 6 ~ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N N N N N N '":~ N 

a. 6 ..!. N m ¢ 1.1) J, en 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .-t en 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .-t N N N N N N N N N N N 

Year - -

Table 1. Colorado 3 year average Annual PM2.5 Monitoring Data Summary. 

Statewide 

Year Maximum 

(!Jg/m3) 

1999-2001 10.53 

2000-2002 10.93 

2001-2003 10.83 

2002-2004 11.71 

2003-2005 10.51 

2004-2006 10.29 

2005-2007 9.60 

2006-2008 10.02 

2007-2009 9.44 

2008-2010 9.28 

2009-2011 8.61 

2010-2012 8.21 

Colorado Recommended PM2.5 Designations 

Technical Support Document 

November 6 2013 

Locatio n 

ity 

AMP 

Adams C 

Denver-( 

Denver-C 

Grand Jct-P 

Grand Jct-P 

Denver-Sw 

Commerce 

Commerce 

Grand Jct-P 

Grand Jct-P 

Grand Jct-P 

AMP 

ow ell 

ow ell 

an sea 

-Alsup 

-Alsup 

owe II 

ow ell 

ow ell 

Commerce -Alsup 

-

Page 5 of 11 

._
~ bl e 2 D a enver-B ou ld er A rea 3 -y ear era~:e A nnua LPM25M omtorm~: D at a S ummary. 

Boulder Denver Denver Denver Adams Commerce Arapahoe 

Chamber CAMP Swansea DMAS Chatfield City Alsup Comm. Coli. 

Year 08-013-0012 08-031-0002 08-031-0023 08-031-0025 08-035-0004 08-001-0001 08-001-0006 08-005-0005 

1999-2001 7.83 10.37 10.53 8.77 

2000-2002 8.27 10.93 8.83 

2001-2003 8.03 10.83 10.67 8.77 

2002-2004 7.47 9.99 10.47 8.35 

2003-2005 7.07 9.72 9.84 8.65 

2004-2006 6.81 9.04 10.29 5.24 9.34 8.36 

2005-2007 7.04 9.05 8.85 6.25 9.60 8.51 

2006-2008 6.87 8.63 8.22 6.32 10.02 7.64 

2007-2009 6.77 8.32 8.71 8.37 6.16 9.43 7.24 

2008-2010 6.49 7.80 7.90 7.64 5.75 8.72 6.71 

2009-2011 6.27 7.62 7.51 7.25 5.68 8.08 6.29 

2010-2012 6.30 7.80 7.59 7.57 8.21 6.40 

Table 3. North F. ront R an~:e A rea 3 -year avera~:e A nnua LPM2 . 5M om "t ortnf? Data Summary. 

Longmont Ft Collins 

csu 

Year 08-013-0003 08-069-0009 

1999-2001 9.20 8.10 

2000-2002 9.50 8.20 

2001-2003 9.37 7.87 

2002-2004 8.92 7.56 

2003-2005 8.52 7.32 

2004-2006 8.14 7.32 

2005-2007 8.25 7.42 

2006-2008 8.19 7.31 

2007-2009 7.96 7.13 

2008-2010 7.37 6.64 

2009-2011 6.92 6.32 

2010-2012 6.89 6.57 

Colorado Recommended P M2. 5 Designations 

Technical Support Document 

November 6 2013 

Greeley Plateville 

Hospital 

08-123-0006 08-123-0008 

8.67 9.23 

9.10 9.57 

9.03 9.60 

8.51 8.82 

8.15 8.49 

8.08 8.61 

8.36 9.29 

8.36 9.30 

8.24 8.68 

7.61 7.79 

7.26 7.50 

7.35 7.80 

Page 6 of 11 
Table4. e Annual PM2.5 Monitoring_ Data Summarv. 

Colo Spg Colo Spg Colo Spgs Pueblo Pueblo 

Colorado Public Fountain Magnet 

Meadow RBD College Works School Elbert 

Year 08-041-Q008 08-041-0011 08-041-0017 08-101-0012 08-101-0015 08-039-0001 

1999-2001 7.03 7.40 7.70 4.03 

2000-2002 6.97 7.70 8.03 4.27 

2001-2003 6.97 7.83 7.97 4.43 

2002-2004 6.76 8.08 7.39 4.36 

2003-2005 6.76 8.05 7.19 4.46 

2004-2006 6.73 8.10 7.56 4.29 

2005-2007 7.77 7.79 4.55 

2006-2008 7.80 7.82 4.42 

2007-2009 7.40 4.35 

2008-2010 5.97 4.17 

2009-2011 5.88 5.65 4.00 

2010-2012 6.40 6.29 4.05 

Table 5. Western Colorado 3- ear avera e Annual PM2.5 Monitoring Data Summary. 

Mt Cr Butte Durango Grand Jet 

Town Ctr School MCHD 

Year 08-051-0005 08-067-0008 08-077-0003 

1999-2001 6.25 4.85 7.33 

2000-2002 6.50 5.23 7.73 

2001-2003 6.93 5.70 7.83 

2002-2004 6.64 

2003-2005 6.34 

2004-2006 

2005-2007 

2006-2008 

2007-2009 

2008-2010 

2009-2011 

2010-2012 

Colorado Recommended PM2.5 Designations 

Technical Support Document 

November 6 2013 

Grand Jet 

Powell Cortez Telluride 

08-o77-0017 08-083-Q006 08-113-0004 

5.80 

5.67 

11.71 5.05 

10.51 4.82 

9.51 8.55 

9.20 

9.43 

9.44 

9.28 6.25 

8.61 6.29 

7.80 5.91 

Page 7 of 11 

.....
Summary Conclusions 

The data and analysis presented provide documentation and compelling evidence supporting a 

finding that Colorado should be designated as attainment or attainment/unclassifiable for the 

2012 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS. It is important to note that only areas over which Colorado has 

direct air quality jurisdiction are included in this attainment attainment/unclassifiable finding and 

recommendation. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe/State of 

Colorado Environmental Commission, as well as the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe, are distinct 

nations or entities and consequently such Tribal lands are specifically excluded from this 

designation recommendation. 

Table 6 provides a complete listing of the recommended designations, by area. Figure 3 provides 

a map of the Air Quality Control Regions for the Annual PM2.5 Designations in Colorado. 

These recommendations are based on monitoring information that indicates compliance with the 

revised standard. 

Table 6. Recommended Annual PM2.5 Designations by Area for Colorado 

2013 Colorado Designations for Annual PM2.5 NAAQS 

(based on 201 0-2012 monitoring data ) 

Air Quality Control Regions (AQCR) PM2.5 NAAQS Designation 

State AQCR 01 

Logan County 

Morgan County 

Phillips County 

Sedgwick County 

Washington County 

Yuma County 

State AQCR 02 

Larimer County 

Weld County 

State AQCR 03 

Adams County 

Arapahoe County 

Boulder County (including the portion of Rocky Mountain 

National Park therein) 

Broomfield County 

Clear Creek County 

Denver County 

Douglas County 

Jefferson County 

Gilpin County 

State AQCR 04 

El Paso County 

Park County 

Teller County 

Colorado Recommended PM2.5 Designations 

Technical Support Document 

November 6 2013 

AttainmenUUnclassifiable 

Attainment 

Attainment 

Attainment 

Page 8 of 11 
2013 Colorado Designations for Annual PM2.5 NAAQS 

(based on 2010-2012 monitoring data) 

Air Quality Control Regions (AQCR) PM2.5 NAAQS Designation 

State AQCR 05 AttainmenUUnclassifiable 

Cheyenne County 

Elbert County 

Kit Carson County 

Lincoln County 

State AQCR 06 

Baca County 

Bent County 

Crowley County 

Kiowa County 

Otero County 

Prowers County 

State AQCR 07 

Huerfano County 

Las Animas County 

Pueblo County 

State AQCR 08 

Alamosa County 

Conejos County 

Costilla County 

Mineral County 

Rio Grande County 

Saguache County 

State AQCR 09 

Archuleta County (part) excluding Southern Ute Indian 

Tribe (SUIT) lands 

Dolores County 

La Plata County (part) excluding SUIT and Ute Mountain 

Ute Tribe lands 

Montezuma County (part) excluding SUIT and Ute 

Mountain Ute Tribe lands 

San Juan County 

State AQCR 1 0 

Delta County 

Gunnison County 

Hinsdale County 

Montrose County 

Ouray County 

San Miguel County 

State AQCR 11 

Garfield County 

Mesa County 

Moffat County 

Rio Blanco County 

Colorado Recommended PM2.5 Designations 

Technical Support Document 

November 6 2013 

AttainmenUUnclassifiable 

Attainment 

AttainmenUUnclassifiable 

Attainment 

AttainmenUUnclassifiable 

Attainment 

Page 9of 11 
2013 Colorado Designations for Annual PM2.5 NAAQS 

(based on 2010-2012 monitoring data) 

Air Quality Control Regions (AQCR) 

State AQCR 12 

Eagle County 

Grand County 

Jackson County 

Pitkin County 

Routt County 

Summit County 

State AQCR 13 

Chaffee County 

Custer County 

Fremont County 

Lake County 

Colorado Recommended PM2.5 Designations 

Technical Support Document 

November 6 2013 

PM2.5 NAAQS Designation 

Attainment/Unclassifiable 

Attainment/Unclassifiable 

Page 10 of 11 
Figure 3. Map of Air Quality Control Regions for Annual PM2.5 Designations in 

Colorado 

A CR S 

AQCR 6 

0 w ~ ~ ~ ~ 

-=-=--==--Uiles Colorado O.p;trtmont of Public Hnnh and El1'-ironmont -Air Pollution Control Division -August 2009 

Colorado Recommended PM2.5 Designations 

Technical Support Document 

November 6 2013 

Page 11 of 11