SB 24-229: Ozone Pollution Mitigation

• Requires the air quality control division to propose rules by August 31, 2026 to reduce NOx emissions from upstream oil and gas operations by 50% by 2030 relative to 2017 levels in the eight-hour ozone control area and northern Weld County.

• Authorizes the division to impose mitigation projects and recurrence-prevention requirements as part of enforcement penalties, and requires posting of annual air quality enforcement reports online detailing enforcement actions and civil penalties.

• Expands civil penalty considerations to include whether violations occurred in disproportionately impacted communities and compliance history of parent organizations and affiliates, with increased penalties up to $47,357 per day.

• Requires the energy and carbon management commission to appoint at least two community liaisons for disproportionately impacted communities and to require NOx reduction actions from oil and gas operators, prioritizing non-compliant operators.

• Extends the orphaned wells mitigation enterprise to fund plugging and remediation of marginal wells located in disproportionately impacted communities, and appropriates $753,157 to implement the bill.