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Submit an air quality complaint to the Air Pollution Control Division

Overview

The CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division verifies air quality compliance issues, including violations of air permits and state and federal air pollution regulations. The air division investigates and works to resolve complaints submitted by the public. An air quality complaint enables members of the public to report potential air quality issues regulated by the division. Anyone in Colorado can file a complaint with the air division. This is an important public action that helps identify and resolve compliance issues. Complaint investigations can help resolve compliance issues quickly. Sometimes, they may lead to formal enforcement if air quality violations are found.

Types of air quality complaints

Air quality compliance issues the air division can respond to:

  • Odors in outdoor air from a specific source.
  • Open burning.
  • Fugitive dust from a specific source.
  • Visible emissions such as smoke or particulate matter from a specific source.
  • Unpermitted air emissions from a specific source such as oil and gas sites and industrial facilities.

Information to include in a complaint

Provide the following information in your complaint:

  • What: Detailed description of the issue, such as odor, smoke, and/or emissions.
    Where: Location of the issue (address or approximate address, cross street, county, latitude, and longitude).
    When: Date and time of the issue.
    Who: Source of the issue, if known, such as a specific facility, site, or business.
    Your name and contact information: You may file a complaint anonymously. However, the air division cannot get more information or share results unless you provide your name and contact details.

If available, additional helpful information includes:

  • Photos, videos, or other physical evidence documenting the issue.
    • Important note: Only gather photos and videos if it is safe to do so, and do not trespass on private property.
  • Names and contact information for other known witnesses, with their permission.

Make sure to include enough information for the division to respond to your complaint. The key details are a clear description of the issue and specific information about where it happened. If there is not enough detail, the division might not be able to investigate and address the issue.

Complainant confidentiality:

Division staff will not share complainant identities or personal information with outside sources or non-government groups during investigations. Complainant information is not shared in public records requests. Visit the CDPHE privacy web page for further information on privacy protections.

Examples of common complaints

  • You witness open burning that is not in compliance with state regulations.
  • Dust from human activities limits visibility on roadways or impacts your home.
  • You experience strong odors coming from a nearby facility.
  • You witness dark or heavy emissions from a facility’s “smoke stack”.

Complaint process

 

 

Intake and routing

1. A member of the public submits an air quality complaint to the air division. Compliance staff determine if the complaint falls under the air division rules.

If not, the division will help route your complaint. We can connect you to the right agency or share other known resources related to your concern.

2. Compliance staff begin an investigation into the complaint to determine if there is a regulatory compliance issue.

 

 

 

Investigation

3. Compliance staff review the submitted information. They follow up with the complainant for more details if needed.

4. Compliance staff discuss the issue(s) with the facility or source. They also involve other division staff when needed.

5. Compliance staff look into the complaint and collect evidence. This can include a site visit to check for compliance, if needed.

6. Compliance staff work with the source to address any compliance issues, if needed.
 

 

 

Close and communicate

7. If appropriate, compliance staff refer the findings of the investigation for enforcement.

For singular or minor first offenses, the air division may issue a written or verbal warning.

8. Compliance staff inform the complainant about the investigation results and any actions taken.
 

Report an air quality compliance issue

Oil and gas: Submit oil and gas-related air quality complaints online or email them to cdphe_og_air_concerns@state.co.us.

Non-oil and gas: Email non-oil and gas-related air quality complaints to: cdphe.commentsapcd@state.co.us with the subject line “Air quality complaint” or call (303) 692-3150.

 

 

Call 911 if you are experiencing an emergency. The air division is not a first responder and defers to local first responders in the event of an emergency.

 

Oil & Gas Concern Response Dashboard

Oil and Gas Concern and Response Dashboard

The dashboard shows data aimed to provide health information and evaluate health impacts of oil and gas activity.

Provides data on oil and gas complaints received and investigated by CDPHE.

Complaint data

The division tracks and reports on complaints and any enforcement actions taken for each federal fiscal year (October 1-September 30).

Federal fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2024)

  • Number of complaints received: 719 complaints.
  • Number of enforcement actions resulting from complaints: 10 cases.

Frequently asked questions

An air quality complaint is a way for members of the public to alert the air division of potential air quality issues regulated by the division. 
 

Oil and gas: Submit oil and gas-related air quality complaints online or email them to cdphe_og_air_concerns@state.co.us. 

Non-oil and gas: Email non-oil and gas-related air quality complaints to cdphe.commentsapcd@state.co.us with the subject line “Air quality complaint” or call (303) 692-3150.

No. Call 911 if you are experiencing an emergency. 

The air division is not a first responder and defers to local first responders in the event of an emergency.

Oil and gas sources

  • Odors in outdoor air from a specific source.
  • Visible emissions from a specific source, such as smoke or particulate matter.
  • Unpermitted/ uncontrolled air emissions from a specific source.
  • Visible or audible equipment leaks.

Non-oil and gas sources

  • Odors in outdoor air from a specific source.
  • Open burning.
  • Fugitive dust from a specific source.
  • Visible emissions from a specific source, such as smoke or particulate matter.
  • Unpermitted air emissions from a specific source.

Fugitive dust is dust made up of particles like dirt, soil, or debris that does not come from a specific, contained source. It is often from activities like construction, demolition, or material handling.

  • Air division staff work hard to ensure air pollution sources are in compliance with air quality permits and regulations. But they cannot be everywhere at once.
  • Anyone in Colorado can file a complaint with the air division. This is an important public action that helps identify and fix air quality compliance issues.
  • Submitting a complaint allows the public to directly contact compliance staff at the air division to share information.
  • Complaint investigations can quickly resolve compliance issues. Sometimes, they may lead to formal enforcement if air quality violations are found.
  • Compliance specialists managing complaints can communicate with or refer issues to other CDPHE divisions and air division units when needed. 

Please provide the following information in your complaint:

  • What: Detailed description of the issue, such as odor, smoke, and/or emissions.
  • Where: Location of the issue (address or approximate address, cross street, county, latitude, and longitude).
  • When: Date and time of the issue.
  • Who: Source of the issue, if known, such as the specific facility, site, or business. 

  • Your name and contact information.
  • Thorough details on the reported issue.
    • Including how often something has been observed and at what time.
  • If available, additional helpful information includes:
    • Photos, videos, or other physical evidence documenting the issue.
      • Important note: Only gather photos and videos if it is safe to do so, and do not trespass on private property.
  • Names and contact information for other known witnesses, with their permission.

You may file a complaint anonymously. The air division cannot get more information or share results with you unless you provide your name and contact details.

Anyone in Colorado can submit an air quality complaint to the air division. This includes:

  • Members of the public.
  • Local government officials and employees.
  • Members or employees of community-based organizations and non-governmental organizations.
  • Scientists, researchers, health professionals, etc.

Compliance staff, also called inspectors, in the air division respond to air quality complaints. In some counties, compliance staff at local government agency partners also respond to complaints.

Compliance staff usually contact you within two business days. They will inform you if your complaint falls under the air division rules. They will also share any immediate actions that can be taken.

The time to investigate and close a complaint varies. It depends on the nature and complexity of the issue. The air division strives to resolve all complaints as quickly as possible. 

  • Compliance staff will usually contact you within two business days to inform you if your complaint falls under the air division rules. If it does, they will confirm your submission and gather any additional information needed to investigate.
  • Once they have all the necessary information, compliance staff will conduct the investigation. They will gather information from the source or facility and may conduct an on-site investigation if needed.
  • Compliance staff will follow up with a call or email communication when the complaint is closed or resolved. They may share actions taken, findings, and relevant air division resources related to the investigation.
    • If the investigation takes longer, the inspector will contact you within 30 days to provide a status update.
  • The air division works to resolve all complaints as soon as possible. However, complex or ongoing issues might take more time.

Compliance staff thoroughly investigate all air quality compliance complaints under the air division’s authority. If an investigation discovers noncompliance and identifies a violation, the case may be referred for enforcement.

Complaints submitted to the air division are referred to the division’s compliance staff. They investigate potential air quality compliance issues linked to a specific air pollution source. 

Complaints submitted to the Environmental Justice Complaint System for concerns from members of communities disproportionately impacted by pollution are handled by the Environmental Justice Ombudsperson. Environmental justice complaints can cover any environmental issue, not just air quality.

If someone reports an air quality issue to the Environmental Justice Complaint System, it will also be sent to the air division. Our compliance staff will then investigate it.

Oil and gas only: General questions and concerns related to air quality impacts of oil and gas can be submitted to the Oil and Gas Health Information Response Program (OGHIR).

All other general air quality concerns or questions:

Oil and gas only: Health-related concerns related to oil and gas air quality complaints can be submitted to the Oil and Gas Health Information Response Program (OGHIR).

All other air quality-related health concerns:

  • For health-related symptoms and concerns related to air quality and other environmental exposures, contact CDPHE ToxCall at cdphe_toxcall@state.co.us or 303-692-2606.
  • Consult a healthcare provider.

For emergencies, call 911.

If you would like to take further action after your complaint is resolved, these options are available to you:

Sign up to receive email updates from the air division. Select “Air quality compliance and enforcement updates” to receive monthly updates on enforcement actions issued by the air division.

For information on the compliance and enforcement work of the Energy and Carbon Management Commission, including regulatory and enforcement public hearings, visit their website.

Explore Colorado air quality regulations to learn about the topics under the authority and jurisdiction of the air division.

No, the air division does not regulate noise and light issues.

Oil and gas: Report concerns about noise or light pollution at an oil and gas site to the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission. Your local public health agency may also regulate these issues.

Indoor air quality issues under the authority of the air division include:

The air division does not regulate air quality issues related to mold, pests, or other living conditions.

  • CDPHE does not regulate mold. Mold issues fall under two state laws, including House Bill 18-1397: Landlord Tenant Warranty of Habitability and Senate Bill 24-094: Safe Housing for Residential Tenants. If there is mold present at a rental property that is impacting the health and safety of tenants, they can provide notice to their landlord under this warranty. The warranty details remediation steps that the landlord then may have to take.
  • If the landlord acts in violation of the law, the tenants may be able to pursue legal action. The Colorado Housing Connects program is a resource for additional information, facilitation, and template forms.
    • CDPHE recommends reaching out to the program with questions by calling 1-844-926-6632.

Tenants may also be able to contact their local health department for support on mold issues. CDPHE has a list of local health agencies that might be able to help with testing services. The U.S. EPA also offers prevention and remediation tips.

For health questions or concerns after exposure to indoor air quality issues, contact CDPHE ToxCall at cdphe_toxcall@state.co.us or 303-692-2606.

Submit a report about a smoking vehicle to the smoking vehicle hotline at cdphe.smokeline@state.co.us or 303-692-3211.

No, the air division cannot respond to compliance complaints about natural sources of outdoor air pollution.

Sign up for the air division’s air quality alerts and advisories in your region to get email alerts on particulate matter and ground-level ozone levels.

Explore the air division’s air quality monitoring, forecasts and data.

For health questions or concerns after exposure to natural sources of outdoor air pollution, contact CDPHE ToxCall at cdphe_toxcall@state.co.us or 303-692-2606.