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Greenhouse gas reduction planning for oil and gas midstream fuel combustion equipment

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Update: On Dec. 20, 2024, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission adopted the measure described on this page. The commission publishes final rule language in the public register on its regulations web page. Read more in CDPHE's press release.

Stay in touch: Sign-up for email updates from the CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division for information on future air quality rulemakings. Explore upcoming public participation opportunities. 

Greenhouse gas emissions from midstream

The operation of fuel combustion equipment in the oil and gas midstream segment is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. The equipment includes engines, turbines, heaters, reboilers, and boilers. The majority of midstream facilities in Colorado are located in Rio Blanco, Garfield, and Weld counties.

The CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division and the Midstream Steering Committee conducted a two-year planning process to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from midstream fuel combustion equipment statewide.  This planning process was established by Regulation No. 7, Part B, Section VII. 

The division presented a regulatory rule proposal to the Air Quality Control Commission in August 2024. On Dec. 20, 2024, the commission adopted the rule.

This rule will advance ongoing actions by the state to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets for the industrial sector in the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap.

The new rule includes provisions to prioritize greenhouse gas emissions reductions in disproportionately impacted communities, and allows eligible midstream companies to participate in a credit trading program.

 

How community input informed the Air Quality Control Commission’s midstream rule

The midstream rule adopted and revised by the Air Quality Control Commission changed in several ways based on community input. 

Changes reflected in the final rule include:

  • Requiring midstream companies to prioritize reduction of emissions at facilities located in disproportionately impacted communities. 
  • Facilitating community engagement through allowing for an opportunity for public comment on any requests for waivers to reduce emissions in the Front Range Priority Area.
  • Ensuring that emission reductions in disproportionately impacted communities are reported separately from reductions in the Front Range Priority Area.

Midstream Steering Committee

The Midstream Steering Committee was a technical working group that:

  • Developed a segment-wide report with recommendations for greenhouse gas reductions from midstream fuel combustion equipment.
  • Presented the report to the Air Pollution Control Division in March 2024. 

The Midstream Steering Committee met online at least monthly between February 2022 and March 2024. View past committee meeting recordings. 

For information on the duties, deadlines, and representatives  of the Midstream Steering Committee, refer to the committee charter.

Midstream Segment Emission Reduction Report

The Midstream Steering Committee’s proposed Midstream Segment Emission Reduction Report is available in English and Spanish. The report outlines the committee’s recommendations. The 30-day public comment period on the report closed on June 10, 2024. The report and public feedback helped inform the division’s proposed rule.

To access public comments received use the download button in the top-right of the OnBase window:

Past public participation opportunities

The CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division hosted online public meetings in 2024 about ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the midstream oil and gas segment. The meetings provided an opportunity to ask questions and share feedback to inform the division’s rule proposal.

The division held two public feedback meetings on the Midstream Steering Committee’s Midstream Segment Emission Reduction Report in June 2024. The meetings offered an additional opportunity to provide feedback on the report. 

The division convened several online community information sessions in 2023 and 2024. The division offered these sessions to encourage community understanding and engagement with the midstream greenhouse gas reduction planning process.

These community sessions were held separately from the Midstream Steering Committee and provided opportunities for Colorado communities to provide feedback.

Interactive map: Midstream locations, disproportionately impacted communities, and 2021 emissions

The interactive map dashboard shows midstream fuel combustion equipment greenhouse gas emissions statewide in 2021 within the boundaries of Colorado’s May 2023 definition of disproportionately impacted communities. Data was collected from midstream company emission reduction plans in 2023.

Use the dropdown menu at the top right to toggle between displaying:

  • All midstream locations in 2021.
  • Midstream locations within disproportionately impacted community boundaries.
  • Midstream locations in census blocks with a Colorado EnviroScreen cumulative impact score over the 80th percentile.

To zoom the map in on specific areas, click on counties or census block numbers in the table at the bottom.

Questions, comments, or suggestions? Email andrew.gruel@state.co.us.

Company emission reduction plans

By Sept. 30, 2023, each midstream segment owner or operator statewide was required to submit a company-specific emission reduction plan, or cERP, that quantifies recent emissions and explores reduction options (Regulation No. 7, Part B, Section VII.D.4.).

Compiled cERP data and source data files are available for download:

In March 2023, the Midstream Steering Committee published a guidance document and workbooks for cERP development:

Contact us

Questions? Email the CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division at cdphe.commentsapcd@state.co.us.