Oil & gas compliance and recordkeeping

Disproportionately impacted community definition

In May 2023, Colorado adopted a new definition of disproportionately impacted communities with House Bill 23-1233: Electric Vehicle Charging and Parking Requirements. Colorado now has a single definition of disproportionately impacted communities that applies to all Colorado state agencies.

The  CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division began applying the 2023 definition in its work after the bill was signed into law. This includes applying the definition to the division’s work related to oil and gas operations. To align with the 2023 statutory definition, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission revised the definition in Regulation Number 7, effective April 14, 2025.

The CDPHE Office of Environmental Justice published the disproportionately impacted community map in November 2024. Oil and gas operators should use this map to identify disproportionately impacted communities in Colorado instead of Colorado EnviroScreen.

Questions? Please contact cdphe_ej@state.co.us.

Oil and Gas

Storage tank and vapor control system guidelines

Guidelines for design, operation, and maintenance of vapor control systems at oil and gas facilities.

Oil & gas operating and maintenance plans

Forms and guidance for O&M plans for equipment at oil & gas facilities.

Midstream GHG Reductions

Each oil and gas midstream segment owner or operator must participate in this program to develop a plan to reduce GHG emissions from midstream fuel combustion equipment.  (Reg. 7, Part B, Section VII).  Rulemaking in late 2024.

Regulation No. 7

Approved Instrument Monitoring Method (AIMM)

• Forms and Guidance.

Part B, Section I.F.3: Storage Tank Control Strategy 

• Storage Tank Reporting.

Part B, Section I.H.6: Glycol dehydrators

• Semi-annual report form.

Part B, Section II.: Control Equipment

• Alternative Emissions Control Device Request Form.
• PS Memo 15-03 Air Pollution Control Equipment Requirements.

Part B, Section II.B.2.h: ECD Performance Testing

• Standard ECD Protocol
• ECD Testing Guidance and FAQ
• Notifications required by II.B.2.h.(iii)(A) due July 31, 2022:
  • Use either:
    • Notification Form, or
    • Spreadsheet-based version of Notification Form (do not modify column order; email completed version in .xlsx format to cdphe_apcd_ecd@state.co.us)
  • Only ECDs that commenced operation before December 31, 2021 (and are subject to II.B.2.h.) need to be included in this notification.
• OTM 52 Outlet Only Testing Protocol

Part B, Section II.C: Storage Tank Emissions Management (STEM)

• STEM plan template.
• PS Memo 15-01 Oil & Gas STEM Plan Requirements.

Part B, Section II.E.4.f.: Alternative inspection frequency

• Automatic Pressure Management and Pilot Light Systems (APMPLS)
  • An optional program for owners or operators of well production facilities, to qualify well production facilities for a potentially less-frequent LDAR inspection schedule requirement as provided by Regulation No. 7, Part B, Section II.E.4.f.

Part B, Section II.G: Well Liquid Unloading, Downhole Well Maintenance, and Well Plugging Activities

• Refer to Section 2.3 of FAQ Volume 1 for December 2021 Revisions to Regulations 7 and 22.
• File a notification of excess water infiltration due to hydraulic fracturing per Regulation No. 7, Part B, Section II.G.1.d.(iii)

Part B, Section IV: Natural Gas Transmission and Storage Segment

• Natural gas transmission and storage segment 

Part B, Section V: Oil and Natural Gas Annual Emissions Inventory Reporting

• Oil and Natural Gas Annual Emissions Inventory Reporting

Part B, Section VI: Oil and Natural Gas Pre-Production and Early Production Operations

• Pre-production and early production operations air quality monitoring
  • New leak reporting provisions for monthly Reg 7 reports  
    • Reg 7 leak reporting template
  • Monitoring plan template 
  • Reporting template  
  • Template guidance   
• Pre-production and early production operations air quality monitoring, approved plans (Public OnBase records) 

Part B, Section VII:  GHGs from Midstream Fuel Combustion Equipment

• Midstream GHG Reduction Planning and Midstream Steering Committee 

Part B, Section VIII: Greenhouse Gas Intensity Program for Oil and Natural Gas Upstream Segment

• Oil and Natural Gas Methane Intensity Verification Protocol (April 2024)

Part B, Section III.C.4 - Pneumatics Reporting

• Guidance document
• Well Production Facility Pneumatic Controller Form
• Compressor Station Pneumatic Controller Form
• Pneumatic Controllers on Temporary/Portable Equipment Report Form
• Annual Wellhead Pneumatics AIMM/AVO Inspection Delay Form
• Pneumatic Controllers Task Force
  • Stakeholder process to assess the maintenance and use of pneumatic controllers in the oil and natural gas industry

Regulation No. 26

Regulation No. 26, Part B, Section I.D.5.b - Large Engines

• Guidance document
• Alternative Company Wide Plan 
• Standard Plan Form

Regulation 26, Part B, Section I.D.6 -  Medium Engines

"Medium" Engines are: Rich Burn Natural Gas Fired engines 100hp < 1000 hp, Lean Burn Natural Gas Fired engines 250hp < 1000 hp, Diesel or dual fuel engines >500 hp

• Medium Engine Reporting Form
• Medium Engine frequently asked questions

Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR)

Forms

• LDAR site inspection record-keeping form  |  Guidance.
• LDAR annual report form | Responsible official certification form | Delay of repair review appendix | Guidance.

Guidance

• PS Memo 14-04 LDAR and open-ended valves and line requirements.
• March 2021 LDAR Training slides.