On this page: Overview | Plan and progress reports | Contact us
Update: On Dec. 12, 2024, the CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division published the draft Round 2 Regional Haze Progress Report for public review and feedback. The division will accept comments on the draft report until Jan. 13, 2025. Submit comments to cdphe.commentsapcd@state.co.us using subject line “Round 2 Regional Haze Progress Report.” The division will consider any feedback before finalizing the report and submitting it to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for review.
Overview
Several national parks and wilderness areas in Colorado are protected under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Regional Haze Program. Regional haze refers to visibility impairment caused by air pollution. Reducing air pollution from different sources can help protect visibility in scenic areas. Colorado areas covered under the federal program include:
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
- Great Sand Dunes National Park.
- Mesa Verde National Park.
- Rocky Mountain National Park.
- Eagles Nest Wilderness.
- Flat Tops Wilderness.
- La Garita Wilderness.
- Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.
- Mount Zirkel Wilderness.
- Rawah Wilderness.
- Weminuche Wilderness.
- West Elk Wilderness.
The CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division works with other agencies to implement the federal Regional Haze Program. These agencies include the U.S. EPA, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service. Colorado also works with other states to address regional haze through the Western Regional Air Partnership and the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments.
Plan and progress reports
EPA requires states to prepare Regional Haze State Implementation Plans and submit progress reports. The plans and reports show strategies to reduce air pollution and projections for meeting goals to reduce regional haze.
The CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division prepared Colorado’s original plan and periodically updates it. EPA reviews and approves the Colorado Regional Haze State Implementation Plan. EPA last approved Colorado’s latest Regional Haze State Implementation Plan in 2018.
On Dec. 12, 2024, the division published the draft Round 2 Regional Haze Progress Report for public review and feedback. The division will accept comments on the draft report until Jan. 13, 2025. Submit comments to cdphe.commentsapcd@state.co.us using subject line “Round 2 Regional Haze Progress Report.” The division will consider any feedback before finalizing the report and submitting it to EPA for review. EPA does not formally approve or deny progress reports.
- Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (Revised December 2016).
- Appendix A: Periodic Review of Reasonably Attributable Visibility Impairment (RAVI) Long Term Strategy.
- Appendix B: State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision for Reasonably Attributable Visibility Impairment (RAVI) Long Term Strategy.
- Appendix C: Technical Support Documents for BART Determinations.
- CEMEX Inc. Lyons Cement Plant.
- Colorado Energy Nations Co. Power Plant.
- Comanche 1 & 2 Power Plant.
- Craig 1 & 2 Power Plant (Revised June 2017).
- Technical Analysis (Revised November 2014).
- Drake Power Plant.
- Hayden Power Plant.
- Appendix D: Technical Support Documents for Reasonable Progress Determinations.
- Appendix E: Regional Haze Plan 5 Year Progress Report (Revised November 2015).
- Regional Haze Plan Part F: Best Available Retrofit Technology.
- Technical Support Documents.
- Colorado Impact to Nearby Class I Areas.
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument.
- Douglas and Ripple Creek Passes.
- Eagles Nest Wilderness.
- Flat Tops Wilderness.
- Great Sand Dunes National Monument.
- La Garita Wilderness.
- Maroon Bells Wilderness.
- Mesa Verde National Park.
- Mount Zirkel Wilderness.
- Rawah Wilderness.
- Rocky Mountain National Park.
- Weminuche Wilderness.
- West Elk Wilderness.
- Weight of Evidence Profile.
Contact us
Questions? Email the CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division at cdphe.commentsapcd@state.co.us.
Stay informed. Subscribe to receive email updates from the division.