Environmental Groups Encouraged by Action Plan to Address Pinedale Ozone Problem

(Pinedale, Wyo. – January 11, 2013) The Wyoming Outdoor Council and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today commended the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for plans to tackle persistent and severe air pollution from oil and gas operations in the Pinedale region.

The DEQ plan comes in response to consensus recommendations made by the Upper Green River Basin Air Quality Task Force — a group that comprises government officials, representatives from the oil and gas industry, environmental and public health groups, and local area residents.

“This is an important first step,” said Bruce Pendery with the Wyoming Outdoor Council, who served on the task force. “Local citizens have suffered for too long from ozone problems that threaten public health and the environment and that are bad for economic development. The DEQ has offered an outline that, if implemented quickly and completely, will help put us on the path toward cleaner, healthier air.”

“These are practical recommendations that make sense. The important thing is follow through,” said Jon Goldstein, EDF senior energy policy manager. “Wyoming has a strong history of leadership in regulating air emissions from the oil and gas sector, but much more remains to be done. As we move to flesh out the details of this plan, it’s critical that we make sure we have the highest standards in place to reduce emissions and protect communities.”