OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION IN EASTERN UTAH | AARON FORTIN
TAKEAWAY
The Uinta Basin is on track to meet the EPA’s ozone standards, thanks to industry emission reductions, but there is still work to do.
While ozone still exceeds EPA standards during some winters, it is becoming less common, and maximum ozone levels are decreasing
During winters with strong temperature inversions and snow cover, Uinta Basin ozone levels exceed Environmental Protection Agency standards. The largest source of ozone-forming pollution is the local oil and gas industry, a key driver of the local economy. High ozone threatens public health, and regulations targeting the oil and gas industry have the potential to harm economic development.
Since the issue was first discovered in 2009, regulatory changes and voluntary action by the oil and gas industry have led to decreases in ozone and related pollutants. While ozone still exceeds Environmental Protection Agency standards during some winters (most recently in January and February 2023), it is becoming less common, and maximum ozone levels are decreasing.
Energy production in the Uinta Basin rose until 2014 and then declined through 2020. But in 2021, persistent high energy prices led to a surge in production, as shown in the figure. Even as oil and gas activity has increased, however, pollution levels have remained flat when corrected for meteorological conditions. This indicates that improvements in new oil and gas infrastructure results in less pollution emissions than older infrastructure.
Because of this progress, this year the Environmental Protection Agency has begun the process to classify the Uinta Basin ozone levels as attaining air quality standards. More work is needed because high ozone still occurs during years like 2023, when there were many strong inversions and the basin experienced deep snow cover. The good news is that cooperative efforts by many partners are addressing this long-standing problem.
Figure 3.A.1 Total energy produced compared to total pollution (2013-2023)
