WEEK OF APRIL 24, 2025
VOLUME 37| ISSUE 17
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State’s fight against ozone turns to long term Colorado asks EPA to downgrade status to ‘severe’ BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN
Earth Day was first observed as a holiday in the United States on April 22, 1970, when 20 million Americans across the country attended inaugural events and protests calling on the U.S. government to fight for key environmental legislation. It sparked a change that ultimately led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in addition to the passage of the first Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. Most of these protests started small, occurring on college campuses and universities, and many were largely comprised of college students. If you’re looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint, you can start small, too. Really small, in fact.
Colorado is giving up on meeting mandates for controlling toxic ozone in the next few years, while doubling down on plans that recently passed rules will start to make an impact by 2032. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment officials say they are asking the federal EPA to preemptively downgrade the Front Range ozone nonattainment zone to “severe” from the current “serious” violation standard, when judged by the 2015 ozone cap of 70 parts per billion. Recent updated computer modeling of Front Range air shows continuing violations closer to 80 parts per billion, according to Regional Air Quality Council Executive Director Mike Silverstein. The RAQC is an advisory board and not a policy-making agency, but was briefed by the state about the downgrade request. That means Colorado isn’t projected to meet even the more lax 2008 standard of 75 parts per billion before 2027, Silverstein added. Yes, it’s confusing: The nine northern counties included in the nonattainment area are on parallel but different schedules to cut lung-damaging ozone, one schedule whose clock started with the 2008 regulations and another schedule launched with the tighter 2015 standards. The bottom line is Colorado is failing on both tracks. For the 2008 track, Colorado has submitted to the EPA for approval an improvement plan aimed at getting closer to the 75 ppb standard by 2027. On that 2008 track, Colorado has already been downgraded to “severe” violations.
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SEE OZONE, P5
Summer concertgoers outside Bison Ridge Rec Center. The Earth Day event will have activities inside and outside. COURTESY PHOTO.
Cities come together for 2025 Earth Day celebration • Vestas to lay off 200 employees •27J Schools moves online-only Dec. 1
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BUSINESS LOCAL
BY LONDON LYLE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
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LOCAL OBITUARIES LEGALS CLASSIFIED
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Earth Day is April 22, but Adams County is keeping the festivities rolling a little longer this year. The cities of Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, Brighton and Commerce City are coalescing to host the first Earth Day Celebration, featuring live music, food trucks, educational activities, exhibits and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 26, at Bison Ridge Recreation Cente13905 E. 112th Ave. Admission is free. The celebration will feature fun for folks of all ages, with activities such as face painting, games and hands-on learning to keep little ones engaged all day. Everyone can enjoy live music from Chris Daniels and
the Kings with Freddi Gowdi while exploring interactive exhibits and educational booths. Plus, there will be live demonstrations and Q&A sessions from experts in the electric vehicle industry, opportunities to connect with community resources and volunteers available to answer any questions related to recycling and composting policies in your city and to direct you to the appropriate Ace hardware stores to redeem vouchers. If all the eco-forward gadgets and gizmos on the market have you feeling a bit peckish, you can electric slide on over to grab a bite to eat. There will be a number of food trucks to choose from, such as tacos from Taqueria La Auntica and pizza from Infinitus Pie. Several environmentally-con-
scious vendors will be spread throughout the celebration, sharing goodies, demonstrations and information. Some of the participating organizations include Ocean First Institute, Moms Clean Air Force, Drive Clean Colorado, SunShare Community Solar Garden, Colorado Green Business Network, Off the Bottle Refill Shop, amongst a handful of others. So whether you’re in sync with Mother Nature like Snow White, or struggle to keep a basic succulent alive, there will be something to pique your interest. But it’s worth noting that you don’t have to be in the market to buy a fancy new electric car — or even a new lawn mower, for that matter — to help make the planet a little bit more inhabitable for all creatures to live, breathe and share.
OBITUARIES: PAGE 7 | CLASSIFIEDS: PAGE 12 | LEGALS: PAGE 14
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