Oil and Gas Environmental Monitoring

Air quality is a main focus of the Oil and Gas Chapter of Broomfield’s Comprehensive Plan. 

Broomfield Air Quality Monitoring Programs

Broomfield created the Oil and Gas Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) Program and Impacted Community AQM Program to protect public health and the environment, impact rulemaking, and facilitate operator compliance. Visit Broomfield Public Health's Air Quality page for information on ozone and today's air quality conditions.

Air Quality Monitoring Program Details

The Oil and Gas AQM and Impacted Community AQM programs create a comprehensive approach to AQM in Broomfield. The Oil and Gas AQM Program focuses on monitoring near-pad air quality, useful for correlating pad operations to emission events, informing best management practices, and providing insight into long-term impacts to air quality associated with oil and gas operations. The Impacted Community AQM program focuses on monitoring air quality near residential areas affected by oil and gas operations, providing residents with near real-time concentrations of oil and gas specific compounds, and providing insight into how nearby residential areas are impacted by oil and gas related emissions. The AQM programs work in conjunction with the inspection program to help staff better understand how oil and gas operations and emissions are related, and how they affect our community. 

The Oil and Gas AQM network currently includes five continuous real-time monitoring stations that measure Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs), particulate matter (at select locations), and meteorological conditions. These stations are equipped with trigger mechanisms allowing for the remote collection of whole-air canister samples upon the exceedance of set TVOC thresholds. The program also currently includes five stations which continuously collect whole-air canister samples with week-long sample durations. All whole-air canister samples are analyzed for 49 oil and gas related Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

The Impacted Community AQM network currently includes two trailer-based reference grade air monitoring systems. One location (Soaring Eagle) measures methane, VOCs, ozone, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and meteorological conditions. The second location (North Pecos) measures methane, VOCs, and meteorological conditions.

If any oil and gas operator is found to be responsible for an illegal release of emissions, the situation will be referred to the appropriate agency. Although the data from this system is carefully monitored and shared as necessary with emergency responders, this system is not intended to be an emergency response protocol nor an acute exposure warning system.

How to view data

  • Ajax Analytics Data Portal. This site provides access to real-time and historical Oil and Gas AQM Program data, event reports, quarterly air quality reports, and general program information. Please view this short tutorial video for guidance on how to navigate the new public portal.
  • Boulder A.I.R Data Portal. This site provides access to real-time and limited historical Impacted Community AQM Program data, pollution source analysis, and general program information.
  • Quarterly Reports - Both programs require contractors to complete quarterly data reporting.

CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division

Reports submitted by Broomfield Oil and Gas operators to CDPHE's Air Pollution Control Division can be viewed here.

File Concerns & Report Any Health Symptoms

Use the Oil and Gas Concern Form to report your health concerns.

Send general oil and gas questions to oilandgas@broomfield.org

If at any time you witness emissions off of an oil and gas pad that you believe may be a danger to public health and safety, do not hesitate to call 911.