We received the following comment from a subscriber who had an exchange with their state senator, Senator Byron Pelton, by calling his office in regards to the Galeton blowout. He returned her call with additional comments; we have chosen to publish this exchange in the larger interests of informing the community. (You can check out Senator Pelton’s wikipedia bio here.)
Your comment that our air pollution comes from China is false. If you’re going to represent communities under ozone alerts and declared by the EPA as a “non attainment zone” for air quality, I suggest you educate yourself. While you admit your bias, that you were able to acquire large sections of land because you leased your back yard to oil and gas development, you don’t have the right to pollute the larger community. Those oil and gas wells are a major polluter to our environment, particularly in “Welled” County.
AI Overview:
Yes, air pollution from Beijing can reach Colorado, but it’s not a significant factor in Colorado’s air quality compared to local and regional sources. While Chinese pollution is transported across the Pacific Ocean and impacts the United States, including the West Coast, the primary contributors to air pollution in Colorado are local emissions from vehicles, industrial activities, oil and gas production, and weather patterns like inversions.
1) Beijing’s pollution and its impact:
China is a major emitter of air pollutants, and some of these pollutants are transported across the Pacific Ocean, affecting air quality in the United States, including the West Coast.
2) Major sources of pollution in Colorado:
In Colorado, the main contributors to air pollution are local sources like vehicle emissions, industrial activities (including oil and gas production), and the impact of weather patterns like inversions, which trap pollutants near the ground.
3) Impact of Beijing’s pollution on Colorado:
While Beijing’s pollution can be a factor in the overall air quality in the United States, it is not the primary driver of poor air quality in Colorado.
4) Comparison of air quality:
Denver’s air quality can be worse than Beijing’s on specific days, especially during rush hour or due to local inversions, but on average, Beijing has a higher number of days with poor air quality, according to a 9News article.
Please educate yourself on air quality issues in our district. Bias has no place in our politics and your bias in favor of oil and gas is clouding your thinking and misinforming the public, which I will call out every chance I get.
An Aware Constituent,
Carol Hawkins
Ault, Colorado
