air quality

Wyoming has a new way for testing emissions related to oil and gas production, and the state won an award for it.

One consequence of human-caused climate change is that warm temperatures are persisting into the fall. Among other things, that means that plants have more time to produce and release pollen that irritates millions of allergy sufferers across the country. A recent report from Climate Central found that the freeze-free growing season for ragweed has grown by an average of 11 days since 1970 in some 160 cities.

Wyoming’s plan for managing pollution from some of its coal plants is okay for now, due to a recent court ruling. While the state sees this as a win, environmental groups are concerned.

Thousands of Americans are dying prematurely because of pollution from oil and gas, according to a new study from four health and environmental advocacy groups, those include Boston University, University of North Carolina, the Environmental Defense Fund (EFD) and Physicians, Scientists and Engineers for Health Energy.

Some Laramie County residents recently submitted a letter to the state, requesting that an air quality monitor be moved to better reflect the air they are breathing in.

One can see hundreds of homes all on a couple acres of prairie, and mixed in with these houses is oil and gas development. Driving through one passes a home and then a couple pump jacks, and then past another home one sees a drilling rig. Oil and gas activity significantly picked up in Laramie County about 10 years ago, and in the years since, it has moved into residential areas. The Cheyenne Area Landowners Coalition advocates for residents that are concerned about this development.

The state will be tracking how oil and gas development is affecting air quality in Laramie County over the next year, but some residents question how accurate the data will be.The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) recently moved one of its mobile air quality testing units to Laramie County. There are three units that move across the state periodically to test air.

The silver dirigible-like structure may soon 'park' in the stratosphere above New Mexico oil fields to monitor methane, part of a growing effort in the Mountain West to track the potent heat-trapping gas that leaks from oil and gas infrastructure.

The Mountain West is known for big blue skies. But several cities here are among the nation’s worst for short-term air pollution levels, according to a new American Lung Association study. Wildfire smoke is an increasing factor, but so is smog from growing cities across the region.

After another historic wildfire season, scientists from across the region will gather virtually to discuss what to do about the health impacts of wildfire smoke.