CDPHE seeks nearly $4 million to modernize stationary-source permitting system; WIC upgrade also requested

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment asked the committee for $3,936,306 in state funds to complete a modernization of the Air Pollution and Control Division’s database used for permitting, inspection, enforcement, billing and emissions reporting for stationary sources.

Samantha Falco said the project is in its final phase and noted the department had previously used both state and cash funds for earlier phases. When a committee member asked whether the department could use cash funds to finish the project, staff said the department reported the stationary source control fund was facing a significant revenue shortfall and therefore requested state funds. Falco said she would ask the department for a more direct explanation of the shortfall and for the consequences of not funding the final phase immediately.

Dan Gravy also presented a separate CDPHE request to modernize the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program information system. That request is for $1.9 million and combines federal spending authority and state funds; the department is using federal funds to leverage the state portion and said federal funding streams are split across multiple federal sources with differing timelines.

Committee members asked staff to flag projects with federal timing constraints and to return with clarifying details on cash-fund viability and the consequences of delaying funding. Falco noted some projects have federal requirements with hard deadlines and promised to identify those for the committee.