Dr. Seth Lyman (Utah State University) said the Uinta Basin ozone-alert program will begin Dec. 1 and encouraged operators and residents to sign up for email and website alerts (basinwx.com) that forecast winter ozone events up to two weeks out. "When it comes to wintertime ozone... we need to reduce pollution when it matters most," he said, urging industry and the public to follow event notices.

Lyman also announced the ozone working group meeting on Dec. 10 and previewed a planned large-scale emissions study to refresh basin emission estimates, which will require industry cooperation and site access. He invited interested participants to engage with USU staff and noted the study may be discussed further at the March meeting.

Sheila Vance (Department of Air Quality) briefed operators on two grants: an EPA-funded DEQ grant to replace thief hatches (DEQ anticipates funding for roughly 800 replacements) and a DOE-funded marginal-well-closure grant for wells near economic thresholds. Vance noted DEQ’s 2023 emissions inventory reduced the assumed tank-control failure rate from about 30% (2017 input) to 14% in 2023, reflecting mitigation progress.

Panelists asked USU and DEQ technical questions about forecast confidence, detection thresholds and inventory methodology; both agencies encouraged continued data-sharing with industry to ensure accurate study conclusions and informed regulatory decisions.