A glut in air-pollution permit applications to the state has led to a backlog that is delaying oil and gas construction projects and raising concerns about increased air pollution.

Colorado Air Pollution Control Division engineers are evaluating about 1,800 permit applications, division Director Will Allison said. With help from six new engineers the division has hired temporarily to address the backlog, Allison hopes to address about 700 applications that have remained in the division for “some time” by the month’s end. 

“We had a backlog, which we’ve actively worked to reduce and are seeking to eliminate,” he said.

Required by state and federal law, permits allow construction or operation of facilities that pollute the air. The division evaluates applications to determine whether emissions are acceptable and uses permits to track and limit pollution.

“It’s of interest to all of us, the oil and gas industry, but also Coloradans that we have an efficient and timely permitting system to ensure that that isn’t holding up economic development,” Colorado Oil and Gas Association President Tisha Schuller said.

Oil and gas