The North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) is jointly hosting a 2-day conference with Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) on ozone science and attainment challenges specific to the Intermountain West states.
Planning is currently underway – please check in here for updates as we confirm venues, dates, program schedule, registration cost, and sponsorship opportunities. See sign-up form below to stay updated!
Why do we need this exchange?
Ozone levels in the intermountain west are no longer responding to state initiatives reducing human-made pollutant emissions that contribute to ozone production.
Ozone is not directly emitted into the atmosphere, it is chemically created by combining nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. NOx and VOC are called ozone precursors. In areas where the ozone monitors show exceedance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone, local air agencies must reduce ozone levels by reducing these ozone precursors. However, in IMW nonattainment areas contributions from high background levels, natural sources, wildfires and related mitigation activities, international sources, and more appear to unduly influence whether areas can attain or come into attainment of the NAAQS. These sources of ozone precursors and ozone are not within any one state’s authority to control.
The last time a regional ozone conference was held was in 2016 by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Given the pressing need for understanding the ozone attainment challenges in the IMW states, this conference provides a regional venue in which to broadly share research findings and collectively discuss solutions.
IMW ozone nonattainment areas for the 2015 ozone NAAQS (70 ppb)
- Denver Metro/North Front Range, Colorado (map)
- Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona (map)
- Las Vegas in Clark County, Nevada (map)
- Northern Wasatch Front and Uinta Basin, Utah (map)
What are the goals for this exchange?
- Sharing information among IMW air quality agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, academic researchers, industry, local governments, community groups, and members of the public
- Education on the EPA’s State Implementation Plan process and Clean Air Act requirements and provisions
- Recognition and prioritization of unique regional challenges and considerations faced in the IMW states
- Discussing near-term and longer-term solutions and communication planning
This conference is not intended to debate the health impacts of ozone or the current ozone federal health standard.
Exchange details
Date: Coming Soon
Location: Coming Soon
Hosts: NFRMPO and PPACG
Hotel options: Coming Soon
Registration cost: Coming Soon
Travel scholarship availability: Coming Soon
Call for abstracts – submission form coming April 22nd!
Abstract themes:
- Recent and on-going ozone studies, findings and data gaps
- Unique regional challenges and considerations faced in the intermountain west, including topography, weather, wildfire related activities and natural events, biogenic emissions, background ozone, long-range transport, and local and state human-made contributions
- Options to address those unique challenges, including those currently available in the existing statutory and regulatory frameworks, and other near-term and/or long-term solutions
- Public communication on high ozone days or anticipated high ozone days, and measuring communications effectiveness
- Emerging air quality issues (e.g., artificial intelligence, multipollutant interactions and management, consumer products, behavioral changes, population dynamics)
Spread the word
Help us spread the word of the 2026 Intermountain West Ozone Exchange with the following documents and social media posts:
Save the Date Flyer
Information Sign-up Form
Want to learn information and details about the 2026 Intermountain West Ozone Exchange as they are announced? Fill out the following form to receive email communications about the event!
Contact information
For questions and sponsorship inquiries, please contact the IMW Ozone Conference Planning Committee at imwozone@outlook.com.