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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
(970) 336-7204
1150 0 St., P.O. Box 758
COUNTY, CO Greeley, CO 80632
March 2, 2026
Jeremy Neustifter, Board Manager
Air Quality and Clean Fleet Enterprises
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Re: Letter of Support for Grant Funding Allocation Under RFP 2025000002
Dear Air Quality Enterprise (AQE) Board of Directors,
The Weld County Board of County Commissioners(BOCC) strongly endorses and supports
the joint North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) and Pikes Peak
Area Council of Governments (PPACG) proposed Fall 2026 intermountain west (IMW)
regional conference focused on understanding the unique challenges with elevated
ground-level ozone in Denver, Phoenix,Salt Lake City,and Las Vegas.Their proposal aligns
with the AQE RFP 2025000002 goals to "promote cross-sector collaboration among
research institutions, community organizations, private companies, and/or local or tribal
governments."
Despite substantial reductions in human-made precursor pollutants, IMW ozone
concentrations remain high while options for emission control strategies become scarce.
Funding this proposal would provide an essential forum for advancing understanding of
IMW ozone science, identifying research gaps, improving modeling and monitoring
approaches, and informing adaptive strategies. Bringing together researchers,air quality
managers, local governments, public health professionals, community advocates, and
policy leaders will support evidence-based discussion of why conventional control
measures may not be yielding reduced ozone. The opportunity for discussion between
technical experts and the public would help to build trust, improve risk communication,
and support informed local decision-making.
For these reasons, we urge favorable consideration of AQE funding for the Fall 2026 IMW
Ozone Conference. Weld County commits to providing staff support in planning the
conference. Dr.Annareli Morales in our Department of Public Health and Environment has
extensive experience organizing scientific conferences and will ensure representation of
key stakeholders.Supporting this conference represents a timely and necessary investment
in improving Colorado and IMW air quality management.
Sin erely,
S..tt K. James.
Chair, Weld County Board of Commissioners
Go t-'L M on". G 0. -(- ;o n$ 2026-0478
03(oa/26
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