CCI recently learned that the Regional Air Quality Council’s (RAQC) Electrify Lawn & Garden Work Group is developing two strategy proposals that it intends to present to the Air Quality Control Commission. One of those strategies would prohibit public entities – including local governments – within the Denver Metro/North Front Range ozone nonattainment area from using small gasoline-powered push and hand-held lawn and garden equipment between June 1 and August 31. The restriction would apply to lawn and garden services contracted for by such governmental entities and would not apply to large gas-powered riding equipment and tractors or to equipment used for the purpose of abating or preventing damage during a declared emergency or storm cleanup.
The latest draft regulations are available here. Please contact RAQC Executive Director Mike Silverstein directly (and copy Reagan Shane) with comments and concerns about the concept. The RAQC Board is expected to approve the strategy concept on July 7th (view the meeting agenda and Zoom information here) and to finalize the proposed regulatory language by July 31st.