Updated by Staff

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the State of Colorado to re-do an air permit analysis of an air compressor in Weld County owned by Anadarko Petroleum Corp. The additional analysis must be done within 90 days, according to the directive.

The Federal agency contends the initial study of pollution was too narrow and that the state failed to adequately evaluate overall pollution impacts. Signed by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, the order said the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment “failed to adequately support or explain” its decision.

An environmental group, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action, prompted the EPA order when it brought forth a petition that said state regulators  had failed to take into account the air-quality impacts of other Anadarko operations around the Frederick compressor station, which prepares natural gas for pipeline transporting. The initial state analysis only reviewed activities within one city block of the compressor station.

There was “no justification for the use of one city block,” the EPA order said. The permit was issued under Bush administration EPA guidance, said James Martin, director of the state Department of Public Health and Environment.

“We have some work to do,” Martin told the media. He added that the state and the natural-gas industry have already taken steps to cut up to 98 percent of the emissions from tanks, valves and large engines in the oil fields.”There is a question of how much more can be done,” Martin said.

Houston-based Anadarko acquired the Weld County operations when it bought Kerr-McGee Corp. in 2006.

“As with all of our permits, Anadarko has followed all necessary state and federal regulations in our permitting process,” spokeswoman Kimberly Mazza told the Denver Post. “We will continue to cooperate with the state, providing the information needed in this permit renewal process.”