By Christopher Dann
Special to The SUN
The Four Corners Air Quality Group will host a forum Friday, April 17, in Farmington, N.M., to discuss methane and methane-related issues affecting the region.
“The forum will provide stakeholders and the public with details about methane-related research conducted in the San Juan Basin and an update on newer research,” said Richard Goodyear, air quality bureau chief for the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). “As the science emerges around detection of elevated methane levels in the region, NMED is keeping a close eye on the data and associated issues. There’s a lot of interest in methane and this event will be a great opportunity for all of us to listen, learn and ask questions.”
Michael Silverstein, administrator for the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, said, “The forum is an exciting opportunity to learn more about the region’s methane emissions from both pre-existing natural sources and human activities. State-of-the-art research focused on the Four Corners area is vital to the understanding of greenhouse gas emissions and potential mitigation options.”
The forum is timely because a team of scientific investigators is now in the Four Corners region attempting to learn more about a methane hotspot detected from space by a European satellite.
The forum will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at San Juan College. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s mobile monitoring van will be available for viewing.
The Four Corners Air Quality Group’s homepage includes the meeting agenda.
