Rio Blanco, CO
Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.
Environmental data for Rio Blanco in Colorado · Population: 6,518
TRI sites such as Enterprise Gas Proc - Meeker Gas Plant; Willow Creek Gas Plant; SDWIS systems such as RIFLE CITY OF; RANGELY TOWN OF; MEEKER TOWN OF anchor Rio Blanco, CO's EPA extract. Derived burden score 22/100 (Low Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.
Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Rio Blanco include RIFLE CITY OF; BUCKSKIN VALLEY SUBDIVISION, while Enterprise Gas Proc - Meeker Gas Plant leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 46 / peak 142 in 2024.
Burden score 22/100 (Low Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Rio Blanco -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.
Release-over-release change
What changed for Rio Blanco, CO: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year
Same facilities, both years
+48.3%
2 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023
Whole inventory
+48.3%
27.5 thousand lb → 40.8 thousand lb, every facility that filed
- Rio Blanco, CO's total reported releases rose from 27.5 thousand lb in 2022 to 40.8 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Rio Blanco, CO's chemicals reported rose from 3 in 2022 to 5 in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Rio Blanco, CO's air releases rose from 25.0 thousand lb in 2022 to 38.8 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Rio Blanco, CO's off-site transfers fell from 2.5 thousand lb in 2022 to 2.0 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
Air Quality History (2020–2024)
EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.
| Year | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy (SG) | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 266 (73%) | 96 | 4 | 142 |
| 2023 | 247 (68%) | 113 | 4 | 166 |
| 2022 | 243 (67%) | 120 | 2 | 122 |
| 2021 | 212 (58%) | 148 | 4 | 156 |
| 2020 | 263 (72%) | 99 | 3 | 115 |
Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)
For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Colorado, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.
Water Systems (7)
| System | System pop (SDWIS) | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| RIFLE CITY OF | 9,489 | 4 |
| RANGELY TOWN OF | 2,495 | 0 |
| MEEKER TOWN OF | 2,473 | 0 |
| COTTONWOOD SPRINGS MHP | 750 | 0 |
| RIFLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER | 287 | 0 |
| CROSS L ESTATES | 50 | 0 |
| BUCKSKIN VALLEY SUBDIVISION | 28 | 4 |
TRI Facilities (2)
| # | Facility | Total Releases |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enterprise Gas Proc - Meeker Gas Plant | 57.0K lbs |
| 2 | Willow Creek Gas Plant | 11.4K lbs |
Cities in Rio Blanco (2)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the environmental risk level in Rio Blanco, Colorado? ▼
Are there Superfund sites in Rio Blanco? ▼
How many toxic release facilities are in Rio Blanco? ▼
What is the air quality in Rio Blanco? ▼
Is the drinking water safe in Rio Blanco? ▼
What environmental agencies cover Rio Blanco? ▼
What does this county environmental profile show?
This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.