Colorado Benzene Point Sources 2008-2020

This dataset in shapefile format includes point sources emitting benzene in the state of Colorado as reported to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Emissions Inventory (NEI) from 2008-2020. Report years are 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2020. Benzene is a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) that is a constituent of petroleum products and emitted during extraction, production, and combustion activities. Benzene is classified as a known human carcinogen. This dataset can be used for estimating benzene exposure in the state of Colorado based on location and can serve as a template for creating similar datasets for point sources of benzene in other states.

The EPA NEI compiles estimated emissions of Criteria Air Pollutants (CAP) and HAPs from point, nonpoint, on-road, nonroad, and fire sources every three years, starting with 2008. The point emissions data is derived from annual emissions estimates provided by each facility to each state, which then reports these amounts to the EPA. Point source emissions data of benzene were downloaded from publicly available US EPA NEI datasets [https://www.epa.gov/air-emissions-inventories/national-emissions-inventory-nei]. These comma-separated value (.csv) files contain reported benzene point emissions data (in pounds) from Colorado facilities in the calendar years 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2020. Facilities on tribal lands were not included in these state reports and are not included in this dataset.