Colorado exemption allows industry to pollute without permit

Colorado public health officials routinely allow oil and gas companies to begin drilling and fracking without obtaining federally required permits that limit the amount of pollution they can discharge into the air.

The Denver Post reported Sunday that the state Department of Public Health and Environment allows companies to pollute without permits under an exemption that gives a 90-day window.

Officials say this approach lets companies determine how much a site will likely pollute, so regulators can take that into account when they issue air pollution permits later.

According to documents, the state is allowing companies to pollute without permits at 193 sites.

Officials say air pollution permit applications are being processed at those sites.

State health officials say they have started reviewing whether the exemption complies with federal law.