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Release Date: September 23, 2008
Updated Oil and Gas Measures Will Better Protect Coloradans' Health and Key Wildlife Habitat Denver, CO – Today, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission nearly ended the formal deliberation phase of the most extensive oil and gas rulemaking process ever in Colorado. After more than 6,000 hours of stakeholder meetings, public testimony, and formal deliberations, the Commission has now all-but-finalized vitally important, updated public health and wildlife protections, with one exception – pit rules. Those rules will be deliberated on later this year. "While not everything we wanted, so far these updated rules are an important step forward and will help to protect what we all love about Colorado, including our clean air, clean water, and wildlife habitat." said Elise Jones, Executive Director of the Colorado Environmental Coalition. "We know that drilling is going to increase in Colorado so it's critical that we make sure it's done safely and responsibly, without any shortcuts that would endanger public health or wildlife. The Commission, and Governor Ritter, both deserve praise for their leadership in shepherding this complex and contentious issue to a positive conclusion. We know that they will continue to guide the process carefully as they begin deliberations on the pit rules in November," added Jones. Colorado is on the front edge of a dramatic oil and gas drilling boom, necessitating the updated oversight of drilling. Since 1999, drilling permits are up 600% and projections call for 120,000 new wells to be drilled in Colorado in the next 30 years. More-more-more Dr. Roxanna Witter, clinical instructor at the Colorado School of Public Health at CU Denver and lead author of a just released white paper on "Human Health Effects of Oil and Gas Development", said, "We know that oil and gas extraction activities use and produce chemicals that are hazardous to human health, and that these activities are occurring close to where people live. These common sense protections, soon to be formally adopted by the Commission, will help to better protect public health in Colorado." "Wildlife needs wild places to live and thrive. The Oil and Gas Commission recognized that and took a big step forward in protecting critical wildlife habitat today." said Steve Torbit, National Wildlife Federation Regional Executive Director. "But, there is more work to be done. We look forward to engaging in the stakeholder process beginning in January to address unresolved issues including aquatic setbacks from streams." noted Torbit. CEC's Jones pointed out that while both sides made significant concessions to reach a compromise, some rules should have gone further. "Companies can still drill within 151 feet of a Coloradoan's bedroom window while our neighbors in Wyoming and New Mexico require 500 foot setbacks from residences. Fortunately, this topic will be addressed through a stakeholder process beginning in January. We look forward to that process." The Commission is expected to meet in October to take a final vote ratifying the updated protections, with the exception of those portions of the rules that pertain to pits. |
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