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""We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race." - Cicero
At the Board of County Commissioner’s study session
on May 14, the commissioners heard from
representatives of the State Attorney General’s office,
the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (the industry),
and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation
Commission (the state regulatory agency). The AG’s
office (and COGA) found fault with some of the oil and
gas regulations that have been drafted by county
representatives. Our regulations are slightly more
stringent than the State’s. One issue was with our
regulation to require a hearing for an application for
open pits to store produced water and flowback.
(Produced water can contain heavy, carcinogenic,
metals and radioactive materials.) The other was with
our requirement that no produced water be used for
road dust mitigation. If the BOCC compromises on both
of these issue, then surface control would be entirely
abrogated. It is also important to note that the State
representatives did not openly contest any issues
within the regulations and MOU as directly in dispute
with preemption rules.
A law firm hired by the county, when the regulations were first drafted, told us specifically that the county does have the authority to protect our water. The county has been given the right to control land use issues. Open pits and the use of produced water to mitigate dust on roads have been linked to contaminated ground water and adverse health impacts on people, livestock and pets throughout the country.
To ensure that our regulations be adopted, without changes, it is imperative we flood the administrative building on May 23, at 7pm for the Planning Commission meeting where the regulations will be heard. Citizens must let the Planning Commission know that public safety, health and welfare need to be the guide for our regulations.
-Rick Blotter
A law firm hired by the county, when the regulations were first drafted, told us specifically that the county does have the authority to protect our water. The county has been given the right to control land use issues. Open pits and the use of produced water to mitigate dust on roads have been linked to contaminated ground water and adverse health impacts on people, livestock and pets throughout the country.
To ensure that our regulations be adopted, without changes, it is imperative we flood the administrative building on May 23, at 7pm for the Planning Commission meeting where the regulations will be heard. Citizens must let the Planning Commission know that public safety, health and welfare need to be the guide for our regulations.
-Rick Blotter
