Parachute – A natural-gas company has won approval for up to 31 temporary camps to house nearly 750 employees, the largest number of so-called “man camps” allowed in the area since new county rules were passed.
Doug Hock, spokesman for EnCana Oil & Gas (USA), said the company hopes the camps help ease a housing shortage, which is caused in part by northwest Colorado’s energy boom.
Hock said the camps, set up at remote sites near the gas fields, will mean less pressure on accommodations in town.
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission usually approves the temporary housing. Garfield County adopted its own regulations in November after learning it has the authority to permit them.
David Pesnichak, a senior planner with the county, said EnCana’s application is by far the largest the county has seen since the rules took effect.
