RIFLE, Colo.—Garfield County is challenging an energy company’s plans to drill near several homes and a church south of Rifle, even though the company is backing off for now.
State laws limit how close wells can be located to churches, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church is nearby. Several neighbors also had complained about having a well so close to where people live, play and pray.
The proposed well was for a site close to a subdivision on the back road between Rifle and Rulison that also is the site of another subdivision being planned.
Even though the company Laramie Energy II is not moving forward on its proposal, Garfield County Commissioner John Martin said, commissioners decided to appeal the plan in case the company’s plans change or it sells to another company.
Those plans are not going forward for now.
“We’re going to put this proposed drill pad on hold to allow us an opportunity to see if we can find a location to allow us to develop our mineral rights,” said Ken Leis, land director for the company.
“Laramie had never, ever intended to move forward on this proposed location against the will of the people directly affected,” Leis said.
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Information from: Aspen Daily News,
