DENVER—Colorado’s effort to revamp oil and gas regulations got a thumbs-up Wednesday from nine environmental and wildlife advocacy groups that say more balance is needed in the face of record natural gas development.
The groups’ endorsement came a day before industry representatives and supporters planned simultaneous news conferences in four cities across the state to warn that the changes could hinder oil and gas production, decrease state and local tax revenue and jeopardize thousands of jobs.
The object of the praise and protest is an overhaul of how the oil and gas industry is regulated in Colorado. One law broadened the diversity of the state Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which critics believed was too cozy with the industry it oversees.
State regulators are writing rules to implement other parts of the laws, including involving state wildlife, health and environment experts in reviewing development.
“Colorado’s facing an unprecedented oil and gas boom,” said Elise Jones, director of the Colorado Environmental Coalition.
It’s time to update the protections for wildlife, the environment and communities, Jones added.
The conservation groups sent a letter of support Wednesday to Dave Neslin, acting director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
The commission and the state wildlife and health departments wrote preliminary proposals that were aired during five public meetings across the state and more than 30 sessions of various interest groups. Neslin is expected to release draft rules by the end of month, which will prompt review by the commission and more public hearings.
The goal is to adopt new rules by July.
The Colorado Oil and Gas Association, a trade group, has complained that the industry was left out of writing the preliminary rules, resulting in a flawed process. The group has argued its case to Gov. Bill Ritter and legislators, saying the proposals would result in costly delays and discourage investment in Colorado.
Conservation groups say the state is making a good-faith effort to meet the requirements of the laws passed last year.
“We feel the process has been reasonable, comprehensive and inclusive,” Jones said. “Industry in particular has had many more seats at the table than anyone else.”
Gary Graham, director of Audubon Colorado, said the intent of the laws was to strike a balance between energy development and the state’s other important natural resources.
“When this tremendous energy development finally winds down, we want to be sure that the very natural resources that so define our state and lifestyle are still here for future generations,” Graham said.
Conservation groups fear that record-setting gas drilling, particularly in western Colorado, could damage habitat and harm the wildlife, including some of the country’s largest deer and elk herds, that is a major part of area economies through hunting and fishing.
Colorado issued a record 6,368 drilling permits last year, six times the 1999 number. Currently, there are 34,000 active wells statewide.
The industry and the technology have evolved since many of the existing regulations were written, Jones said.
“There are ways industry can, in some places is, minimizing the impacts,” Jones said. “We need to make that standard operating procedure. We need to raise the bar.”
