Drilling activity in Colorado has accelerated over the past three months, underscoring the importance of implementing new permitting rules aimed at protecting the environment, public health and wildlife, an oil and gas commission official said today.
From June to August, the state issued 2,280 drilling permits, up from 1,860 permits issued from March to May, said Dave Neslin, acting director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
Neslin urged the commission, which resumed deliberations today on the proposed rules, to not delay implementation, currently set for Jan. 1 for activity on private land and April 1 for operations on federal land.
Tom Dugan, an attorney for the oil and gas industry, suggested earlier today that the rules should not go into effect until April for operations on both private and federal land.
Also today, the commission voted to defer deliberations on rules related to the construction and maintenance of waste pits and drilling during wintering or mating season for key wildlife species, perhaps the most contentious of the proposed rules.
The commission is scheduled to meet through Thursday, but won’t deliberate on those rules until they convene again for the final round of deliberations Sept. 22 and Sept. 23. The commission said “clarifications” on those rules may be discussed this week.
The new set of rules were drafted to comply with two bills passed by the legislature last year requiring the commission to consider public health and wildlife in its permitting process. The bills also directed regulators to consult with the state Department of Public Health and Environment and the Division of Wildlife.
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209 or avuong@denverpost.com
