DENVER—A gas industry group says it is willing to help compile data on the effects of drilling on Garfield County’s air quality.
The proposal by the Western Slope Colorado Oil and Gas Association follows the cancellation of a planned air quality study by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Antero Resources Corp. plans to drill as many as 200 wells within Battlement Mesa, an unincorporated community of about 5,000 people in western Garfield County.
The Glenwood Springs Post Independent reported Friday ( ) that local drillers could work with the Colorado State University School of Atmospheric Studies or another team on a survey.
“Our membership supports filling the data gaps identified in the application related to air quality,” said association director David Ludlam.
Ludlam emphasized a study would “just collect the data,” not interpret it.
In August, the state health department withdrew an application for an $850,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to monitor air quality in the Battlement Mesa area. The state, industry and others couldn’t agree how to do the study, said Martha Rudolph, the agency’s director of environmental programs.
Garfield County was to match $116,000 of the cost of the study, which was to be conducted by the Colorado School of Public Health, associated with the University of Colorado.
In May, county commissioners terminated a draft Health Impact Assessment prepared by the school. They said it had become subject to an endless stream of commentary and objections.
Ludlam said “there was an unspoken uncomfortability” among drillers toward the school’s work because it “focused on interpreting data for its public health implications.”
Jim Rada, the county’s environmental health manager, said the gas association had offered to help the county with air quality studies.
“That would certainly not be an objective study,” said former county Commissioner Trési Houpt.
“I think it’s a little suspicious that COGA is now looking toward finding some way to pay for a study,” Houpt said.
Six Battlement Mesa residents have filed a lawsuit alleging Antero Resources Corp.’s drilling activities are exposing them to hazardous substances and hurting their property values.
Antero typically doesn’t comment on pending litigation.
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Information from: Post Independent,
