Oil and gas operators in the Wattenberg Field, Colorado’s most active, would be required to do more groundwater testing under a bill approved by a legislative committee Thursday.
The House Committee on Health, Insurance and Environment approved the bill, HB-1316, on a 6 to 5 vote. It now goes to the appropriations committee.
In January, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission adopted a regulation requiring groundwater testing before and after drilling at each well site in the state.
For the Wattenberg, which covers Weld County and parts of the neighboring counties, a less rigorous standard was set.
The bill, sponsored by House Majority Leader Dickey Hullinghorst, D-Boulder, and Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornton, would require uniform testing across the state.
Mark Jaffe: 303-954-1912, mjaffe@denverpost.com or
