BOULDER, Colo.—Boulder County commissioners have agreed to an 18-month extension of a moratorium on accepting new applications for oil and gas development in unincorporated areas of the county.
Weeks ago, it appeared commissioners might let the 16-month-old moratorium expire this month. But the Times-Call reports ( ) commissioners said Tuesday that the extension would allow more time to consult studies about the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing, which involves blasting sand, water and chemicals underground to extract oil and natural gas.
Commissioners said the extension also allow time to ensure county staff members are ready to inspect and monitor drilling.
State regulators and attorneys had argued there was no legal basis for extending the moratorium and that the extension could prevent mineral owners from accessing their minerals.
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Information from: Daily Times-Call,
