Debating a change in how we regulate the oil and gas industry
Re: “Leaders release oil-gas bill,” March 3, news story
Late Friday evening, Senate Bill 181 was introduced and immediately scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Transportation and Energy committee Tuesday at 2 p.m.
As surely as Proposition 112 would have resulted in crushing restrictions on Colorado’s oil and gas industry, SB 181 would have identical implications to our state economy by removing oil and gas revenues that represent over 10 percent of the general fund and directly depriving more than a quarter million Coloradans of their livelihood.
Simply put, passage of this bill would make our already heavily controlled extraction enterprises subject to levels of uncertainty and expense that they could not tolerate or survive.
This bill is purposely deceptive. The changes to current law appear to respect local governments’ ability to regulate the oil and gas industry under their own land use rules, but the bill is buffered by significant changes to the membership of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and provides for the commission’s responsibility to override local decisions to “avoid adverse impacts from oil and gas operations.” Does this mean locally or globally? It seems that would be up to the commission.
Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg and House Speaker K.C. Becker, both of Boulder, are the sponsors of the bill, and seem bent on ramming it through the legislature and on to Boulder-resident-and-Gov. Jared Polis’ desk, before appropriate examination and transparent deliberation can occur.
Dave Paul, Woodland Park
You must look past the doom and gloom rhetoric by the COGCC regarding SB 181, the health and safety first bill. The true concern of the gas and oil drilling industry regarding SB 181 is all about their money. They camouflage their real concerns about corporate profit and investor return in hysterical fear mongering with fabricated ridiculous claims of economic Armageddon. SB 181 is about the safety and health of our citizens. The primary concern regarding oil and gas drilling must be safety and health, not corporate profits.
The bill authorizes cities and counties to regulate oil and gas operations as they do other development.
Sen. Fenberg was absolutely correct in stating: “We also must empower communities to take control over whatap happening in their backyards and equip them with the tools they need to stand up for their best interests. These common-sense reforms will ensure the industry operates in an accountable and cooperative manner.”
Our state legislators must withstand the insidious attempts by the oil and gas industry to delay this bill and use their money and high paid lobbyists to gut it. Our legislators must stay firm and not delay action. Action is needed now to protect our families, children and communities, and this bill will help to accomplish this.
Ed Talbot, Arvada
Thank heavens for SB 181, which finally gives equal rights to surface property owners and local zoning control to cities and counties over an industrial activity.
For 100 years, the oil industry’s political campaign donations ensured there was no “conservation” in the COGCC, so the industry ran roughshod over us surface right property owners, aided and abetted by politicians beholden to their huge campaign donations.
There is an almost infinite reserve supply worldwide of oil and gas; it doesn’t need to come from your backyard with a kaboom and pollution factor let alone your legal right to “quiet enjoyment” of your property.
Richard Opler, Parker
