Open letter to the Honorable John Hickenlooper, Governor State of Colorado

July, 31 2012 Dear Governor, Let me introduce myself, I am Carl B. Erickson. I reside in Weld county Colorado. I am currently running for Weld county Commissioner at Large as a write- in candidate. Overall I am very pleased with your tenure as Governor, especially your handling of the recent tragedies in Aurora and the wildfire epidemic. But as a resident of Weld county, the county which has the largest number of oil and gas wells in it, I have one very large area of concern. I am heartily worried about the future of our great State, I fear the will and welfare of our citizens are being widely ignored. Widely voiced resistance to unwanted hydro-fracture drilling and the plethora of support industries involved in it are met by platitudes and rhetoric by our elected officials at the state and local levels. You, sir, are among the issuers of these. On July 17, 2012 you were quoted as saying “Like any industrial process, fracking has some risks but, really, if done properly, certainly out in the West, there is literally no risk — certainly much less than many industrial processes,” in an interview for Fortune Magazine. Which is it Governor? Some risk, literally no risk, or much less risk? Is it the ‘some risk’ of polluting reported by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission estimated at 44% of spills at fracking pads resulting in contamination of groundwater? Or the ‘literally no risk’ imposed by drinking water contamination as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency in their draft report on contamination in Pavillion WY? Or the ‘much less risk’ posed by the EPA analysis of the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas being 9,000 times higher than previously reported? Or, maybe the operative phrase is, ‘if done properly’. Perhaps the necessary steps are not in place to insure the responsible drilling of which you speak. Perhaps the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s maximum fine of $1000 dollars a day per incident isn’t anything more than an acceptable operating cost to the offenders. Or maybe the handful of investigators we have is not enough. Whatever the cause, if we are not ensuring drilling is ‘done properly’ we are ignoring the health and welfare of our environment and our residents. Stunts like swilling fracking fluid as you said you did in a March 1 2012 radio report for KUNC, do little to assuage concerns when residents who live in the vicinity of frack sites can observe the effect of spilled fluids first-hand. Dying plants and dead water life are ample proof that just because you can drink a little something (grain alcohol for example), doesn’t mean it is healthy or conducive to growth when applied in gallons. Residents of Weld county find it a hard pill to swallow when ample water to raise crops and quench the thirst of livestock and yards is unavailable to them. Insult is added to this injury when rows of fracking water trucks line up 20 deep to fill up with water from municipal fire hydrants as they do in Greeley, and then transport that water on county roads so dry they spew dust high in the sky and depress the roadbed with their weight, right past farmers and ranchers whose crops and livestock could have been sustained for a while on the contents of those trucks. The contents of said trucks to be pumped into the impervious shale layer that will only return a small fraction of its contents to water cycle. I’m sure you have heard of these issues, as well as the issues of inappropriate use of roads and blatant disregard of traffic laws in Weld County and elsewhere in the state. Yes we have jobs, but at what cost? At what level of quality are we subsisting in this energy economy? Cash is one of those things that may be edible, but is not beneficial as a primary foodstuff. Human and environmental issues are not things we can plug in to a cost/benefit analysis; any loss in either of these areas negates any benefit that might be gained. If this industry cannot operate ‘properly’ it needs to be halted until such time as our lives and livelihood can be protected. Therefore, Governor, I implore you to reconsider your stance on the practice of hydro-fracturing, considering the welfare of the majority of the citizens of this state before the financial benefits of a minority interest. Respectfully, Carl B. Erickson https://sites.google.com/site/electcarlberickson/

One dead in explosion at BP compression station

Durango Herald
June 25, 2012

By Dale Rodebaugh By , Shane BenjaminHerald staff writers


Enlargephoto

DAVID BERGELAND/Durango Herald

Officials at the scene of an explosion at a methane compression station about five miles east of Elmore’s Corner on U.S. Highway 160.

GEM VILLAGE – An explosion at a large gas compression station owned by BP killed one worker and seriously injured two others.

The explosion, which occurred about 8:15 a.m. today at BP’s Piñon Compression Station, temporarily closed U.S. Highway 160 five miles east of Elmore’s Corner.

“At this time our immediate concern is for the people involved,” said Julie Levy, a local spokeswoman for BP.

The plant has been shutdown, and there is no remaining threat to workers or the public, she said.

“The incident is essentially over,” Levy said.

One contract worker died and two contract workers were injured, she said. Eleven workers were on site at the time of the explosion.

“Everybody has been accounted for, and there is nothing ongoing about this incident,” she said.

Residents in the area reported hearing the explosion.

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Facts Don't Lie, Oil and Gas Does. Period

By Joshua Ruschhaupt

Most of the natural gas industry has turned its back on reasonable public health and environmental protections, and government oversight and enforcement needs to rebalance the equation.

As one of America's oldest and largest environmental organizations, the Sierra Club's oil and natural gas policies have evolved as we have learned more about adverse effects on our health and environment, as science evolves, and as we identify operational failures by both the government and industry.

The harms caused by the entire process of producing oil and natural gas must end. Despite claims to the contrary, groundwater contamination caused by drilling and fracking practices is prevalent and must be brought under control.

In February, Shane Davis, the Sierra Club Rocky Mountain Chapter Oil & Gas Research Manager, announced statistics on a sampling of 1,000 spill reports from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) website, dated after 2008. Davis stated, "We know that in Colorado, 43 percent of all spills contaminate groundwater, and 100 percent of all spills contaminate soils with toxins like deadly benzene, ethylene, toluene and xylene. There are horrific volumes of toxic and radioactive liquids that are never recovered from groundwater and soil."

Compounding the problem of spills, drilling and fracking operations are running in the heart of Colorado communities. We are alarmed that state and local governments continue to allow heavy industrial activities as close as 350 feet to occupied residences. The industry's operations are far from Best Management Practices (BMPs), due to their inherent failure rates. Overturning the numerous federal exemptions would be the first step in implementing BMPs for the oil and gas industry.

The Colorado School of Public Health states that people living within a half-mile radius from active oil and gas production suffer a greater risk for health complications and illness. If a resident complains of industrial odors to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, they often take 48 hours to respond, allowing the pollution to dissipate, eliminating the chance to properly investigate the report, and offering no answers for the homeowner. Some dangerous vapors are not even detectable by the human nose. There are no studies on the health impacts of drilling pad air toxins, and we agree with The Denver Post editorial board that comprehensive health impact studies are needed. In the meantime, Coloradans are exposed, yet unstudied, guinea pigs.

How do Colorado families protect their health and safety if an accident occurs next to their home or children's school? We believe this hazardous industrial activity must not continue to be exempt from human and environmental health protections, or allowed to operate next door to homes with growing children, elderly people, and other vulnerable populations.

The Sierra Club holds COGCC accountable in its mission, part of which states, "Responsible development results in ... the prevention and mitigation of adverse environmental impacts." COGCC can no longer be allowed to fail in this mission. The commission, the governor, and the industry should not be publicly defending the impacts of drilling that uses fracking. They should be mandating protection over profit. Every day we hear more about families being unable to drink their water due to fracking.

Colorado needs to move forward with our abundant, clean, inexpensive, healthy, jobs-generating, domestic, and renewable energy supplies. Because of the hazards created by production and consumption of coal, oil and natural gas, we need to move beyond these fuel sources as expeditiously as possible. Natural gas is a bridge fuel to further harming the planet, including our local environment and human health.

Rushing ahead to drill and burn more oil and natural gas while allowing the industry to operate in secrecy with inadequate protections will continue to harm people and wildlife, squander clean water, air and soil, and slow the development of cleaner forms of energy. We must act now for a better energy future.

Joshua Ruschhaupt is director of the Sierra Club Rocky Mountain Chapter. Other members of the Oil & Gas Team contributed to this commentary.

10 years since Frederick fought to a draw on oil/gas rules

By Scott Rochat Longmont Times-Call

Posted:   06/02/2012 07:24:36 PM MDT

Updated:   06/02/2012 08:22:14 PM MDT

An oil well sits in a field south of the new Frederick High School. ( LEWIS GEYER )

FREDERICK -- As Longmont struggles over how to regulate oil and gas drilling, the nearby town of Frederick can sympathize.

Frederick, of course, sits in the southwest corner of Weld County -- or perhaps that should be "Welled County." About one-third of the state's active oil and gas wells sit in Weld, more than 17,000 at last count. Of those, 440 are in Frederick, according to town officials.

So the town's no stranger to the industry, or to attempts to deal with it. In fact, Frederick is a legal landmark in the field. Ten years ago, the town and North American Resources Co. (NARCO) were locked in a courtroom battle, waiting for Division IV of the Colorado Court of Appeals to have its say on just how far a town could

Frederick had regulations requiring each well site to be at least 350 feet from an occupied building. Division IV of the Colorado Court of Appeals judges struck down the setback regulations. ( LEWIS GEYER )

regulate a driller.

The results, to say the least, were mixed.

"The court in essence said, 'We're not going to tell you what to do. We're going to say you can do it, just not the way you have done it,'" said Cyril Vidergar, an attorney for the town.

A taxing issue

The issue really started even 10 years before that. Back in 1991, Frederick used to levy an "occupation tax" on oil and gas operators, a specific levy on anyone wanting to bring up oil and gas in the town limits. That got challenged in court and eventually settled -- but in the aftermath, state authorities made occupation taxes illegal in 1996.

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As we have stated last year: "It's WELL COUNTY" 

STOP FRACKING IN ERIE, CO - Dear Governor Hickenlooper

WATER DEFENSE

Across the country hydraulic fracturing has endangered the health of countless children.  Air emissions related to fracking can lead to asthma, diabetes, cognitive deficits, premature birth and more.  A study done by the Colorado School of Public Health found that residents living within a half mile of a fracking operation were more likely to develop cancer.  We, the undersigned, stand with the mothers of Erie Colorado in demanding that you immediately block all drilling operations at the Canyon Creek well pad near local elementary schools.

Click here to read Mark Ruffalo's op-ed in the Denver Post about Encana's reckless disregard for the health and safety of children in Erie. Click here to learn more about Erie Rising, the grassroots group the mothers of Erie formed to protect communities from the effects of natural gas drilling.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

Fracking Damage Cases and Industry Secrecy

EARTHJUSTICE

“Fracking" is when oil and gas companies blast millions of gallons of water treated with chemicals into the ground to force oil and gas from hard-to-reach places deep inside the earth. Along with a fracking-fueled gas rush have come troubling reports of poisoned drinking water, polluted air, mysterious animal deaths, and sick families.

But the oil and gas industry’s pattern of secrecy makes it difficult for researchers to study health and environmental impacts. One way that the gas industry keeps its secrets is by requiring people who settle damage lawsuits to sign non-disclosure agreements. These agreements have proven to be the norm, as this chart demonstrates.

 Show All (27) 

  Arkansas (3) 

  Colorado (4) 

  Louisiana (2) 

  New York (2) 

  Pennsylania (6) 

  Texas (8) 

  West Virginia (2) 

STATE

CASE NAME / STATUS

PLAINTIFF

CLAIM

INFORMATION NOT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE

AR

Tucker v. Southwestern Energy Co.
No. 11-0044
E.D. Ark. filed 5/17/2011
Active

Class action on behalf of residents living close to gas operations controlled by the defendant.

Southwestern Energy contaminated a private water well with fracking fluid (including alpha methylstyrene), and caused soil and air pollution as well.

Protective order governing discovery materials entered December 16, 2011, Doc. # 79.

AR

Ginardi v. Frontier Gas Services, LLC
No. 11-0420
E.D. Ark. filed 5/17/2011
Active

Class-action on behalf of plaintiffs who reside close to a natural gas compressor or transmission stations in the state of Arkansas.

Residents living close to natural gas compressor stations are exposed to harmful levels of methane, hydrogen sulfide, and other emissions.

Protective order governing confidentiality of discovery materials entered November 9, 2011, Doc. # 79.

AR

Berry v. Southwestern Energy Company
No. 11-0045
E.D. Ark. filed 5/17/2011
Active

Class action on behalf of plaintiffs who reside within 3 miles of natural gas wells in the state of Arkansas.

In 2011, Southwestern Energy caused methane to migrating to the named plaintiffs' drinking water well in Quitman, Arkansas.

No protective order entered.

CO

Case name and number unknown
Settlement in 2006[1]

Laura Amos

Chemicals used in fracking contaminated plaintiff's drinking water and caused her to develop a rare form of cancer.

According to newspaper accounts, the plaintiff's lawyer obtained documents proving that chemicals present in drinking water were used in the defendant's fracking fluids. Confidential settlement, which, according to press accounts, contained a nondisclosure agreement.

CO

Case name and number unknown
Settlement

Aimee Ellsworth

Methane contamination of private water well caused by drilling.

According to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and press reports, the parties reached an out-of-court, confidential settlement.[2]

CO

Strudley v. Antero Resources Corp.
No. 11-2218
Denver Co. Dist. Ct. filed 3/23/2011
Unknown

William and Beth Strudley, and their two children, William and Charles

Drilling and operation of three gas wells near the family's property caused groundwater contamination and air pollution.

Unknown.[*]

CO

Evenson v. Antero Resources Corp.
No. 11-5118
Denver Co. Dist. Ct. filed 7/20/2011
Unknown

Families in Garfield County

The defendant gas companyexposed the families to hazardous gases, chemicals, and toxic waste.

Unknown.[*]

Continue to more results...







....

Family Plans To Appeal Drilling Lawsuit Dismissal

Source: denver.cbslocal.com

May 11, 2012

DENVER (AP) – A Colorado family says they plan to appeal the dismissal of a lawsuit in which they alleged that oil and gas companies contaminated their drinking water and air.

A Denver District judge on Wednesday dismissed the case, saying Beth and Bill Strudley failed to show their family’s ailments were caused by work by Antero Resources Corp. and its subcontractors. The judge ruled that while the Strudleys had submitted supporting documents from a doctor, the doctor didn’t say that exposure to Antero’s operations specifically caused the family’s illnesses.

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Below is the reporter's transcript from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission's October 21, 2010 Hearing

Continue reading hearing...  LINK

We just couldn't help ourselves

We'd like to apply. Is that ok?

Job Title:	Director of the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
Class Title:	MANAGEMENT
Type of Announcement:	This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Closing Date/Time:	Mon. 05/21/12 11:59 PM Mountain Time
Primary Physical Work Address:	Oil and Gas Conservation Commission 1120 Lincoln Street Room 801 Denver CO 80203
Salary:	$6,662.00 - $12,073.00 Monthly
Hiring Pay Rate:	Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
FLSA Status:	Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Job Type:	Full Time
Who Competes:	Individuals eligible for transfer, non-disciplinary (voluntary) demotion, or reinstatement will be required to participate in the competitive assessment process in order to be considered for this vacancy.
Location:	Denver Metro, Colorado
How To Apply:	Thank you for your interest. Submit an on-line application by clicking the link below or submit a State of Colorado Application for Announced Vacancy and all supplemental questions according to the instructions provided below. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed above.
If not applying on-line, submit application to:	Department of Natural Resources Human Resource Office 1313 Sherman Street Room 415 Denver CO 80203 Fax: 303-866-6499
Department Contact Information:	Mary Vigil Human Resource Specialist mary.vigil@state.co.us 303-866-2667 x8646
Methods of Appointment:	Appointment to the vacancy or vacancies represented by this announcement is expected to be from the eligible list created or the transfer, non-disciplinary (voluntary) demotion or reinstatement applicants. However, there is the possibility that appointment(s), for valid, articulated business reasons may be made by transfer, reinstatement, disciplinary or non-disciplinary demotion, trial service reversion, placement due to return from military service or another method of appointment not stated.

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Department Information  Benefits  Supplemental Questions
The Colorado Department of Natural Resources was created with a mission to develop, preserve and enhance the state’s natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future citizens and visitors. The Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (OGCC) mission is to foster the responsible, balanced development, production, and utilization of the natural resources of oil and gas in the State of Colorado in a manner consistent with protection of health, safety, and welfare, including protection of the environment and wildlife resources; protect the public and private interests against waste in the production and utilization of oil and gas; safeguard, protect, and enforce the rights of owners and producers in a common source or pool of oil and gas, and plan and manage oil and gas operations in a manner that balances development with wildlife conservation in recognition of the state's obligation to protect wildlife resources and the hunting, fishing and recreation traditions they support, which are an important part of Colorado's economy and culture. If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and build greater public confidence in good government, consider joining the dedicated people of the State of Colorado.  Our professionals strive to support state government and the citizens of Colorado.  Customer service is a key component for every position in state government as is the focus on ideas and ways to redesign the delivery of services in making state government more: Effective. Measure every aspect of government to be sure it’s doing what it’s supposed to do and to look at outcomes to judge whether our programs are successful. Efficient. Deliver services in ways that are timely and effective including identifying waste and duplication and measure for efficiency.  Elegant.  Deliver state services in a way that elevates both the state employee and the person receiving the services.  In addition to a great location, rewarding, meaningful work, we offer: Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans Medical and dental health plans Paid life insurance Short- and long-term disability coverage 10 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training opportunities and more.
Description of Job:
The Department of Natural Resources is recruiting for a dynamic leader to direct the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. This position is in the Senior Executive Service (SES), which is a performance-based pay plan reserved for senior-level management positions responsible for relatively large or important segments of a principal department. Employees in SES agree to and sign a contract which expires and is re-negotiated annually. Specific duties include, but are not limited to: Plan, organize, direct and manage the operation of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to ensure the most efficient, effective and customer focused delivery of products and services. Interpret and implement statutes, policies and directives issued by the Colorado Legislature, Governor and Department of Natural Resources Executive Director. Enforce the rules and regulations adopted by the commission. Oversee the activities of the OGCC through subordinate managers, for Engineering, Environmental, Finance, Hearings, and Information Technology. Devise long and short-term plans to ensure fulfillment of the OGCC's mission. Advise commissioners on programmatic policies which guide the agency.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions and Conditions of Employment:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in petroleum engineering, geological engineering; hydrology; natural resource policy, planning, law or conservation; natural resources management; reclamation; soil science; agronomy; public administration; or a closely related field; AND Six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in petroleum engineering, geological engineering, natural resources law, regulatory compliance, environment protection or the reclamation of disturbed lands.  The experience must have included the following: Two (2) years managing a large multiple level organization through subordinate level staff; and Two (2) years of professional public or business administration which included establishing organization structure, developing strategic work plans, budget development and control, setting goals and objective to achieve program results and fostering a team environment. Substitutions: Experience that provided the same kind, amount and level of knowledge acquired in the required education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the bachelor’s degree.  A master’s or doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in petroleum engineering, geological engineering; hydrology; natural resource policy, planning, law or conservation; natural resources management; reclamation; soil science; agronomy; public administration; or a closely related field; may be substituted for the bachelor’s degree and two years of general experience. There is no substitution for the required two (2) years experience managing a large multiple level organization or the two (2) years of required experience of professional public or business administration.  Necessary Special Requirements:  Former employees of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources must have concluded employment in good standing to be eligible for rehire.  Conditions of Employment: Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado Driver’s License with the ability to independently travel. Must be willing to travel with some overnight travel for several days at a time often on relatively short notice. A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process. Felony convictions or conviction of crimes of moral turpitude or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the Department of Natural Resources Office of Human Resources with an official disposition of any charges. Must be willing to be on-call in the event of the activation of the Continuity of Operation Plan (COOP) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place. Required Competencies: Progressively responsible professional experience in petroleum engineering; geological engineering; natural resources law; natural resource policy or regulatory compliance.  Proven experience in budget, financial and contract management. Proven experience managing a staff with diverse professional experience and qualifications. Proven experience in policy analysis, development and implementation. Excellent interpersonal, communication and public speaking skills. Ability to problem solve and execute decisions. Excellent leadership, supervisory and team building skills. Ability to work in a complex political environment. Excellent negotiation and consensus building skills.
Supplemental Information:
Please submit an on-line application, resume, transcript and cover letter. The exam for this position will involve a review of the information you submit in your application material. Therefore, it is paramount that in the experience portion of your application and cover letter, you describe the extent that you possess the education, experience and competencies outlined in the job announcement as well as the special and/or preferred qualifications. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions may affect your score and prevent you from competing in subsequent measure used to arrive at a top group of applicants. If you do not submit transcripts at the time of application, you will be required to submit later in the selection process.