Aurora forgoes fracking moratorium but begins looking at local regulations

AuroraSentinel
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
By SARA CASTELLANOS


AURORA | It’s illegal for the city of Aurora to outright ban hydraulic fracturing but the city could enact an ordinance that regulates drilling-related land uses, city attorneys told Aurora City Council members at a public meeting on Feb. 25.

Council members at the meeting informally approved a draft ordinance regulating oil and gas development amidst growing tensions from the community about the environmental impacts of fracking.

City staff members in the coming weeks are slated to meet with major oil and gas developers to discuss the proposed draft, and council members will have to formally vote on the draft at a later date.

The draft ordinance puts stricter regulations on oil and gas developers than the city’s current ordinance, but concerned residents still say council should have done more.
City council members at the meeting rejected the idea of a moratorium to study the environmental impacts of oil and gas drilling, although Councilwoman Renie Peterson tried to push that proposal at the meeting.

Bob Rogers, deputy city attorney, said the moratorium would be pointless.

“We don’t need that breather,” he said. “Staff is on the way to change the ordinance and we think it’s better to get public hearings and to force negotiations on the (drilling) operators instead of waiting 30 or 60 days for nothing because we’re not going to be doing a fracking study.”

That was disappointing to Sonia Skakich-Scrima, a member of What The Frack? Arapahoe, a grassroots group that has spent the past several months trying to convince council members of the need for a moratorium.

“I would have liked to see a six-month moratorium to allow staff to better inform themselves,” she said.

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Colorado regulators question drilling moratorium - This has upset Oil and Gas Companies

Denver Post

Posted: 10/04/2011 08:08:09 AM MDT

Updated: 10/04/2011 12:56:21 PM MDT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Colorado oil and gas regulators are questioning El Paso County's decision to impose a four-month moratorium on drilling permits after county officials were warned about plans for large-scale drilling in the county.

Dave Neslin, director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, said regulators do not believe a local moratorium is appropriate. He said the state provides sufficient regulation and local officials did not discuss the temporary ban with the commission.

Under state law, counties can set land use regulations to address such issues as setbacks, environmental aspects and site safety. They also are worried about impacts to roads and ensuring adequate and safe water supplies.

The state regulates drilling and extraction activity that happens beneath the surface.
El Paso County has no local rules. Staff members warned the county commission last week that an undisclosed energy company was considering setting up large-scale exploration pad sites soon.

The story was first reported by the Colorado Springs Gazette (http://bit.ly/qG8BGa).

County officials say the four-month suspension would give county leaders more time to create local land use regulations and set up a permit process.

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Get over it O&G. You are destroying the land of the people. Have a shot of warm frac-fluid and tuck yourself into bed. You are not the 'King' of all kingdoms. You are not an authority that supersedes all minions. You are a human that simply steps on others for a dollar bill. In fact, you are not a civilized human. If an environmental or human health issue is in question, you should refrain from operations. Period.

This is a serious concern Mr. David Neslin, and you need to understand that you are not abiding by your mission statement, wherein it states:

The mission of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) is to foster the responsible development of Colorado's oil and gas natural resources.

Responsible development results in:

• The efficient exploration and production of oil and gas resources in a manner consistent with the protection of public health, safety and welfare
• The prevention of waste
• The protection of mineral owners' correlative rights
• The prevention and mitigation of adverse environmental impacts 

The COGCC seeks to serve, solicit participation from, and maintain working relationships with all those having an interest in Colorado's oil and gas natural resources.


Listen to the people Neslin! Empty your pockets and work for the people!