Face the State Staff Report
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have voiced opposition to proposed changes to the state's proposed oil and gas rules. Despite this resistance, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is moving forward with plans to train industry officials and environmental activists about the new, stricter regulations.
Training sessions, organized by the COGCC, are being held across the state and are open to the public. Organizers say they will attempt to clarify changes to the complicated guidelines governing drilling across the state. At Tuesday's session at the Colorado History Museum in Denver, about 100 people from the energy industry and environmental groups gathered to learn about the new rules. They were not, however, allowed to ask any questions or voice concerns.
According to the COGCC Web site, sessions will not be opened up to audience questions, but as an alternative, questions can be sent to the commission online.
Members of the oil and gas community say they were surprised by COGCC's unwillingness to take questions.
"We were extremely disappointed when we found out that they aren't taking questions," said Nate Strauch, spokesman for the Colorado Oil and Gas Association. "They didn't announce this policy and only put a footnote on the agenda. What we have seen is that they are not taking questions and just reading the new rules off of PowerPoint slides. So far the sessions have been extremely unhelpful."
COGCC environmental director Debbie Baldwin told Face the State that she is expecting feisty audiences at the sessions as they move to rural parts of Colorado where drilling is central to the local economies.
"Some people think the regulations aren't going far enough to protect wildlife and others think they are going too far and hurting the economy," said Baldwin. "We are expecting more resistance from environmental groups at future training sessions."
At the center of the controversy surrounding changes to the state's oil and gas rules is a new provision that allows the Department of Wildlife significant influence over how to define environmental impacts relating to drilling. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, sponsored a bill earlier in the session intended to clarify existing regulations, ease the permit process for oil companies ,and address potential property rights disputes. This bill, House Bill 1255, was postponed indefinitely after hours of heated testimony.
"The rules basically create a three-way power struggle that allows the Department of Wildlife and the operator to wedge the surface owner," said Gardner. "And why are they training on rules that haven't been approved yet - fait accompli?"
The bill seeking to enact the new rules, House Bill 1292, is being sponsored by Denver Democrat Anne McGihon and is at least a few weeks away from formal implementation.