July 28, 2012 09:08 AM UTC

You want to put it where...?

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• by: Duke Cox

I came across this story from Energywire. The decision about re-establishing more reasonable setbacks from homes when locating drilling rigs has been “on the table” at the COGCC for three or four years. Now that discussions are underway, they have been talking for over five months.

The O&G industry will try to stall a decision for as long as they can, all the while setting drilling rigs pretty much wherever they damn well please. Pressure on the O&G leadership is growing dramatically, though, as one community after another realizes the risks they are facing when a drilling rig moves into their neighborhood.

OIL AND GAS: Drilling rigs in Colo. must be farther from homes, schools and hospitals — conservationists  (Thursday, July 26, 2012)

http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/n…

Scott Streater, E&E reporter

A coalition of Colorado conservation groups is asking the state to require that oil and natural gas drilling rigs be sited farther away from homes, schools, hospitals and nursing homes where air pollution from drilling operations can threaten the health of children and others who are most vulnerable.

Boulder-based Western Resource Advocates and two other groups sent a seven-page letter yesterday to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) asking the agency to begin developing new setback rules forbidding drilling rigs within 1,000 feet of residential housing and within 1,500 feet of schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities.

The groups’ letter — sent to COGCC acting Director Thom Kerr — argues that public health studies have found that drilling operations emit toxic pollutants such as benzene and formaldehyde that “pose health risks ranging from asthma to neurological conditions to cancer.” Yet the state’s current 350-foot setback from residences and schools in urban areas is “a much shorter distance than required for liquor stores” and is not a sufficient distance to protect the health of nearby homeowners and schoolchildren, they write.

“In Adams, Boulder, Broomfield and Weld counties, 87 existing, active or proposed drilling sites appear to be within 1,000 feet of public schools,” according to the letter, which in addition to WRA includes the Durango-based San Juan Citizens Alliance and Grand Junction-based Western Colorado Congress.

“This is about protecting the health and safety of families,” said Mike Chiropolos, chief counsel for WRA’s Lands Program. “Continuing to allow drilling just a football field’s length from a playground is not in the best interests of any community.”

What really angers me is listening to engineers from the companies, whose lobbyists fight a change tooth and nail, brag to me about how they can reach out a mile or more with their directional drilling. Why do they fight so hard to resist a sensible standard? Because, second only to their perception it will affect their profit, they can’t stand to be told what to do.

What front range communities and their leaders need to know is the Colorado Supreme Court, in what is known as the “Gunnison Decision”, held that local governments have rights, in at least seven areas, to regulate O&G acvtivities in their community. Contact WSA, WCC or the SJCA if you need help with information or networking. And while you are at it…send them a check.

And…never, never give up.