February 28, 2012 01:53 AM UTC

Enviros Call Out Hickenlooper's "Misleading" COGA Ad

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• by: Colorado Pols

Can’t see the audio player? Click here.

A short while ago, a coalition of state environmental groups, including Colorado Conservation Voters, the Colorado Environmental Coalition, and EarthJustice, sent out a release strongly criticizing Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper’s recent radio ad on behalf of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association–click above for audio–in defense of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”). It’s been a long time coming, but we’re pretty sure this marks the first direct attack on Hickenlooper from his left flank–after a number of incidents that arguably merited such a response.

“We are disappointed that the Governor lent his voice to a trade association advertisement that fails to tell the full story and leaves Coloradans with a false sense of security when it comes to groundwater contamination,” said Elise Jones, executive director of Colorado Environmental Coalition. “The unmistakable takeaway message from the ad is ‘don’t worry, everything is ok’ when it comes to water and oil and gas exploration. That is not the case.  There are numerous documented cases of groundwater contamination since 2008.  We should all be able to agree that there is more to be done to protect our air, land, and water from drilling.”

Since 2008, numerous instances of groundwater contamination have resulted from releases of chemicals such as petroleum liquids and produced water used and generated during drilling and hydraulic fracturing.  Accidental spills, corroded tanks and pipelines, and leaking containment pits have been implicated in numerous releases of toxic fluids, including carcinogenic hydrocarbons such as benzene. The Colorado oil and gas commission’s own report, issued earlier this month, makes clear that contamination of groundwater remains an ongoing issue with oil and gas development. Similarly, a Denver Post analysis of state records for 2011 found 58 cases of groundwater pollution linked to spills and releases.  Another Denver Post analysis of spill accidents dating backing to 2008 found an even greater number of groundwater incidents…

Full text after the jump–after a year of honeymoon, could this mark a new chapter in relations between Colorado’s “post-partisan” governor and his at-least technically Democratic base?

Hickenlooper lends voice to misleading oil and gas ad

Groups call on governor to set record straight on how drilling threatens Colorado’s water

Today, thirteen conservation groups delivered a letter to Gov. Hickenlooper expressing dismay over his claim in an oil and gas industry radio ad that “we have not had one instance of groundwater contamination associated with drilling and hydraulic fracturing” since the overhaul of the state’s oil and gas protections in 2008.  In fact, there have been dozens of cases of groundwater contamination from oil and gas activity since 2008.  The ad is sponsored by the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, the industry’s main trade group.

“We are disappointed that the Governor lent his voice to a trade association advertisement that fails to tell the full story and leaves Coloradans with a false sense of security when it comes to groundwater contamination,” said Elise Jones, executive director of Colorado Environmental Coalition. “The unmistakable takeaway message from the ad is ‘don’t worry, everything is ok’ when it comes to water and oil and gas exploration. That is not the case.  There are numerous documented cases of groundwater contamination since 2008.  We should all be able to agree that there is more to be done to protect our air, land, and water from drilling.”

Since 2008, numerous instances of groundwater contamination have resulted from releases of chemicals such as petroleum liquids and produced water used and generated during drilling and hydraulic fracturing.  Accidental spills, corroded tanks and pipelines, and leaking containment pits have been implicated in numerous releases of toxic fluids, including carcinogenic hydrocarbons such as benzene. The Colorado oil and gas commission’s own report, issued earlier this month, makes clear that contamination of groundwater remains an ongoing issue with oil and gas development. Similarly, a Denver Post analysis of state records for 2011 found 58 cases of groundwater pollution linked to spills and releases.  Another Denver Post analysis of spill accidents dating backing to 2008 found an even greater number of groundwater incidents.

“Gov. Hickenlooper did the right thing last fall in leading the effort to bring transparency to industry’s use of fracking chemicals,” said Pete Maysmith, executive director of Colorado Conservation Voters.  “He understood that full disclosure will allow us to make smart decisions about how to protect our world class environment when oil and gas drilling occurs. Given his support of transparency and full disclosure, it was particularly dismaying to hear such a misleading ad on the air. The good news is that the governor is a ‘fix-it’ leader.  We urge him to get the misleading ad withdrawn and to redouble his commitment to protecting Colorado’s water resources and communities.”

“It’s simply inaccurate to state that oil and gas drilling isn’t contaminating ground water in Colorado,” said Mike Freeman, staff attorney at Earthjustice.  “The state’s own records show that spills and releases routinely affect ground water. Statements like those in the COGA ad will only hurt the state’s efforts to show it is responsive to legitimate concerns about and gas development in Colorado communities.”