-
Apr 29, 2008 10:35 am US/Mountain
-
Digg |
Facebook |
E-mail
|
Print
New Oil, Gas Regulations To Protect Wildlife
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (CBS4) ―
The Colorado Oil and Gas Commission will likely endorse new regulations at the end of June that will address concerns about the environmental impact of the estimated 27,000 active natural gas wells in the state.
The new rules are set to give the Division of Wildlife and the Department of Public Health and Environment a solid role in the permitting process for future gas wells.
Officials say it's important to balance Colorado's protection of the environment and public health with allowing the oil and gas industry to continue to flourish.
One area of particular concerns is the Piceance Basin on the western slope where large deer herds are being encroached on by temporary roads and drilling platforms.
Some of the new regulations might force companies to put more drills on a single platform to limit the amount of space required. There would also be a requirement to keep pads a certain distance apart. The hope is to limit the impact on wildlife habitats.
There is also a proposal to limit drilling or prohibit it during certain times of year.
State officials say 80 percent of the preliminary proposals were modified to factor in concerns from the industry about the new rules driving up costs and causing delays.
Gas companies have expressed concerns that the new regulations will delay the permitting process.
Others are worried the gas companies will rush to get permits to drill before the new rules go into effect.
(© MMVIII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)