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Worried Residents Promised Oil, Gas Meeting

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Jun 7, 2009 2:47 pm US/Mountain

Worried Residents Promised Oil, Gas Meeting

DENVER (AP) ―

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Residents of Battlement Mesa worried about pending oil and gas drilling are getting assurances from state officials that their concerns will be heard.

Gov. Bill Ritter has asked oil and gas regulators to meet with residents within the month to talk about the plans that could lead to the drilling of 200 new oil and gas wells in their area.

Some state officials met with about 20 Battlement Mesa residents Saturday to talk about their worries.

Heidi Van Huysen, legislative program manager for the state Department of Natural Resources, told residents that Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission staff will meet first with Denver-based Antero Resources about details of the company's drilling plans.

The company recently announced intentions to drill from 10 well pads within the 3,000-acre development, an unincorporated community of 5,500 people.

"I promise that we'll be back in a month with people who know way more about this particular project than I do," Van Huysen said.

State Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, said she's received about 40 e-mails from residents concerned about Antero<s plans, including how close to homes drilling might occur.

The state's new oil and gas rules allow for nearby landowners to comment on drilling permit applications.

"I think there's more opportunity now with the rules than ever to be involved," said Tresi Houpt, a Garfield County commissioner who also serves on the state oil and gas commission.

Houpt told residents the county expects to have some say over the drilling through its land-use-review process, and she encouraged them to provide comment during that process. She said the county made energy development a special use rather than a use-by-right under the original development approval for Battlement Mesa, meaning it can't proceed without a permit after county review.

"There was no guarantee that any company could move in and put a well pad in certain locations," Houpt said.

However, she added that state still has the ability to pre-empt local objections to oil and gas development.