<\/p>\n
Gov. John Hickenlooper has acknowledged that recent municipal votes imposing hydraulic fracturing bans in four Colorado cities demonstrate the health concerns of Colorado residents living amid a record gas and oil drilling boom along the state\u2019s Front Range.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fracking ban votes reflect the genuine anxiety and concern of having an industrial process close to neighborhoods,\u201d Hickenlooper said recently in a prepared statement. The statement came after a tally of final votes showed residents in Broomfield successfully passed a fourth so-called \u201cfracking ban\u201d in Colorado.<\/p>\n
Fort Collins, Boulder and Lafayette voters passed similar bans by much wider margins earlier this month, but Broomfield\u2019s vote was so close (10,350 to 10,333) that it has triggered an automatic recount.<\/p>\n
Christi Zeller, director of the La Plata County Energy Council, said the votes in Boulder and Lafayette are symbolic. Boulder County has some production, but the city of Boulder\u2019s last gas well was plugged in 1999, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bans are an emotional response,\u201d Zeller said. \u201cA lot of professional agitators are manipulating people\u2019s response.\u201d<\/p>\n
The six counties that produce 83 percent of the state\u2019s natural gas are La Plata, Rio Blanco, Las Animas, Yuma, Garfield and Weld, Zeller said.<\/p>\n
Water-well testing is required by the Colorado Gas and Oil Commission, Zeller said. It\u2019s done before drilling and then three and six years after to make sure extracting operations aren\u2019t communicating with water wells.<\/p>\n
Hickenlooper said mineral rights need to be protected and that the four communities can work with the state\u2019s chief regulatory agency, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, to mitigate environmental and health concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cLocal fracking bans essentially deprive people of their legal rights to access the property they own. Our state Constitution protects these rights,\u201d the governor said. \u201cA framework exists for local communities to work collaboratively with state regulators and the energy industry. We all share the same desire of keeping communities safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Dan Randolph, director of the San Juan Citizens Alliance, said that Hickenlooper, as a former gas and oil industry employee, doesn\u2019t get it.<\/p>\n
Randolph said there are legitimate concerns tied to gas and oil production. He cited health, water quality and noise.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no question that there is an increase of volatile organic compounds in the air during gas and gas development,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cThere are and have been serious concerns elsewhere. This is not unique to Colorado.<\/p>\n
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves the high-pressure pumping of thousands of gallons of water, with some sand and small amounts of chemicals, deep underground into gas and oil wells to crack open tight geological formations and free up more gas and oil. Fracking occurs in more than 90 percent of all gas and oil wells in the state.<\/p>\n
Backers claim the process is largely safe and has opened up vast new reserves throughout the state. But critics argue the process can lead to contamination of water supplies and cause unhealthy air emissions near large population centers.<\/p>\n
Gary Wockner of the environmental group Clean Water Action said the clean sweep by all four communities should be a \u201cwake-up call\u201d for Hickenlooper \u2013 one that precludes further legal action that the state and the industry has initiated against past fracking bans.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Gov. Hickenlooper actually thinks he can address this outcry by suing over 300,000 citizens in all four of these Colorado cities, he\u2019s completely out of touch,\u201d Wockner said in a statement. \u201cHickenlooper needs to dramatically change course and find a cooperative path forward that respects the vote and will of the people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hickenlooper did not say if the state will pursue additional legal action.<\/p>\n
Industry representatives credited the close tally in Broomfield as one that has changed the dialogue in favor of gas and oil drilling proponents.<\/p>\n
But Mike Foote, a Democratic state representative from Lafayette, said the industry needs to listen to what voters are telling them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe votes on the fracking bans and moratoria should have sent a clear message,\u201d Foote said. \u201cTime will tell whether the industry hears it for what it is rather than try to explain it away. A lot of people are concerned about their health and the industry\u2019s impact, and we must work together to address those concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n
Herald Staff Writer Dale Rodebaugh contributed to this report. Colorado Public News, a nonprofit news organization, reports on issues of statewide interest. It partners with Colorado Public Television 12, Denver\u2019s independent PBS station.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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