Gas Wells Intrude on a Retirement Community
06/19/09 - 10:00 PM
KREX News Department

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A Western Slope retirement community is in an uproar over proposed natural gas wells. The Battlement Mesa subdivision is learning a hard lesson.

They may own their homes, but the Battlement Mesa Company has no control over what goes up inside their community. 10 new well pads could be their newest next-door neighbor.

The sight of a rig on the outskirts of town isn’t a new thing for Battlement Mesa’s golf community, but a new agreement will put 10 new well pads smack-dab in the heart of town.

“There is so much gas, I don’t see why they have to come inside the community,” says Teresa Melton.

Melton bought her house four years ago to retire in. So she was surprised to hear that owning her surface rights doesn’t protect her from a new surface use transaction between Exxon Oil, Antero Resources, and Battlement Mesa Company.

“We have to find out a way to coexist--same people own minerals aren’t those who own the surface,” says Kevin Kilstrom, VP Production for Antero Resources.

Two pads will be planted near a neighborhood, and two others next to hole 6 on the golf course.

“Rigs in yard, schools, golf course, I can’t be proud of my community anymore,” says Melton.

Battlement Mesa was built as a man camp in the 1980s to house all the oil field workers. “I don’t know if it was ever a retirement community, but a good place to retire,” says Chuck Hall, President of the Homeowners Association. Hall says many homeowners had too many assumptions.

“But if they don’t own mineral rights, gotta assume someone does,” says Hall.

The owner of the land says natural gas development was inevitable in Battlement Mesa, and he’s confident that two years of negotiations with Antero will result in the highest levels of mitigation.

Teresa Melton can’t help but feel mislead by the company who promised her a restful retirement. “I feel betrayed,” she says.

The comprehensive drilling plan will have to be approved by Garfield County. The Grand Valley Citizens Alliance is holding a meeting for concerned neighbors. It is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center.

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