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CO Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Proposes New Setback Limits

by KREX News Room
by Courtney Griffin

Story Created: Jan 10, 2013 at 4:56 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jan 10, 2013 at 7:48 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has proposed new setback limits for drilling impacts.

After months of various stakeholder meetings and three days of hearings in Denver, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has nearly finalized its oil and gas setback rule.

The current setback is 150 feet in rural areas and 350 feet in urban and suburban areas.

However, after the three-day hearing, the new proposed setback is 500 feet Statewide and 1,000 feet for high occupancy buildings.

Though the proposed setbacks are much larger than the current limit, some residents are still pushing for more.

"The distance between oil and gas and people, homes, and other occupied structures is critical as it relates to risk around safety issues, explosions and fires. Exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, but also as it relates to quality of life. These operations go 24 hours a day seven days a week, said Frank Smith, with the Western Colorado Congress.

Matt Lepore, director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission was not available for comment but did release this statement regarding the new proposed setback. "These are tough and far-reaching new rules that significantly reduce the effects of drilling for those living or working nearby while at the same time protecting the rights of mineral owners," said Lepore.

The new proposed setbacks will be further discussed next week. Officials say staff members with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission will have an official setback number set in stone come end of January.

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