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jasonephraim | 7 months ago
The plan includes over 160 wells across a dozen pads—right next to a major reservoir serving Eastern Denver/Aurora, a Superfund site, a landfill, and a growing suburban community.
In April, Chevron had an uncontrolled blowout at their Bishop well in Galeton, CO. Cleanup is still ongoing. Meanwhile, a new study from the Colorado School of Public Health showed increased childhood leukemia risk linked to proximity to oil and gas wells. We've asked regulators to address how their current rules fall short in light of these findings.
There are over 40 existing pads nearby, all relying on a small volunteer fire department. We've documented consistent gaps in spill/leak reporting and monitoring. Despite this, the State and County continue approving new pads.
We organized over 2,000 public comments against the largest proposed pad—more than any public-works project in County history. Our group was also the first activist group in the state granted “affected party” status to participate in hearings for a Comprehensive Area Plan (CAP).
The CAP was approved anyway. So were the well pads. Regulators thank us for our feedback, then move forward regardless.
One example: I flagged that a pad's construction would disrupt Mule Deer mating season. The operator paid a $6,000 preemptive fine and got the green light.
Another time, I pointed out that a required public document wasn’t posted—an error that should’ve triggered a new comment period. It didn’t. The site was approved after a closed-door session to review the issue with the document not being made available.
To borrow from my recent comment:
"Lastly, I want to return to a point raised by one of the Commissioners today, drawing a comparison between Commission approval and a driver’s license: that by the time the license is stamped, the tests have been passed and the boxes checked.
It’s a fair analogy. In fact, I’ve used it myself to describe both the County and ECMC processes. But I would add this: imagine an applicant standing at the DMV counter, ready to be approved. Now imagine 100 people surrounding them—neighbors, relatives, retired law enforcement, health professionals—each holding documentation of prior violations or evidence of risks, warning that issuing the license could result in injury or death. Would that clerk still confidently apply the stamp?"
The pressure to approve these projects seems to outweigh the purpose of the review process itself. We’re still fighting.
If you want a real idea of the scope of these operations: Invite you to check out the Colorado GIS mapping tool https://cogccmap.state.co.us/cogcc_gis_online/?lat=39.572042...
click the toggle for "directional wellbores" and look north of Denver. Then, look at SE Denver and see how they are starting to build out around my home.
downrightmike|7 months ago
jasonephraim|7 months ago
If you are meaning the Reservoir, the superfund site, and/or the nearby landfill. We've pushed the related agencies (including the EPA) to enact protections surrounding the sites - the most we've gotten is stopping the wells being drilled directly-under them (but they can/will still go right up against).