Colorado’s new Democratic majority has vowed to make big changes to how companies drill for oil and gas. Tension between drillers and residents have bubbled for years and culminated in a failed statewide ballot fight last fall over the distance between oil and gas wells and homes and schools.
Critics also say the state oil and gas regulator ought to more closely scrutinize companies for health and safety.
Meantime, the industry says it abides by all regulations, some of which are the strictest in the country. In fact, they argue urban drilling goes through multiple review processes with local, county and state officials. Developers often adopt extra measures such as quieter drill rigs, additional air or water monitoring or pipelines to reduce truck traffic.
Read the rest of the story at Colorado Public Radio.
