On April 16, Governor Polis signed the Protect Public Welfare Oil And Gas Operations (SB19- 181) into law. This new law restructures the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) and prioritizes Colorado’s public health, safety, and environment over short term financial gains. Western Colorado Alliance has worked for decades to prevent irresponsible oil and gas development. We are now looking forward to a future in which the COGCC regulates the oil and gas industry instead of fostering its development.

As a result of the restructuring of the COGCC, people living in Western Colorado can expect to see a number of positive changes in their local
communities. SB19-181 grants local governments greater authority to regulate the oil and gas industry within their jurisdiction. These communities will be able to use their new authority to minimize the oil and gas industry’s negative impacts on public health, safety, wellness, and the environment. Additionally, oil and gas operators along with local governments can now request that the COGCC director evaluate specific leasing applications. COGCC director Jeff Robbins will also be given a brief opportunity to review contentious oil and gas leases that were approved just prior to the passage of SB-19-181.

This restructuring of the COGCC will professionalize the commission and change the makeup of the commissioners themselves. Before SB19-181 became law, three out of the nine commissioners had significant experience working in the oil and gas industry. Now that this bill has become law that number will be reduced to one. Replacing these two industry voices will be a commissioner with significant experience working as a public health expert, and a commissioner with significant experience working as an environmental expert.

Western Colorado Alliance is proud of the work we’ve done in helping to pass this bill. During our time protecting communities impacted by oil and gas, we’ve frequently butted heads with the COGCC.

In our experience, the COGCC often functioned as an arm of the oil and gas industry instead of as its watchdog. While the passage of SB19-181 isn’t a solution to all of our oil and gas concerns, it’s certainly a good start. We’d like to thank all of our members and our affiliate groups for their hard work in getting us to this point. Grand Valley Citizens Alliance and Battlement Concerned Citizens (have been instrumental in helping us achieve this victory.

Additionally, we’d like to thank the Western Colorado Alliance’s Oil and Gas Committee.

These groups are comprised of astonishingly hard-working people who have sacrificed a lot of their personal time and effort ensuring that Colorado is a leader in responsible oil and gas development.

Since the passage of SB-19-181, Jeff Robbins has appointed temporary commissioners to the commission. The COGCC has also started the first (of approximately 12) series of rulemakings. Unfortunately, this rulemaking series was far more contentious than we had initially expected. The COGCC was somewhat unprepared for the volume of comments that they received throughout the process. As a result, they decided to postpone the rulemaking process. The rulemaking will continue during the next commissioner hearing on July 31.

We are thrilled to see this COGCC reform bill become law. That being said, we are getting ready for what appears to be a lengthy rulemaking process.
It’s the goal of Western Colorado Alliance to ensure that the interests of Western Coloradans are represented during rulemaking. With the continued support of our allies, affiliate groups, and of course, our members, we look forward to protecting Western Colorado and supporting responsible oil and gas development.