We choose to live in a beautiful area of western Garfield County that happens to be resource-rich with natural gas, shale oil, crude oil, coal, and other energy-producing resources. For nearly 100 years, locals have been pricked, prodded, drilled, fracked, mined and even bombed in the attempts to extract these minerals. Formed in 1997, the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance has extensive experience when it comes to tackling the impacts of energy development — especially regarding oil and gas drilling.
Recent Activities
- Hold state agencies accountable to air and water quality standards in the gas fields of Garfield County.
- Continue to represent residents impacted by oil and gas development on the Garfield County Energy Advisory Board.
- Testify in public hearings held by the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) and Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) regarding local oil and gas operations.
- Opposed the 13-year unpermitted operation of open oil and gas production wastewater pits at the Parachute Facility.
- Co-host the League of Oil and Gas Impacted Coloradans (LOGIC) Neighbor to Neighbor statewide citizen action group.
- Collaborate with other nonprofit organizations to ensure public health and safety and the protection of the environment and wildlife are truly the priority of Colorado’s regulatory agencies.
- Balance exaggerated support of the oil and gas industry in public meetings.
- Participate in COGCC rulemaking.
Accomplishments
- Won 70 precedent-setting conditions of approval on two pads to be developed within Battlement Mesa, raising the bar for communities around the state. The conditions include timing limitations, sound and lighting restrictions, and robust air quality monitoring.
- Redefined rules governing drilling in residential areas, giving local governments more say in state permitting processes and making sure new rules apply to projects larger than eight wells
- With our allies, successfully pushed for improved state air quality regulations that reduce risk to both the climate and public health, with a team of members testifying in Denver.
- As part of a coalition effort, moved oil and gas operations further from people, homes and schools as part of Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission rule-making.
- Championed the launch of a first-in-the-nation comprehensive Health Impact Assessment relative to natural gas drilling emissions and impacts to human health in Garfield County
- Launched a community-based, citizen led “Bucket Brigade” in which specially trained volunteers capture air samples for chemical analysis.
- Participated in COGCC rulemaking hearings, pushing for increased setbacks between well pads and occupied structures, including residences. In 2020, the COGCC increased the minimum setback from 500 feet to 2,000 feet.
- Celebrated the passage of Senate Bill 19-181 (“SB-181”) which changed the COGCC’s mission from fostering oil and gas development to protecting public health, safety, and welfare, as well as the environment and wildlife. When SB-18 was signed into law by Governor Polis, it triggered an overhaul of the rule-making policies of the COGCC and AQCC. GVCA and Battlement Concerned Citizens (BCC) organized in support of SB-181.