Colo. Legislature passes stricter drilling regulations PDF Print E-mail
Written by AP/Houston Chronicle   
Thursday, 26 March 2009
In a straight party-line vote yesterday, the Colorado Senate approved landmark new regulations for oil and gas drilling that will give more weight to public health and safety, wildlife habitat and migration, and environmental protection.

Proponents of the rules say they are long-overdue after complaints from property owners and wildlife managers over pollution from wells.

But opponents of the new regulations, mainly Republicans, say the rules will tie the hands of the ailing industry and eliminate jobs amid a deep recession.

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) plans to sign the legislation but hasn't set a date yet, said spokesman Evan Dreyer. The governor has said in the past that overhauling the oil and gas laws would be a priority for him during his time in office.

In 2007, lawmakers ordered the state Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to rewrite the rules amid widespread public sentiment that the existing rules were too lax and favored drilling companies. Ritter helped lawmakers change the composition of the commission to include more representatives from outside the oil and gas industry.

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Last Updated ( Saturday, 28 March 2009 )
 

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