Colorado Environmental Groups Submit Letter to Governor Polis Asking Him to Publicly Oppose the Large-Scale Aurora-area Lowry Ranch Oil & Gas Proposal

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The letter details the groups’ many concerns with the controversial oil & gas drilling and fracking plan

(July 29, 2024) — 30 Colorado environmental groups signed on to an open letter to Gov. Jared Polis delivered on August 7, 2024, asking him to publicly oppose the Lowry Ranch Comprehensive Area Plan, Civitas Resources’ proposal to drill up to 166 oil and gas wells on State Land Board property near disproportionately impacted Aurora communities in the EPA designated severe ozone nonattainment area. The CAP is under final review by the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) at public hearings being held on July 30 and Friday, August 2. 

The groups’ letter to Gov. Polis specifically addresses the following areas of concern:

1) The unacceptable increase in ozone precursors and other hazardous air pollutants that would be introduced into the EPA-designated severe ozone nonattainment area by drilling over 150 new wells on State Land Board property at Lowry Ranch.

2) Elevated health and safety risks and impacts affecting disproportionately impacted communities on the north side, and 13 schools, thousands of homes, and the Aurora Reservoir recreational area in the central and southern parts of the CAP. 

2) The incomplete status of the state’s Cumulative Impacts rulemaking mandated by the 2019 oil and gas reform bill, SB19-181. 

3) Persistent deficiencies in Civitas’ application, including a lack of wildfire prevention planning, seismicity evaluations, and inadequate cumulative impact assessment and wildlife protection provisions.  

4) Well-documented local opposition to the project. 

In making the case for denial of the CAP and individual drilling permits in the CAP area, the open letter refers to U.S. Representative Jason Crow’s stated concerns about disrupting the Lowry Landfill Superfund Site; to comments submitted to the ECMC by local resident, Conrad Huygen – a retired Air Force judge advocate; and to comments made by Arapahoe County Commissioner Jeff Baker.