Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

For Immediate Release – March 10, 2026

Contact: Chris Arend,

Communications Director,

Department of Natural Resources,

303-264-8615, chris.arend@state.co.us

CO Dept of Natural Resources Announces a New Shared Stewardship Agreement with CO Bureau of Land Management to Benefit Public Lands and Rural Communities

(Denver) — Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the finalization of a Shared Stewardship memorandum of understanding (MOU) today between the two agencies. Working as partners, DNR and BLM recognize that Colorado’s public lands, including forests, watersheds, wildlife, rangelands, and outdoor recreation resources, are of critical importance to rural communities. Yet, our public lands face a multitude of challenges, including catastrophic wildfires, invasive species, degraded water quality, population pressures, and epidemics of insects and disease. These challenges are best met head-on through a collaborative shared stewardship strategy that takes advantage of DNR and BLM’s unique assets and expertise across land-ownership boundaries.

“By working together, DNR and BLM will build wildfire resilient watersheds, enhance forest health and wildlife populations, provide for robust recreational opportunities and management strategies, create jobs, and protect communities in the wildland-urban interface,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, DNR. “BLM is a key partner and the second largest landowner in Colorado, and like our shared stewardship agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, this MOU will foster collaboration and communication between the state and our federal partners to enhance public land management for all Coloradans.”

The MOU outlines shared priorities, principles, and actions that each agency can take to achieve common goals. Shared Stewardship provides the structure to combine funding sources to do the right work, in the right place, at the right scale, based on collaborative input to manage our public lands. In addition to the MOU’s focus on forest health and reducing the impacts of wildfires, it is an important tool to enable collaborative management of trails, water resources, wildlife, and more.

“This Shared Stewardship MOU has been years in the making and represents a milestone for collaborative management of our public lands here in Colorado,” said Doug Vilsack, BLM’s Colorado State Director. “The state and federal government must work across boundaries and with private landowners to protect rural communities in the wildland-urban interface, enhance outdoor recreation opportunities, conserve wildlife, and strengthen relationships with our partners in agriculture.”

The DNR and BLM have a history of working on cross-boundary projects, including partnerships spanning over three decades to manage federal public lands in the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area and along the Yampa River as units in the state park system. More recently, BLM and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), a Division of DNR, commenced a public engagement process to gather input on the potential future management of a North Sand Hills Recreation Area in Jackson County, a world-renowned off-highway vehicle recreation area.

DNR and the Colorado State Forest Services also partner with BLM on fuels mitigation projects utilizing Good Neighbor Authority, such as the recently-proposed King Mountain fuels project in Routt County, and on post-fire wildlife habitat restoration and seeding, including projects to address the impacts of the Lee Fire and other catastrophic wildfires during the 2025 fire season. BLM also works with CPW and agricultural producers to conserve wildlife habitat and reduce wildlife impacts through the Habitat Partnership Program, including innovative work to expand the use of virtual fencing technologies to benefit both ranchers and wildlife.

Beyond collaboration between DNR and BLM, the new shared stewardship strategy presents numerous opportunities to enhance collaboration with stakeholders.

“The Nature Conservancy — guided by science — works with wide-ranging partners to conserve our lands and waters to benefit people and nature,” said Carlos Fernández, State Director for The Nature Conservancy in Colorado. “We believe that collaboration and coordination are among the most strategic and efficient ways to confront Colorado’s growing conservation challenges. This new agreement between the Bureau of Land Management and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources — both longstanding TNC partners — will help advance healthier forests, protect clean water supplies, enhance wildlife habitat, and support Colorado’s vital outdoor recreation economy.”

“We deeply appreciate BLM and the State of Colorado’s strong leadership in shaping this shared stewardship agreement and are optimistic about what it means for Colorado’s world-renowned waterways, forests, mountains, deserts, and plains,” said Emily Olsen, Rocky Mountain Vice President at Trout Unlimited (TU). “This agreement encourages collaborative stewardship with communities that rely upon healthy forests, wildfire-resilient watersheds, gold medal quality fishing, and premier rafting opportunities on our state’s iconic rivers. Collectively, these initiatives will strengthen rural economies and help our public lands and waters better withstand the impacts of wildfire and drought.”

“Colorado’s wildlife, wild landscapes, and recreational access are world-renowned, and formal coordination between state and federal natural resource managers is necessary to ensure these resources endure,” said Madeleine West, Vice President for Western Conservation at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “This MOU will foster government efficiency to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest and watershed health, support voluntary private land conservation, and increase habitat quality and connectivity for fish and wildlife across the state. Cooperation is the best way forward for Colorado to remain a vibrant place for people to live, work, hunt, fish, and enjoy many outdoor recreational pursuits.”

The MOU also advances the implementation of Colorado’s Outdoor Strategy, which was finalized in 2025. BLM was a key member of the Steering Committee that supported the development of Colorado’s Outdoor Strategy. Through the new shared stewardship strategy, DNR and BLM will coordinate across all levels of government to enhance our treasured public lands and the communities that depend on them. Find out more about shared stewardship in Colorado at our Shared Stewardship in Colorado webpage.

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Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

February 19, 2026

Contact: Chris Arend, Communications Director, Department of Natural Resources

303-264-8615

chris.arend@state.co.us

(Denver) — Today, Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced appointments to the Ponderosa Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force, a new multi-agency task force created by Governor Polis through Executive Action to address a significant and expanding mountain pine beetle outbreak impacting ponderosa pine forests along Colorado’s Front Range.

“Colorado is at the forefront of reducing the impact of wildfires, floods, and protecting Colorado communities. By assembling our team of forestry experts and state and local officials we are taking action to deal with the impact of mountain pine beetles and helping to protect our forest and key water sources, and equipping homeowners to better protect their homes,” said Governor Polis.

Aerial forest health surveys conducted in 2025 by the USDA Forest Service and Colorado State Forest Service show increasing mountain pine beetle activity in ponderosa pine forests up and down the Front Range, with beetle-killed trees already visible along the U.S. 285 and I-70 corridors. Warmer temperatures and ongoing drought have created favorable conditions for outbreaks of bark beetles — trends expected to continue into the next decade.

The task force is charged with developing coordinated, science-based strategies to protect Colorado communities, forests, water resources, infrastructure, and the state’s outdoor recreation economy over the next decade.

“Pitch tubes” of resin where pine beetles have tunneled (Dan West, CFFS)

“The State of Colorado, including the Department of Natural Resources, Colorado State Forest Service, and the Division of Fire Prevention and Control, has heard the Governor’s clear call that the time is now to take action on our emerging mountain pine beetle outbreak along Colorado’s Front Range,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “We have assembled a diverse array of elected officials, federal, state, and local representatives, and ex officio member expertise for this Task Force to move together in a coordinated effort across land ownership and political boundaries to bring forth the necessary recommendations and actions for healthy forests and communities.”

Beetle-killed trees increase hazards for firefighters, recreationists, utility providers, and transportation corridors, and can alter and may even intensify wildfire behavior under certain conditions. These impacts from beetle-killed trees are particularly concerning in Front Range foothill communities where forests, homes, and critical infrastructure intersect, and wildfire risk is already high.

The task force will be co-chaired by Dan Gibbs; Mike Morgan, Director of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control; and Matt McCombs, State Forester and Director of the Colorado State Forest Service. The task force may add ex-officio members or seek input from subject matter experts where interested and as needed, within specific topics the task force seeks to evaluate.

Appointments to the Ponderosa Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force

Appointed by the Governor

• Senator Mark Baisley, Littleton — Representative of the Colorado General Assembly
• Representative Lesley Smith, Boulder — Representative of the Colorado General Assembly

Appointed by the Department of Natural Resources

• Troy Heithecker, Lakewood — Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service
• Douglas Vilsack, Lakewood — State Director, U.S. Bureau of Land Management
• Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper, Golden — Jefferson County Commissioner; Colorado Fire Commission
• Madelene McDonald, Lakewood — Colorado Forest Health Council; Denver Water / Watershed Scientist
• Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally, Loveland — Larimer County Commissioner
• Commissioner Dan Williams, Cripple Creek — Teller County Commissioner
• James Brad White, Granby — Fire Chief and District Administrator, Grand Fire Protection District
• Sebastian Walton, Denver — Xcel Energy — Representation of electric, water, and other utility providers servicing the Front Range
• William Lepry, Denver — Director, Colorado Mass Timber Coalition
• Megan Maxwell, Broomfield — Executive Director, Colorado Timber Industry Association
• Paige Lewis, Boulder — Deputy State Director/Director of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy Colorado
• Joseph Lavorini, Gunnison — Rocky Mountain Region Program Director, National Forest Foundation
• Thomas Gougeon, Denver — President, Gates Family Foundation
• Zach Thode, Livermore — Farmer and Rancher, Lehi Ranch
• Mike Alexander, Castle Rock — Director of Emergency Management, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Beetle-infested trees (William Ciesla, CSFS)

Ex-officio Members

Appointed by the Governor

• Ellen Bottcher of Washington, D.C., to serve as an ex officio member and representative of Colorado’s federal delegation for Representative Jeff Crank, appointed
• Abbie Callahan of Washington, D.C., to serve as an ex officio member and representative of Colorado’s federal delegation for Representative Joe Neguse, appointed
• Patrick Donovan of Denver, Colorado, to serve as an ex officio member and a representative of Colorado’s federal delegation for Senator Michael Bennet, appointed.
• Trina Griego of Lakewood, Colorado, to serve as an ex officio member and representative of Colorado’s federal delegation for Senator John Hickenlooper, appointed
• Maxwell Hanson of Cañon City, Colorado, to serve as an ex officio member and representative of Colorado’s federal delegation for Representative Brittney Petterson, appointed
• Representatives from all impacted federal delegation offices have been and remain invited to participate

Appointed by the Department of Natural Resources

• Jonathan Asher, Director, Governor’s Office of Climate Preparedness and Disaster Recovery, to serve as an ex-officio member
• John Barkowski, Forest and Montane Habitat Coordinator for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, to serve as an ex-officio member
• Chairman Melvin J. Baker, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, to serve as an ex officio member
• Dan Bean, Director of the Palisade Insectary, Colorado Department of Agriculture, to service as an ex-officio member
• Michael Conway, Commissioner of Insurance, to serve as an ex officio member
• John Kelly, Executive Director, Serve Colorado, to serve as an ex officio member
• Shayle Sabo, Resiliency Program Manager, Colorado Resiliency Office, Department of Local Affairs, to serve as an ex-officio member
• Chris Sturm, Watershed Program Director for the Colorado Water Conservation Board, to serve as an ex-officio member
• Mark Thompson, State Hazard Mitigation Officer, Office of Emergency Management, Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, to serve as an ex officio member
• Dan West, Forest Entomologist, Colorado State Forest Service, to serve as an ex officio member
• Tim Wolfe, Director, Colorado Tourism Office, to serve as an ex officio member
• Brett Wolk, Associate Director, Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, to serve as an ex officio member

The task force will coordinate across state, local, federal, private, and nonprofit partners to advance urgent and long-term strategies, including fuel mitigation, public education, watershed and utility protection, reforestation planning, wildfire response innovation, timber market development, insurance considerations, and identification of new funding strategies.

Colorado’s approach builds on lessons learned from past bark beetle outbreaks, as well as the state’s experience responding to catastrophic wildfires and investing in forest health, watershed protection, and community resilience.

Additional appointments will be forthcoming, and additional information about task force meetings, timelines, and opportunities for public engagement will be released in early 2026.

To learn more about the mountain pine beetle, visit the Colorado State Forest Service website. Jefferson County residents can also visit the county’s mountain pine beetle resource page. To learn more about the task force, visit the Colorado Department of Natural Resources’ Ponderosa Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force page.

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Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Featured Photo: Spokane Valley Fire Department crews assist with a prescribed burn at a nearby wildlife refuge. ©SVFD, 2015.

For Immediate Release – February 20, 2026

Contact: Chris Arend, Communications Director, Department of Natural Resources

303-264-8615, chris.arend@state.co.us

Governor Polis and Colorado DNR Announce Largest Investment in Wildfire Mitigation Grant Round in Program History: $6.9M Awarded to Protect Communities

(DENVER) — With Colorado facing an urgent need for proactive forest management, today the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP) announced its largest Workforce Development grant investment to date. A total of $6.9 million has been awarded to 24 projects across the state for strategic wildfire mitigation and training in partnership with the Colorado Youth Corps Association and the Department of Corrections’ State Inmate Wildland Fire Team (SWIFT) crew.

Launched in response to the record-breaking 2020 fire season, COSWAP’s dual mission is to protect Colorado’s lives, property, watersheds, and critical infrastructure while bolstering a professional pipeline for the next generation of forestry and wildfire professionals. This grant cycle saw an unprecedented level of interest, with 35 applications requesting over $13.3 million, demonstrating the high demand for local mitigation needs.

“Colorado is no stranger to devastating wildfires. This year we are experiencing record drought numbers, now more than ever it is important to invest in wildfire prevention strategies to protect our communities,” said Governor Jared Polis. “By investing $6.9 million into these local wildfire prevention initiatives, we are reducing fire risk for our communities and watersheds while creating good-paying jobs and training the workforce Colorado needs to build a more resilient future.”

The 2025 Workforce Development grant funds high-impact fuels reduction projects suitable for early career hand crews. Using chainsaws and chippers, crews will create fuel breaks, reduce hazardous fuels in high-risk areas, and improve evacuation routes. When selecting projects for funding, COSWAP considers the strategic placement of the project on the landscape connecting with other recent or planned treatments to amplify landscape-scale protection and nearby values at risk to protect the most critical infrastructure, property, and water resources.

Additionally, the COSWAP program is funding a number of projects facing impacts from the mountain pine beetle outbreak along the Front Range, which is occurring in the areas of the state with some of the highest wildfire risk and population density. COSWAP has invested over $20 million dollars through 56 projects along the Front Range since 2022.

Recognizing that effective mitigation requires a skilled workforce, the grant program also funds statewide training opportunities, including basic wildland firefighting, wildland chainsaw operations, and Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges.

“This funding enables us to focus where wildfire risk is highest,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “From the Front Range to the Western Slope, we are putting crews to work on federal, state, local, and private lands. These awards will turn plans into progress by providing the boots on the ground required to thin overgrown forests and protect our communities.”

This grant round includes several unique partnerships and high-priority locations:

Frisco Wildland Urban Interface in Summit County ($448,640): In partnership with the Department of Corrections’ SWIFT crews, this project was selected for its proximity to population centers and services. Crews will remove dead and downed trees in the White River National Forest to protect residential areas and popular recreation sites around Frisco.

Colorado National Guard near Steamboat Springs ($173,314): Building on a successful pilot season in 2025, the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps will recruit Colorado National Guard members to provide dual service to their country by also serving as conservation corps members working on wildfire risk mitigation with the Bureau of Land Management on Emerald Mountain. Guard members gain invaluable wildland fire experience while protecting one of Steamboat’s most iconic recreation areas.

Hotchkiss Fire Chainsaw Training in Delta County ($6,188): The Hotchkiss Fire District is an all-volunteer fire and rescue department serving a rural, low-income town in western Colorado. They will receive local chainsaw training to expand their services to include mitigation work when not responding to fires. This training also increases opportunities for these volunteers to turn their service into a professional career in forestry and wildfire mitigation.

La Plata County Cross-Boundary Work ($412,875): This project is a collaborative effort between the Southwest Conservation Corps and COSWAP’s newest partnership with the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to bridge the gap between the San Juan National Forest and the Durango Hills subdivision to build fire resiliency across both public and private property boundaries.

“This historic round of funding is a testament to the power of partnership in Colorado,” said Scott Segerstrom, Executive Director of the Colorado Youth Corps Association. “We are particularly excited to welcome the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) into this work. By integrating ALCC’s deep connection to the land and Indigenous-led stewardship with our statewide efforts, we are ensuring that wildfire resilience is built by, and for, all of Colorado’s communities.”

“Partnering with COSWAP has allowed us to fill our calendar for the next two years, providing stable, meaningful work for our crews,” noted Mitch Karstens, Director of Colorado Correctional Industries. “Our members aren’t just clearing brush; they are gaining certifications and real-world experience that will allow them to step immediately into forestry jobs upon their release.”

These 2025 Workforce Development grants are awarded on a two-year cycle, with the next funding opportunity anticipated in the fall of 2027. For a full list of awardees and more information on COSWAP’s impact, visit our website.

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Editor’s Note: Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 14, 2025   

DENVER, CO– The Colorado Department of Natural Resources celebrates the progress of the Colorado Produced Water Consortium (Consortium), a legislatively created coalition that continues to bring together a wide range of voices, ideas, and scientific data to shape policy around produced water reuse in the state. On July 1, the Consortium completed and submitted the final of nine data-driven reports to the Colorado Legislature. With the Consortium’s updated strategic plan and the Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC)’s recently adopted produced water rules now in place, Colorado remains at the forefront of informed, collaboratively produced water policy development.

“I want to thank the members of the Colorado Produced Water Consortium for their collaborative approach to meeting the requirements of legislation to research the use and reuse of produced water and for their key role informing the adoption of new produced water rules at ECMC,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources.

Colorado has made history with the ECMC’s first-in-the-nation produced water rules, which were informed by the Consortium’s work. These groundbreaking rules require industry to use an increasing percentage of recycled produced water in oil and gas operations. The Consortium will evaluate the implementation of those rules annually to help ensure Colorado continues to meet the goals of reducing fresh water usage in oil and gas activities.

“It is special to see a group of individuals with such a diverse set of backgrounds and expertise be able to work together in a way that values and listens to each other’s voices and perspectives,” said John Messner, Consortium Chair and ECMC Commissioner. “This approach to the work of the Colorado Produced Water Consortium, guided by the leadership of Director Hope Dalton and supported by staff from a number of state agencies, created a ideal platform for the volume and quality of work that has been accomplished to date. I am proud to have been a part of the effort and look forward to what the Consortium accomplishes as it moves forward into the future.”

The Consortium was established as a neutral platform to connect diverse stakeholders, including representatives from government, industry, public health, environmental groups, and academia, to share data and expertise. This year’s update to the Consortium strategic plan reaffirms the group’s commitment to transparency, data driven work, science-based analysis, and collaboration. It also charts a clear path forward while remaining grounded in data and diverse community input.

“This monumental accomplishment was only possible because of the tireless effort and collaboration of people from diverse backgrounds—scientists, regulators, operators, and community leaders—each bringing their unique perspective to build a policy that is balanced, informed, and future-focused,” said Michelina Paulek of The Energy Council and Consortium Member.

“The accomplishments of the Colorado Produced Water Consortium are monumental since the mandatory use of recycled produced water will help limit the need for fresh water, enforce more sustainable water management strategies, and set a precedent for other states in the Arid West,” said Thomas Borch, professor in Colorado State University’s Department of Soil and Crop Sciences with a joint appointment in the Department of Chemistry and Consortium Member.

“As Colorado continues to face drought conditions, good water stewardship is important. Recycling produced water in oil and gas operations helps manage this essential resource. The Consortium has worked to bring together our collective insights into identifying challenges and proposing equitable ways to save fresh water. As we begin to obtain more data, we look forward to providing guidance for industry and state authorities to ensure rapid progress towards protecting water quality and quantity for Colorado.” said Irene Andress, Sierra Club and Consortium Member.

“I am very honored to be a member of the Colorado Produced Water Consortium and proud of the group’s accomplishments since its inception. This consortium demonstrates the strength of a diverse, passionate, and knowledgeable community who can come together and respectfully discuss and debate various topics and ensure that all voices in the room are being heard. This strength has allowed the Consortium to meet the deliverables established by the Colorado Legislature to date and to be fully prepared for those yet to come.” said Rick McCurdy, Select Water Solutions and Consortium Member.

As the Consortium enters its next phase, it will continue to evaluate the implementation of the new ECMC rules requiring produced water reuse, facilitate open dialogue and expert reviews across diverse communities, elevate scientific findings and environmental justice considerations, and ensure that legislative and regulatory decisions are informed by rigorous data and broad engagement.

“After years of hard work by community members and the deliberations of the Consortium members, it is an important step for Colorado to require the use of recycled produced water in oil and gas operations. Much work remains to leverage this momentum and to significantly reduce the amount of freshwater used in operations. I am counting on the ECMC to make these recommendations meaningful and provide clear enforcement mechanisms. We need to build a solid foundation on which to continue our work to protect and preserve our critical water resources,” Dr. Barbara Vasquez, Western Colorado Alliance and Consortium Member said.

Colorado’s work on produced water serves as a model for collaboration and innovation. By championing inclusive, data-driven policymaking, the Consortium hopes to continue to strengthen the state’s leadership in produced water management.

About the Colorado Produced Water Consortium

The Colorado Produced Water Consortium, established by HB23-1242 in the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, consists of individuals with expertise in produced water related to oil and gas operations, environmental impacts, environmental justice concerns, and community perspectives. The primary goal of the Consortium is to reduce the use of fresh water and increase the recycling of produced water in oil and gas operations.

The post Colorado Celebrates Milestones in Produced Water Policy Through Statewide Collaboration appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Media Advisory

August 16, 2022

CONTACT: Chris Arend, Communications Director, Department of Natural Resources,
303-264-8615, chris.arend@state.co.us

(DENVER) – The Colorado Department of Natural Resources is holding the August meeting of the Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board (Board). The Board was established by Governor Jared Polis to evaluate proposals concerning name changes, new names, and name controversies of geographic features and certain public places in the State of Colorado and then making official recommendations to the Governor.

The August meeting will review/consider renaming requests including; Redskin Mountain to Mount Jerome in Jefferson County (USBGN Case 5153), Negro Creek to Clay Creek in Delta County (USBGN Case 5279) and Negro Mesa to Clay Mesa in Delta County (USBGN Case 5280). Also four new derogatory related renaming requests will be introduced; Redskin Creek to Ute Creek in Park and Jefferson Counties, (US BGN Case 5038), Negro Draw to Robinson Draw in Montezuma County (US BGN Case 5557), Chinaman Canyon to Toisan Canyon in Las Animas County (US BGN Case 5758), and Dead Mexican Gulch to Jose Belardi Gulch in Garfield County (US BGN 5765).

WHO: Members of the Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board

WHAT:  August meeting of the Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board

WHEN: Thursday, August 18, 2022, 6 PM to 8 PM

WHERE: Find zoom contact info at: https://dnr.colorado.gov/initiatives/colorado-geographic-naming-advisory-board

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There’s a change in the air around Erie, and residents don’t like what they smell.

Last week, Erie town officials said they are upping the ante on regulating air and water quality in the wake of data from a regional NOAA observation tower that recorded propane in the air at 10 times the levels found in Los Angeles.

In response to such data, as well as a growing sense of unease from residents who worry about the specter of wells cropping up near school zones and housing developments, the town plunked down $50,000 on a device that tests for water contamination.

And last week, the town requested that Encana, the gas production company that operates a number of wells in the area, capture 100 percent of air emissions from new wells. Town officials have also requested to be in on the loop for drilling plans to ensure new wells comply with local development guidelines.

The local action is well and good, but it has its limitations. Erie is free to inspect air and water quality all it wants, but it is powerless to enforce anything. The job of enforcement falls to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC), the division of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources that doles out well permits, and is also in charge of monitoring and inspecting drilling operations. And COGCC’s enforceable requirements are not as lofty as Erie’s unenforceable ones.

For example, COGCC requires that well operators use devices that achieve a 95 percent air-control efficiency of volatile organic compounds, which overrules Erie’s request for 100 percent control efficiency. And since Erie’s local inspection efforts are not under the auspices of COGCC, Erie will have to pony up its own dough to hire out the right personnel to conduct studies on drill sites—money that could prove difficult for the town to scrape together.

Assembling the resources for local inspections isn’t just a head-scratcher for Erie officials. Responding to a recent request from Erie Rising, a group of concerned residents, to investigate drilling’s potentially harmful effects on the town, the state health department said it did not have the resources to launch a study in the area.

In an interview with the Denver Post, Town Administrator A.J. Krieger acknowledged that Erie’s options for regulating drill sites are limited, but expressed the resolve that the town has the responsibility to do what it can: “We have to do everything in our power to protect our residents’ health and safety.”

The post Frack Focus: Erie Watches Air and Water appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.