Craig Daily Press

Craig — Marianna Raftopoulos said in her years as a member of the Colorado Wildlife Commission, she never saw a meeting like a recent public gathering in Grand Junction.

About 2,000 residents, workers, industry and environmental interest representatives attended the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s public comment hearing Tuesday in Grand Junction.

Raftopoulos, a Moffat County resident and now Colorado Oil and Gas Association consultant, was one. Luke Schafer, Colorado Environmental Coalition northwest campaign coordinator also attended.

Both said they were impressed and glad to see a high turnout.

“It was one of the largest, to my understanding, if not the largest meeting ever held (at the Two Rivers Convention Center) or on the Western Slope,” Raftopoulos said.

“Just to go in there and see the significance of all these people on the Western Slope speaking out, it amazed me when I saw all those people in the room.”

It’s important that Western Slope residents take advantage of an opportunity to make their thoughts heard, Schafer said.

“It’s a good thing when people come out to voice their opinion,” he said. “And I think we need more of that.”

The Oil and Gas Commission heard comments on its proposed set of revised regulations for energy drilling.

In 2007, the Colorado Legislature passed House Bills 1298 and 1341, which mandated the state create new regulations to protect wildlife and public health interests given the expected explosion in energy industry development.

Schafer said he was frustrated by some industry representatives’ comments.

“I, personally, was a little disappointed in what seemed to be a lack of substantive comments,” he said. “It seemed unfortunate to me there was a lot misunderstanding about what’s in the rules.”

Specifically, Schafer said, many comments focused on proposed timing restrictions for drilling.

The Oil and Gas Commission proposed to restrict drilling operations in critical habitat areas for native species. Companies would not be allowed to drill for a period up to three months in these areas to preserve such habitats as sage-grouse mating grounds and mule deer winter ranges.

But, the proposed regulations also offer companies ways to earn year-round drilling.

In one suggested instance, companies could use directional drilling technology to put multiple wells on a single well pad and lessen their surface presence. The Oil and Gas Commission’s proposal directs companies to coordinate with the Colorado Division of Wildlife if they wish to seek a variance to the timing restrictions.

Schafer added timing restrictions are not new to the energy industry and in fact have been in place for years on federal land.

“They’ve been able to thrive under these regulations for decades,” he said. “Unfortunately, a lot of it was posturing and politics, and when that happens, we all lose.”

Raftopoulos said two Western Slope legislators appeared and challenged the Oil and Gas Commission for “overstepping” the legal intent from the state Legislature.

Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, and Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, both spoke against the proposed regulations.

Reports from Grand Junction also say that Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, plans to introduce a bill next year to clarify what the Legislature intended with bills 1298 and 1341, because she, too, thinks the Oil and Gas Commission’s proposal restricts more than the Legislature intended.

Raftopoulos said, however, the most impressive testimony she heard was from “workers on the ground.”

“They got up, they testified to their jobs, the economy, their families,” she said. “A comment was made that these people were paid to be there, but they weren’t. They were there because they have real concerns.”

Schafer said he also was moved by comments from workers concerned about their jobs, but he said they shouldn’t be concerned that people are either trying to put them out of work or trying to restrict the industry without a care for them.

“I completely understand the concerns of energy industry workers,” Schafer said. “This is their livelihood, and they need to take care of their families. No one is trying to put them out of work.

“We’re trying to come to a point where wildlife, public health and the industry can all thrive together, and I think we can get there.”

Both Schafer and Raftopoulos said the more public input on the Oil and Gas Commission’s proposed regulations, the better. Neither expects another public comment hearing on the Western Slope given the timeline imposed by the Legislature to adopt the regulations by the end of the year.

The Oil and Gas Commission plans to have one other public comment hearing from 8 a.m. to noon June 23 in Denver. Tentative plans are to host the meeting at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St., but the location is subject to change.

Residents may continue to submit written comments through June 27 on the Oil and Gas Commission Web site by going to http://oil-gas.state.co.us/RuleMaking/ and clicking on the “Make a Comment on Draft Rule” link under the “Agency Interface” heading.

There also are stakeholder testimony dates for local government, industry and conservation group representatives June 23 to 27, June 30, July 1 and July 15 to 18 in Denver.

The Oil and Gas Commission expects to adopt new regulations by Aug. 12.

Collin Smith can be reached at 875-1794 or cesmith@craigdailypress.com