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The oil and gas industry still flourishes even when strict regulations are enforced.
Since 2017, oil production has grown 15-fold in Adams County, Colorado, making it the second-biggest oil-producing county in the state by volume. And despite Adams County having much stricter regulations than the state's largest producer, Weld County, production is up about 58 percent since 2021. The state-leading Weld County: Down 6 percent.
In 2019, Adams County implemented new, stricter regulations, thanks to the passage of a Colorado bill allowing local governments to set their own rules on oil and gas drilling. Drilling permits in Adams County are now limited to three years instead of five, and companies must apply for new permits if a well remains unused for those three years. They must also monitor air and noise, use quiet electric drills, and be farther away from homes than state law requires.
Adams County also requires annual inspections of active and orphan wells, which have shown to help keep active wells in compliance with county and state regulations—in 2023, operating wells achieved a compliance rate of 88 percent, up from 66 percent in 2021. According to Adams County Commissioner Eva Henry, “This just shows that regulations don’t kill the business.”
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These sites are not only spiritually and historically significant, but they are also a vital part of Indigenous culture and heritage. Any damage or desecration caused by such activities is a violation of Indigenous rights.”
