Drill pads could be as close as two miles to the boundary of a Superfund site, and within one mile of existing homes.

Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** New oil and gas drilling proposed near reservoir and suburban Superfund site
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Monday, March 4, 2024
An aerial view of the Aurora Reservoir and surrounding neighborhoods and landscape, Ken Lund via Flickr ([link removed])

A Colorado oil and gas company has refiled a drilling plan ([link removed]) for 166 wells over 50 square miles in Aurora, Colorado's third-largest city, near a reservoir and a Superfund site. The Lowry Ranch project, proposed by operator Civitas, would involve fracking for oil and gas on land owned by the Colorado State Land Board near the Lowry Landfill Superfund site, the Aurora Reservoir, and suburban neighborhoods. The original plan, filed in 2022, raised concerns that millions of gallons of toxic chemicals, currently contained in unlined trenches, could be disturbed by fracking and leak into the nearby reservoir, among other possible eventualities.

While the revised plan attempts to respond to questions raised by regulators, including a new commitment from Civitas not to drill directly below the Superfund site, the plan remains concerning ([link removed]) to community members. Under the proposed plan, drill pads could be as close as two miles to the boundary of the Superfund site, and horizontal drilling could bring pipes even closer. Drilling could occur within one mile of existing homes.

Now that the new drilling plan has been filed, a public comment period will be open until April 23, and the Energy and Carbon Management Commission will hold a hearing on the proposal on June 26. Meanwhile, Arapahoe County plans to review updated rules ([link removed]) governing fracking and wastewater injection. These rules follow an earlier set of rules the county passed in November 2023, partially in response to Civitas's original drilling plan filed in 2022. A state law passed in 2019 ([link removed]) overhauled how Colorado regulates oil and gas development, including giving local governments greater authority to regulate oil and gas development within their jurisdictions.


** Quick hits
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Proposed drilling near suburban Denver Superfund site raising flags

Capital & Main ([link removed])

NOAA releases proposal for sanctuary designation within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

E&E News ([link removed]) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ([link removed]) [press release]

Climate change is making it tough on pollinators; now Colorado may try to protect them

CPR News ([link removed])

Leaking, abandoned wells highlight challenges of finding and plugging thousands of Permian Basin wells

Inside Climate News ([link removed])

Colorado ranchers sentenced after tampering with rain gauges to increase crop subsidies

CBS Colorado ([link removed])

Uranium firms revive forgotten mines as prices soar

Bloomberg ([link removed])

AI is taking water from the desert

The Atlantic ([link removed])

Climate change is costing the U.S. ski industry billions

Associated Press ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” Allowing one more data center to come to our state is an easy but stupid decision in a lot of cases. It’s like the cotton candy of economic development.”

—Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, The Atlantic ([link removed])


** Picture This
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@usinterior ([link removed])
Floof fact: The name for a baby porcupine is a porcupette. They have soft quills when they are born, but they grow stronger every day.

Adults have about 30,000 quills that help them defend against predators and stay warm!

Photo by @glacierbaynps ([link removed])

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