The Colorado Oil and Gas Commission

Earlier, I posted comments about using letters to comment on public issues. One of the issues that has generated a bunch of letters from legislators is oil and gas activity in Western Colorado, and the proposed new rules of the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission. The proposed rules have generated a number of letters and emails to me. The Commission's website discusses both the Initial, Predraft, Rule-making Proposal and the hearing process that the Commission is going through to discuss the various proposals being considered. I invite interested individuals to actually look at the website to learn what the proposal involves:

http://www.oil-gas.state.co.us/RuleMaking/2007RuleMaking.cfm

To me, some of the proposed rules look pretty solid and a few of them may well be unworkable (I particularly think that the standing for adjacent surface owners is unworkable, and the time frame for the processing of permits may be too long). But the important point is that these rules are "Initial, Predraft." I have talked to several individuals involved with the Commission, and it is the clear intent of these "initial, predraft" proposed rules to generate a conversation about the appropriate level of regulation and the balance between wildlife, the environment, surface owners and the clear need to develop our natural resources.

Again, it is clear to me that some of the rules go to far. I do not in any way believe that they are intended to "shut the industry down" or "drive the industry out of the state." A good, open and frank discussion about balance is appropriate, and I am confident that, at the end of the process the advocates on one side of this issue will say that the rules do not go far enough and the other side will say that they go too far. The best policy is generally when both sides to an issue are somewhat disappointed.