"It would be nice if the federal government, State Land Board, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Park County, and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission would start talking to each other," he said. "It would be nice if Denver Water, instead of sitting in the bleachers, would take an active role."
South Park residents Tuesday met with Park County authorities to consider using a county trust fund to conduct their own baseline study of water resources.
didn't i read in the flume recently that it was pretty well established that oil companies are within their rights to drill? so how do you then stop county commissioners from granting them the option.
i like the idea of citizens putting pressure on state land board but then how do they fund all their projects? i would be willing to give up a bunch of them to not have the oil drilling but not sure others would.
bumper sticker - honk if you will pay my mortgage
"The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." attributed to Margaret Thatcher
"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government." Thomas Jefferson
Most Weld County parcels up for bid Thursday went for hundreds of dollars per acre, but 15 parcels in Park County saw little interest. Ten of them went for the minimum bid — which means a buyer pays nothing but the standard first year of rent of $1.50 per acre plus fees.
Kelly wouldn't speculate on the lack of interest.
Citizens groups have voiced opposition to drilling in Park County until more is known about side effects of hydraulic fracturing, in which water and chemicals are pumped underground at high pressure to help release trapped oil and natural gas. Before the auction, the land board withdrew two Park County parcels next to Antero Reservoir, which supplies some of Denver's drinking water.
Some Park County residents are very concerned about the uranium naturally found in the area and how it may impact their domestic water supply. Wilson admitted that uranium is very mobile in ground water and responded that, “It needs national expertise.” He added, “I’m afraid we won’t get it.” The drilling could actually allow uranium to move more freely within water supplies, than left undisturbed.
CO Land Board auctions drilling leases; will Park Co fracture?
Unfortunately, Park County ginned up only $39,947.50, with many parcels going for the minimum $1.50/acre bid. Among various inferences, two possible implications arise: either Park County doesn’t have much oil and gas, or a few oil and gas companies are going to hit it big.
