891041D3FA00F3D58725827B00128FB4 Hearing Summary

Representative Foote and Representative Jackson, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1419. The bill requires that the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) in the Department of Natural Resources adopt rules to ensure proper wellhead integrity of all oil and gas production wells. COGCC's rules must address the permitting, construction, operation, and closure of production wells, and take into account regulatory developments and changes in operational practices that have occurred since 2008. Oil and gas operators are required to provide electronic notice of the location of each subsurface facility (flow lines or gathering lines) to the COGCC, and to each local government within whose jurisdiction the subsurface facility is located. The operator notification must distinguish between subsurface facilities constructed or installed before and after the bill's effective date, and specify whether a subsurface facility is active or abandoned. The bill specifies required time lines for notifications. Upon request from a local government, an oil and gas operator is required to provide:

 

• a good-faith estimate of the number of wells the operator intends to drill in the next five years within a local government's jurisdiction; and

• a map showing the location within the local jurisdiction of the operator's existing oil and gas well sites and development sites for which the operator has applied to or received permits from the COGCC.

Representative Foote answered questions from the committee.

Jim Cole, Colorado Oil and Gas Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

Brock Herzberg, Colorado Petroleum Council, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Cole answered questions from the committee.

Morgan Cullen, Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill. He answered questions from the committee.

Sophia Guerrero-Murphy, Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Sara Loflin, League of Oil and Gas Impacted Coloradans, testified in support of the bill. She provided a handout to the committee [Attachment J].

Dan Grossman, Environmental Defense Fund, testified in support of the bill. He answered questions from the committee.

Representative Foote explained amendment L.001 [Attachment K].

Representative Jackson and Representative Foote made concluding remarks about the bill.