Broomfield challenges SB181’s public health priority

UPDATE:  Benzene Spike on March 24th, March 25th Emphasizes Residents’ Concern, Anxiety During Pandemic Broomfield’s oil & gas COVID order tests SB181’s prioritization of public health Last week the City of Broomfield announced it would issue an emergency order banning flowback operations while Governor Polis’ stay-at-home order is in place to combat the COVID-19 crisis. […]

Call to action: Support new GarCo mining standards

Support Garfield County’s proposed 1041 mining standards In a webinar work session held Wednesday, March 25, Garfield County’s planning staff presented a package of strong new standards to govern mining operations across the county. The standards would use the 1041 review process, a Colorado law that allows local governments to address a wide variety of […]

Virus pauses rulemaking but not O&G operations

On March 25, Governor Jared Polis issued a statewide “stay-at-home” order requiring the state’s 5.7 million residents to avoid socializing with others as well as unnecessary travel. Read the order here. Oil and gas production field operations are included in the list of critical infrastructure that remains operational. During this time when millions of residents […]

FERC approves Jordan Cove with conditions

Despite Oregon permit denials and current public health crisis, FERC approves Jordan Cove LNG Washington, DC — In the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic and national health emergency, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) conditionally approved the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline today. The approval is conditioned on […]

Submit comments on wellbore integrity rulemaking

In Colorado, there are more than 50-thousand active oil and gas wells. There are also another 20,000 to 30,000 plugged and abandoned wells. These wells and their infrastructure leak every single day. In fact, according to the Center for Western Priorities, there were almost two spills or leaks per day in Colorado. Since 2016, there […]

Report finds CDPHE fails to protect public health

CO Senate leader to introduce Clean Up Colorado’s Air Act to provide funds so CDPHE can put public health ahead of oil & gas interests Denver — A new report reveals that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) does not fulfill its mission “to protect and improve the health of Colorado’s people” […]

Bella Romero benzene levels higher than CDPHE reported

New report reveals Bella Romero Academy exposed to unsafe levels of benzene from Extraction fracking and production State failed to adopt standard appropriate for schools and allowed numerous exceedances Denver, CO — Nonprofit organization 350 Colorado released a report on Wednesday, conducted by Barrett Engineering PLLC, revealing that benzene emissions at Bella Romero Academy in […]

GSCA files lawsuit against BLM over quarry

Glenwood Springs Citizens’ Alliance files suit against BLM over limestone quarry mining violations The Glenwood Springs Citizens’ Alliance (GSCA) today filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Denver charging the U.S. Bureau of Land Management with failing to properly regulate mining activity at the Rocky Mountain Industrials’ (RMI) limestone quarry. A copy of the […]

The world faces an air pollution “pandemic”

Researchers say people’s lives are shortened by an average of nearly three years from different sources of air pollution Air pollution is responsible for shortening people’s lives worldwide on a scale far greater than wars and other forms of violence, parasitic and vector-borne diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS and smoking, according to a study published […]

Colorado, we have a problem

I rarely write about politics. It’s not my favorite subject. I follow politics as it relates to public health, climate change, and the fossil fuel industry. Today is Super Tuesday. On full disclosure, I voted for Elizabeth Warren. In honor of this day I feel the need to share my concerns about a disturbing nexus […]