Vote “No” on Amendment 71

Be The Change releases ‘Fact Sheet’ in opposition to Amendment 71 Amendment 71:  The corporately-financed initiative designed to eliminate the citizen’s right to initiative. Probably the most important historical fact we should recognize when discussing Amendment 71, dubbed Raise the Bar by its corporate sponsors, is that the people’s right to the initiative, or citizen […]

Earthworks health and climate webinar

Virtually every stage of oil and gas production releases toxic air pollution. Both scientific research and reports from communities show that living near well sites, processing plants, compressor stations, and other facilities is often linked to health problems. Ongoing leaks and emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, also pose risks to the climate. On […]

Battlement Mesa film trailer released

For over a year, Gayle Embrey and Sue Drinker at PowerSurge Productions have been filming the story of the residents in Battlement Mesa who have worked to stop oil & gas company Ursa from drilling inside their community. The film tells the story of their struggle to keep gas drilling from inside the Battlement Mesa […]

Chromium-6 found in drinking water systems in 26 Colorado counties

Nearly 200 million Americans, including millions in Colorado, drink tap water that contains a toxin that can cause cancer even from minute exposures, according to a report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Chromium-6, a chemical compound that can cause liver damage, lung cancer, and reproductive and developmental problems, was found in 61 water systems […]

BOCC denies BCC and GVCA request for appeal of COGCC’s B pad permit

Today Garfield County Commissioners unanimously denied a request from Battlement Concerned Citizens and Grand Valley Citizens Alliance that the commissioners request a hearing to appeal the recent approval by the COGCC for Ursa’s B pad in Battlement Mesa. Click here to read the BCC/GVCA letter to the BOCC. The main issue, as described in the […]

CDPHE plans oil and gas health risk assessment based on air quality study

New data to be used to assess health risks from oil and gas operations DENVER – The Air Quality Control Commission today received a report from the three-year North Front Range Oil and Gas Air Pollutant Emission and Dispersion Study conducted by Colorado State University. Data from the study – and a similar Garfield County […]

Groups file lawsuit to protect Colorado River Basin

Lawsuit Launched Over Fracking, Water, Climate Change in Colorado River Basin DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity and Living Rivers today filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to compel them to update invalid, outdated Endangered Species Act consultations on the impacts of […]

Residents call on the Governor to save Battlement Mesa

By Emily Hornback, WCC Community Organizer Today, Battlement Concerned Citizens decried the final decision from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) on the second of two natural gas pads now approved for construction within the boundaries of Battlement Mesa. COGCC approves 2nd well pad in Battlement The COGCC approved the Ursa Resources permit […]

Post-mortem: Why Colorado’s anti-fracking measures didn’t make the ballot

By Kelsey Ray Republished from The Colorado Independent The fractivists were prepared for this. Before turning in the more than 200,000 ballot petition signatures they collected to qualify two anti-fracking measures for the November ballot, members of the Yes for Health and Safety Over Fracking campaign took photographs of every single petition page. After Secretary […]

Exposure to chemicals released during fracking may harm fertility

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals linked to altered hormone levels, ovarian development in mice COLUMBIA, Mo. – More than 15 million Americans live within a one-mile radius of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) operations. UOGs combine directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” to release natural gas from underground rock. Scientific studies, while ongoing, are still inconclusive on […]