The Colorado Senate is considering final approval of more stringent rules for the natural gas and oil industry after the state’s House affirmed the legislation on Friday. If the Senate approves the bill, the drilling restrictions would go into effect beginning in April.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) sent the rules package to the general assembly earlier this month. The commission began to revamp the state’s energy rules in late 2007 at the direction of the Colorado General Assembly when a gas drilling boom was in full swing (see Daily GPI, Nov. 29, 2007).

The general assembly at the time gave overwhelming support to require the COGCC increase the energy rules to protect public health, private property and the environment. The new rules were formally approved in December following a lengthy public consultation process (see Daily GPI, Dec. 10, 2008).

With overwhelming support by the state’s Democrats and mixed support among Republicans, the Colorado House Friday morning passed HB 1292 by a vote of 50-13. The House on Thursday informally approved the legislation following a raucous debate that was split along party lines.

House Minority Leader Mike May (R-Parker) said his GOP colleagues may not agree with all of the legislation, but he said the issues affects more than just the state’s energy industry. Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) claimed the rules already had reduced employment in the state from oil and gas industry cutbacks at a time when Colorado can least afford it.

Democratic Rep. Keith Goddard of Rifle, a heavily drilled area of the state, said drilling had changed the migration patterns of some animals. Goddard runs a business that takes hunters on trips to the Roan Plateau, which is in the Piceance Basin, an area coveted by gas drillers. If the area continues to be heavily developed without more stringent regulations, Goddard said his business and other outdoor-related businesses, would suffer.

“Everybody can coexist,” Goddard said. “But the oil and gas companies have been able to do whatever they please, and the wildlife takes a back seat to it.”

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