Colorado, 9 producers agree to protect wildlife
Washington policymakers considering stronger regulations sometimes look to states for ideas. Colorado’s new oil and gas regulations may be providing exactly that.
Nine oil and gas producers have reached historic agreements under those regulations which will protect 355,000 acres of wildlife habitat on Colorado’s Western Slope, Gov. Bill Ritter announced on Aug. 10. “By working together, we are protecting important wildlife habitat while also responsibly developing our energy resources,” he maintained. “This balanced approach will drive our economy forward, allow us to maximize our vast energy resources and ensure sustainable communities for years to come.”
He said that the agreements protect more than 550 square miles of land designated as important habitat for deer, elk, raptors, sage grouse, and cutthroat trout, while providing the producers and their project planners more certainty. By consulting with Colorado’s Division of Wildlife before starting to drill, producers will be able to secure approvals for thousands of natural gas wells more quickly, Ritter explained.
He said that the agreements protect more than 550 square miles of land designated as important habitat for deer, elk, raptors, sage grouse, and cutthroat trout, while providing the producers and their project planners more certainty. By consulting with Colorado’s Division of Wildlife before starting to drill, producers will be able to secure approvals for thousands of natural gas wells more quickly, Ritter explained.
He said that Exxon Mobil Corp. and the state wildlife division signed the largest wildlife protection agreement to date, covering 150,000 acres of mainly federal land in Rio Blanco County. Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., whose North Parachute Ranch plan was the first major agreement to be signed, and Williams Production RMT, which has signed 2 separate agreements for acreage bracketing the Colorado River, also have reached new wildlife accords with the state, he said. Antero Resources Piceance Corp., Marathon Oil Corp., Noble Energy Inc., Black Hills Exploration & Production Co., Delta Petroleum Corp, and Gunnison Energy Corp. have reached similar accords.
The agreements range from comprehensive drilling plans to well site density limits. “These plans are a recipe for success,” said David Neslin, director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. “They will allow for development of needed energy supplies while protecting some of our most iconic wildlife species. They epitomize win-win solutions.”
The governor said that the 9 producers were able to use three different tools available to protect wildlife habitat under the state’s amended oil and gas rules which were developed following the legislature’s adoption of House bills 1298 and 1341 in 2007. The state’s wildlife division is continuing to work with other producers on similar wildlife protection plans, he noted.
Nine oil and gas producers have reached historic agreements under those regulations which will protect 355,000 acres of wildlife habitat on Colorado’s Western Slope, Gov. Bill Ritter announced on Aug. 10. “By working together, we are protecting important wildlife habitat while also responsibly developing our energy resources,” he maintained. “This balanced approach will drive our economy forward, allow us to maximize our vast energy resources and ensure sustainable communities for years to come.”
He said that the agreements protect more than 550 square miles of land designated as important habitat for deer, elk, raptors, sage grouse, and cutthroat trout, while providing the producers and their project planners more certainty. By consulting with Colorado’s Division of Wildlife before starting to drill, producers will be able to secure approvals for thousands of natural gas wells more quickly, Ritter explained.
He said that the agreements protect more than 550 square miles of land designated as important habitat for deer, elk, raptors, sage grouse, and cutthroat trout, while providing the producers and their project planners more certainty. By consulting with Colorado’s Division of Wildlife before starting to drill, producers will be able to secure approvals for thousands of natural gas wells more quickly, Ritter explained.
He said that Exxon Mobil Corp. and the state wildlife division signed the largest wildlife protection agreement to date, covering 150,000 acres of mainly federal land in Rio Blanco County. Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., whose North Parachute Ranch plan was the first major agreement to be signed, and Williams Production RMT, which has signed 2 separate agreements for acreage bracketing the Colorado River, also have reached new wildlife accords with the state, he said. Antero Resources Piceance Corp., Marathon Oil Corp., Noble Energy Inc., Black Hills Exploration & Production Co., Delta Petroleum Corp, and Gunnison Energy Corp. have reached similar accords.
The agreements range from comprehensive drilling plans to well site density limits. “These plans are a recipe for success,” said David Neslin, director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. “They will allow for development of needed energy supplies while protecting some of our most iconic wildlife species. They epitomize win-win solutions.”
The governor said that the 9 producers were able to use three different tools available to protect wildlife habitat under the state’s amended oil and gas rules which were developed following the legislature’s adoption of House bills 1298 and 1341 in 2007. The state’s wildlife division is continuing to work with other producers on similar wildlife protection plans, he noted.
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