Coyote Gulch

Friday, July 20, 2007

Energy policy: Oil and gas development

The state engineer is planning an appeal of the recent District 7 Water Court decision on coalbed methane and groundwater, according to The Summit Daily News "reg". From the article:

The state has asked that a water court ruling with potentially far-reaching effects on the oil and gas industry be put on hold while it prepares an appeal. The state engineer's office is also seeking clarification of the July 2 ruling by a Durango-based water court judge that water produced during natural gas drilling is subject to state water law. Denver attorney Sarah Klahn, who represents the two ranch families whose lawsuit led to the ruling, said Thursday that she is preparing a response to the state's motions...

In a motion filed Tuesday, the state engineer's office argued the families haven't proved imminent harm to their water rights or other interests. By contrast, the state engineer's office said it would be overwhelmed dealing with water permits for about 2,000 coalbed methane wells in southwest Colorado. Coalbed methane operations in the San Juan Basin, one of the country's largest coalbed methane producers, might have to be suspended while the office processes water permits and gas companies file water rights and water augmentation plans, according to the state engineer's motion. "The Court's Order reverses a long-standing Colorado policy in a manner that has the potential to adversely affect water users, oil and gas producers, communities and consumers across the state," according to the motion.
"2008 pres"
7:40:44 AM

Uranium mining in Weld County?

Here's a recap of yesterday's open house with Powertech officials regarding uranium mining in Weld County, from The Fort Collins Coloradoan. From the article:

Large fans set up around a former high school gymnasium that's now part of this small town's community center were not enough to keep the heat off officials from Powertech (USA) Inc. on Thursday. Area residents and anti-nuclear activists from across Northern Colorado grilled company officials during an open house intended to answer questions about the company's plan to mine uranium from beneath the prairie between Nunn and Wellington. About 300 people cycled through the open house, with many saying they felt frustrated by the format and the information company officials offered. "This feels like a dog-and-pony show to me," said Larry Williams, who lives near Nunn. "You ask a question and they tell you to talk to someone else. Then you get an answer but you don't get a lot of specifics."[...]

Powertech has begun test drilling to establish baseline environmental conditions and learn more about conditions underground, said Richard Blubaugh, the company's vice president of environmental health and safety resources. The company is more than a year from applying for permits from state and county regulatory agencies, he said. The company doesn't know the answers to questions some residents are asking because it doesn't have enough information, he said. "You've got to have the data collection before you can do the analysis, and you've got to have the analysis before you can make the decisions," he said. John Nelson, who lives off Weld County Road 17, said he's not concerned about the proposed project. Monitoring wells will alert the company to contamination if it occurs, he said. Nelson, who said he works in the nuclear industry but not for Powertech, said the in-situ process is safe.
"2008 pres"
6:59:20 AM