From today's Denver Post, "A court ruling that methane- gas wells need water permits from the state engineer could create a hardship for state regulators and the energy industry, a top state official said Wednesday. Harris Sherman, director of the state Department of Natural Resources, said the ruling 'raises serious questions' about the ability of the state engineer to process such applications and the industry's ability to find replacement water. Harris made his comments at the Rocky Mountain Natural Gas Strategy Conference at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver."
Meanwhile, Harris Sherman was on hand at this week's meeting of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, according to The Rocky Mountain News. From the article:
Colorado's natural resources chief trumpeted the importance of oil and gas Wednesday, but also made it clear to industry that protecting the environment amid the energy boom was a priority of the administration of Gov. Bill Ritter. In a speech that marked the first large-scale, face-to-face meeting between the Ritter administration and oil and gas officials, Department of Natural Resources chief Harris Sherman attempted a delicate dance with an industry concerned about a tougher regulatory approach under Ritter. "Nothing can be more critical to me than we keep this dialogue going; we absolutely need to talk frequently about where we are going," Sherman said. "I want to assure all of you my door is open."[...]
Cheering industry's economic splash, Sherman said it brought $515 million to the state in 2006 via federal royalty payments, local property taxes and state severance taxes paid when minerals are taken from the ground. But he stressed that the Ritter administration will scrutinize how the bustling industry is affecting public lands, wildlife and local communities, as well as air and water quality. "Often this development occurs in isolated, rural, scenic areas, which have very high environmental and wildlife values," Sherman said. "The advent of a quasi-industrial imprint on a previously tranquil environment obviously causes issues, raises lifestyle questions and so forth." It was that kind of talk that confirmed things were changing for an industry that enjoyed eight years under former Gov. Bill Owens, a Republican and former lobbyist for oil and gas.
More Coyote Gulch coverage here, here, here and here.
"colorado water"
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