HomeMy WebLinkAbout20091290.tiffRESOLUTION
RE: EXPRESSION OF OPPOSITION TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION BANNING OR
RESTRICTING HYDRAULIC FRACTURING OF OIL AND GAS WELLS
WHEREAS, the United States Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to
assure the protection of the nation's drinking water sources, and
WHEREAS, since the enactment of the SDWA, the United States Environmental
Protection Agency has never interpreted hydraulic fracturing as constituting "underground
injection" within the SDWA, and
WHEREAS, in 2004, the EPA published a final report stating that minimal threat was
posed to underground sources of drinking water by hydraulic fracturing, and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress, in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, explicitly
exempted hydraulic fracturing from the provisions of the SDWA, and
WHEREAS, hydraulic fracturing has been used more than one million times in the last
60 years in exploration and production activities by the oil and gas industry across the nation
with no harm to groundwater supplies, and
WHEREAS, the regulation of oil and gas exploration and production activities, including
hydraulic fracturing, is strictly regulated by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission,
and
WHEREAS, the SDWA was never intended to grant to the federal government authority
to regulate oil and gas drilling and production operations, such as hydraulic fracturing, and
WHEREAS, the issue of hydraulic fracturing is critical to Weld County, home to the 8t"
largest gas field in the Nation, the Wattenberg Field, and
WHEREAS, due to the nature of the geology in the Wattenberg Field, the ability to utilize
hydraulic fracturing is extremely important, and hydraulic fracturing allows wells in this area to
be fractured several times before losing their productivity, resulting in fewer wells that have to
be drilled and a reduction of our environmental footprint, and
WHEREAS, twenty five percent of Colorado's gas wells are in Weld County. The natural
gas industry in Weld County directly employs 7,000 people, invests hundreds of millions of
dollars into the area each year, and contributes more than $3.1 billion to the Colorado economy
annually. Additionally Weld County is the second most -active county in Colorado for companies
seeking new drilling permits, and
WHEREAS, onerous new regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing could stymie energy
development in Weld County, cause detriment to Weld County residents, increase costs to
Colorado consumers and decrease the economic vitality of the State.
2009-1290
CR0025
(lc': % 67447
EXPRESSION OF OPPOSITION TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO BAN OR RESTRICT
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING OF OIL AND GAS WELLS
PAGE 2
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Weld County urges our federal legislators
to maintain the exemption for hydraulic fracturing from the provisions of the SDWA and to not
pass unneeded legislation that would negatively impact Weld County's economy.
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted
by the following vote on the 3r° day of June, A.D., 2009.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD CO6INTY, DORADO
ATTEST: LIMO
Weld County Clerk to the Board
BY
Deputy
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ar
fry,+courtW Atto5ey
Date of signature
6,/7/67
F. Garcia, Chair
61,4._%r
ademache Pro-Tem
n P. Conway
EXCUSED
Barbara Kirkmeyer
oN1 e.4
David E. Long
2009-1290
CR0025
Hello