HomeMy WebLinkAbout820810.tiff n tiC
RESOLUTION
RE: APPROVAL TO SUBMIT ENERGY IMPACT ASSISTANCE GRANT AND AUTHORI-
ZATION FOR CHAIRMAN TO SIGN SAME
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County,
Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home
Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the
affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, an application for Water Testing/Energy Related
Pollution Grant has been prepared to be submitted to the Division
of Energy and Mineral Impact, 1313 Sherman Street, Room 518,
Denver, Colorado 80203, a copy of which is attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference, and
WHEREAS, after careful study and review, the Board deems
it in the best interests of the citizens of Weld County to approve
said application.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Com-
missioners of Weld County, Colorado that the application for
Water Testing/Energy Related Pollution Grant be, and hereby is,
approved for submittal to the Division of Energy and Mineral
Impact.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that the Chairman be,
and hereby is, authorized to sign said application.
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made
and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 23rd day of
June, A.D. , 1982.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST: CLx,�\ �C(A Ach WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
Weld County Clerk.-arid- order > � 7,7<',0,1-7. -c-,
a-nff CZa�'k to the Board J n T. Marti airman
(1_31:L7 Deputy Coun w /VIP QLTem
APPROVED AS TO FORM: EXCUSED
Norman Carlson
, `- 74-2.1
County Attorney . Kirb
ne K. Steinmark
820810
DATE PRESENTED: July 7, 1982
APPENDIX C
Application Number:
Date Received:
Application for: Energy/Mineral
Impact Assistance
Submitted to: The Division of Energy and Mineral Impact
1313 Sherman Street, Room 518
Denver, Colorado 80203
1. Applicant Agency:
Name County of Weld
Name of Contact Person Donald D. Warden
Telephone No. 356-4000 extension 218
Address P.O. Box 758
Greeley, Colorado 80631
2. Local Government Sponsor (if different than above) :
Name Same
Name of Contact Person
Telephone No.
Address
3. Project title:
Water Testing/Energy Related Pollution
4. Project Amount: 1982-83 Five Year Period
(a) Local Share $41,960 $167,840
(b) Federal Share 9
(c) Industry Share 9
(d) Other (please identify source)
(e) Impact Assistance Funds $65,800 65,800
(f) Project Total $107,760 $233,640
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5. Description of Need for the Project:
In this section, please describe those characteristics and/or
problems (current or projected) which the project will address.
Include here the connection the project has with solving energy or
mineral related impact problems.
A recent occurrence in our county has pointed up a critical
deficiency in Weld County's chemical health testing capability. This
had to do with the presence of gas wells and their potential to
contaminate ground water. It was realized that by lacking the proper
instrumentation to perform technical testing, Weld County's ability
to assist was greatly hampered. To further complicate matters was
the complete lack of background data necessary for determining any
possible time frame for the onset of the problem.
After reviewing the implications of this problem, Weld County
realized it also has oil wells, coal mines, and uranium mines as
additional sources of potential problems. To further compound things
are two facts:
1) Weld County was the most active county in the Rocky
Mountain region in terms of oil and gas exploration in 1981
and
2) That these sources are located throughout the county and
not just in isolated areas.
Therefore, Weld County needs to be prepared by:
1) Amassing background data to ascertain any future changes in
water quality.
2) Determining the chemical composition of a water supply
before any, treatment to minimize and/or eliminate the
production of any hazardous compounds as a result of the
treatment process, i.e. , trihalomethanes.
3) Assessing any problem found as to its extent and, if
possible, its source.
4) Monitoring disposal sites, of waste material, from drilling
and/or mining operations to assure no contamination of
ground water occurs.
The State Health Department is unable to assist in establishing
background data on water quality. Therefore, local initiatives must
be taken. With the requested equipment the potential of other
counties with energy impacting water sources using the equipment is
very possible through regional health agreements.
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6. Project Description:
Please use this section only for details directly related to this
project itself, such as:
(a) Describe the project.
(b) What will the project do?
(c) Is this a complete project or a phase of a larger project?
(d) What is the Budget Breakdown?
(e) If design or feasibility work has been done, please submit
copies.
(f) If the project includes construction of any kind, please include
a map indicating the site where the improvements are to be done.
(g) Other details.
6a. Obtain samples of ground water from areas adjacent to possible sources of
contamination, i.e. , oil wells, gas wells, mines, and oil disposal Sites.
Perform chemical analysis (inorganic, organic, metals) on these samples.
6b. 1) This project will provide baseline data on water quality for future
reference and comparison to evaluate any changes in quality.
2) It will allow the location of any immediate problems, i.e. , methane.
3) It will allow us to know the chemical composition of water supplies
before treatment, recommendations are given. Of special concern are
organic precursors (possible sources from coal mines, oil and gas
wells) with chlorine to produce tri—halomethanes.
4) Give us the capability to evaluate the efficiency of waste disposal
sites, used by the energy industry, to prevent ground water
contamination. If contamination is found then we will be able to
determine the extent of contaminations.
6c. Complete project.
6d. (I) Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
Base Price
$21,780.00
Nitrous Oxide Burner Head 345.00
Blower Vent 485.00
Regulators X 3 1,580.00
Graphite furnace 8,100.00
Quick mount Automatic Sampler 8,180.00
Cathode lamps X 14 3,460.00
Chart recorder 1,580.00
TOTAL $44,710.00
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(II) Gas Chromatograph — (3700)
Base price $ 5,200.00
Detectors X 3 2,865.00
Flame Ionization (g3D)
Electron Capture ( Ni ECD)
Thermal Conductivity (TCD)
Detector Controllers X 2 1,365.00
Filters X 2 230.00
Data Base & Recorder 5,195.00
Stacking module 215.00
Oventemp Programmer 1,420.00
Columns X 4 l" 400.00
Capillary Columns 30 meters. 300.00
Capillary System 2,100.00
Gadges X 3 600.00
Accessories (gasses, tubing, etc.) 1,200.00
$21,090.00
(III) Salaries and Fringe Benefits $33,736.00
(IV) Supplies and Services 8,224.00
TOTAL $107,760.00
(V) Weld County commits to providing. ongoing operational costs after
equipment is acquired. Over the five year period to establish base
data, total costs in current dollars would be $233,640 with local
share being $167,840 or 72%.
6e. N/A
6f. N/A
6g. See newspaper articles attached.
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7. Describe the extent of energy industry assistance, involvement and effort
in your project area. Give specific examples of industry participation.
(This refers to overall industry assistance as well as aid contributed to
this particular project.)
Y
Because the impacts of the energy companies on the quality of water are
distributed throughout the region no specific company's operation can be
identified to the water pollution problem. Therefore, there has been a
hesitancy on the part of energy companies to become involved in monitoring
or studying this problem. When specific pollution problems are located
the energy companies only run tests to defend their position that they are
not the cause for litigation purposes. No aid has been contributed and
there is a real reluctance for the companies to get involved.
5
8. Financial Status of Applicants
(a) Assessed Valuation $771 million
Y (b) Mill Levy 17.247 County only
(c) Total Mill Levy for Overlapping Jurisdictions
76. 12
(d) Sales Tax Percent and Estimated Revenue No local
County tax. 1% sales tax failed on 11/4/80 election
(e) Water tap and Investment Fees N/A
(f) Water User Charges N/A •
(g) Sewer Tap and Investment Fees N/A
(h) Sewer User Charges N/A
(i) Other (please specify) User fees for services
as provided by state statute
(j) Total Long—Term Debt (by type) None
(k) Statutory Debt Limit $11.56 million
(1) Annual Debt Service: 1979 N/A 1980 N/A
1981 N/A 1982 N/A 1983 N/A
(m) Projected Capital Improvements Budget (please specify
type of improvements; e.g. , water and sewer, street
improvements, etc.)
1979 143,600
1980 311,435
1981 516,683
1982 412,000
1983 300,000
1984 300,000
1985 300,000
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8. Financial Status of Applicant (continued) :
(n) Indicate why the project cannot be funded from local
revenues.
The one time capital outlay of approximately $65,800 is not
available within the 5% Home Rule property tax limitation
in Weld County or the per capita public health funds for
the State, which are the primary sources of revenue for the
Public Health Lab.
(o) If project will require ongoing operational funds, how does
applicant intend to procure their revenues?
Ongoing operational costs will be funded via the Public
Health Fund in the laboratory budget. Estimated costs
would be in excess of $40,000 per year.
9. Energy or Mineral Impact:
(a) List the energy or mineral development projects currently
impacting the applicant.
(b) List any proposed or expected energy/mineral development
(include details such as size, dates, employees, location,
timetable, source of information).
(c) Indicate the current and projected number of energy related
employees residing in the project area and source of the
data.
(a) The most significant projects affecting Weld County to date are
related to oil and gas production. The impacts are felt throughout
the region as a whole, however, and are not found exclusively in a
community or neighborhood condition.
Gravel and sand extraction throughout the County creates a similar
pattern as does oil and gas production. In each case, the only
measurable impacts of significant proportion are on the County's road
system.
Coors Surface Coal Mine. The site is located 5 miles north of
Keenesburg in southcentral Weld County. It is expected to produce 11
to 12 million tons over a 20 to 25 year life, and requires 35 to 40
employees.
(b) Proposed or expected development anticipated is as follows:
1. Eagle Surface Coal Mine. The site is located adjacent to I-25
in southwestern Weld County. It is expected to produce
approximately 1.8 million tons over an eight (8) year life, and
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require approximately 15 employees (data listed prepared by the
mining company) .
2. In—situ uranium leach mining. The proposed location is in north
central Weld around the Keota area. Because final plans are not
yet prepared, it is only assumed (based on discussions with the
possible developers) that the intended activities will involve
several thousand acres, require approximately 50 employees, and
have a duration of 20-25 years.
3. Continued oil and gas development throughout the County is
expected for at least 20 additional years.
4. Sand and gravel operations are anticipated to continue along the
prime flood deposit resources for an indefinite period of time.
Unless construction activities have a dramatic surge or decline,
no rapid change in numbers of sites is expected.
(c) Employees relating to oil and gas production, and mining activity
impact throughout the region of Weld County and directly and
indirectly exceed 1500 employees. Impact on water sources related to
this project are throughout Weld County.
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10. Current population of applicant/sponsor and source of this data:
123,438 - 1980 Census Bureau
11. Project population and the source of this projection:
1985 - 135,146 Larimer-Weld COG
12. Indicate the coordination with the local impact team. Has the project
been prioritized by the local team and other planning agencies?
This project takes top priority for the local residents involved,
Weld County Health Board, and Board of County Commissioners.
13. Briefly describe any other features of the project or community which make
it particularly appropriate for receipt of impact funds:
Weld County has come to the realization that it is no longer just a
pastorial county, but also a society centered around high
technological industries. This has left us unprepared and behind the
times in dealing with the modern potential health concerns generated
by the energy and mining industries.
Water is one of Weld County's and Colorado's most precious resources
and we are deeply concerned about our capability to preserve high
quality water when faced with the complex problems of a modern
technological based society. This concern is not based on a lack of
ability (we are one of the few local health departments to have a
degreed chemist on staff) or initiative, but derives purely from a
lack of testing equipment that would allow_ us to properly analyze and
monitor our situation.
The areas being most impacted by gas and oil development and coal
mining are on the Plains in remote areas where well water is the only
water source. No public water line sources are available or
economically feasible. Thus, make the maintenances of water quality
a critical issue to areas of concern if energy development is to
continue.
Y
:..., 7- -272,0,0":5;;;
APPLICANT'S SIGNATURE*
Chairman, Board of County Commissioners
TITLE AND OFFICE
'6/23/82
DATE
*Application must be signed by the presiding elected official of the
applicant or sponsoring agency.
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WATEO
r.j.0 oFORR
C •
COLORADO'S
FUTURE:
PART I
•
From U.S. Senator William L. Armstrong
s. Part i 1321 Dirksen,Washington,D.C.20510 March 1982••
WATER FROM THE EARTH
.t-
Apart from the state's river systems, which
are partially regulated by water management
• projects, Colorado's only other source of water
is the network of deep and shallow "aquifers,"
• or groundwater reserves. Many of these aqui-
fers, not directly recharged by river flows, have
been built up over hundreds or thousands of
years, but can be drained in just decades. A
quarter of America's water use depends on
aquifers. In all, national groundwater reserves
total 59 quadrillion gallons, or 181 billion acre-
feet. Looked at another way, that is 45 Lake
Michigans or 12,000 years of Colorado river
flows.
That is a mind-boggling amount of water,
but much of it is located in parts of the country
where it is not needed and much of it is too far
underground to be commercially usable. Con-
sider also that, between 1950 and 1980, annual
consumption of groundwater more than dou-
bled to about 25 trillion gallons. Every day,
America uses 21 billion gallons more ground-
water than seeps back into deposits.Many aqui-
.. fers •
fare replenished (or recharged) so slowly, in . •
•
fact,that they are looked at as a non-renewable
resource and water experts talk of "mining"
groundwater.
Also,aquifers are a very delicate resource.
As fresh water is drained out of them,It is possi-
ble that salt water from oceans or underground
salt deposits can seep in. Whole aquifers can
be polluted and rendered unusable for millennia
by small amounts of contamination from many
sources: erosion from farm land, bacteria from
sewage,salt from the treatment of icy highways,
and waste from feedlots, fertilizers and
pesticides.
One of the most important underground
reservoirs in the country is the Ogallala Aquifer.
It has a volume roughly equivalent to Lake
Huron and underlies much of eastern Colorado
in addition to Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico,
Oklahoma and Texas. The Ogallala irrigates
hundreds of millions of farm acres in this region
and helps to make the American bread basket .
the envy of a hungry world.And yet, it is being
consumed so rapidly that it could be effectively
exhausted within the next generation.Congress
has ordered an intensive study of the Ogallala to
understand this resource and in cooperation
•
with the affected states, including Colorado, to
develop a management plan that will enhance it
and slow down the rate of depletion,in an effort
to guarantee a supply of water to the farms and
communities that depend on it.
Wastewater dump
near Roggen OK'd
•
-9y B.T.SEEMAN , portedly been common in that
Tribune Staff Writer " southeast portion of the county.
The Weld County Commissioners "We've had it dumped on roadsides,
Wednesday followed the lead of the • we've.had it dumped in borrow pits,
county's planning commission by we've had it running down the county
approving a proposal for a wastewater roads," said Commissioner Chuck
dump near Roggen. Carlson. "Now, nobody has the excuse
The proposal; first brought before to dump that stuff anywhere except
, the planning commission by applicant (at this disposal)."
Mike Cervi April 6, was opposed The proposal approved Wednesday
through the entire consideration pro-
includes provisions that ensure the
cess by the Morgan County Water 4-million gallon wastewater dumping
Quality Board.Representatives of that pit will be lined with either a
•
panel have contended the plan does three-inch layer of bentonite or three
not include sufficient provisions to feet of clay.
I ensure against leakage of contami- MCWQ spokesman George Un-
nated water from the dump site into derwood told commissioners that a
water tables, layer of bentonite three Inches thick
• MCWQ officials said the water would be difficult to spread on the pit
i source for their $7 million system, effectively.
Which supplies drinking water for Consulting Engineer Chet Smith,
about 2,000 people in three counties, is who also apposed the plan, said it
only six miles from the proposed would be "impossible to construct a
dumping site. three-inch clay liner" without having
MCWQ is a taxing entity separate satlequipmenldamagetheliner.
from Morgan County. A spokesman for Cervi said, howev-
er, that two bentonite manufacturers
Planning commissioners initially
tabled the motion April 6, then voted had indicated athree-inch layer would
unanimously May 4 to recommend to be practical.
county commissioners that they Although MCWQ's request for ac-
approve the plan. cess to the 14,70-to 00-foot-deep water
Cervi, a cattle rancher who owns quality monitoring wells around the
land on both sides of Interstate 76 site was granted, its pleas that Cervi
about 2''4 miles east of Roggen, also be required to apply six inches of
owns another wastewater dumping bentonite — not just three — and an
site on his property. That disposal has impermeable membrane to the dump
not been operating for about a month, basin, were denied.
he said. Only non-toxic wastewater, separat-
Commissioners said the dumping ed from oil as part of the oil drilling
site may discourage the illegal process, will be be allowed to be
wastewater dumping that has re- dumped at the site.
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MNs s- 1 is- 4�
Weld group
fails to show
water claims
By DEBORAH FRAZIER
-' News Staff
A delegation of Weld County residents, carry-
ing plastic jugs filled with what they claimed
was gas-impregnated water, failed on Monday
to prove to the state Oil and Gas Conservation
Commission that a leaking oil or gas well had
contaminated their water.
"The plaintiffs have failed to find that the
pollution of water is caused by an oil or gas
operation," said Howard Schmidt, commission
hearing officer. "I can understand your prob-
lem, but there was a failure of proof."
The commission could order a remedy to the
gas-water problem if the water well owners had
proved an oil or gas well is at fault.
An estimated 100 people attended the hearing.
At the conclusion, the frustrated Weld County
residents who brought jars of gas-riddled water
said they never expected the commission to find
one of the oil companies liable.
"They just laugh it off," said William Von
Feldt, who was forced to sell his dairy cattle at
a loss of$1 million after his water turned bad in ,
December. "The oil companies are just sitting I
back laughing that they are innocent until we
prove them guilty."
The hearing climaxed more than a month of
water sampling, analysis, review of drilling re-
cords and other efforts by a state task force to
find the source of the gas that permeates water
wells in a 2,000-square-mile area.
A task force, created independently of the
commission by the Colorado Department of
.Natural Resources and the Department of
Health, concluded that the gas was methane
generated by the underground decay of organic
matter.
Area residents had based their case on test
results from James Stewart and Associates, a
private laboratory in Fort Collins. The analysis
detected several gases in the water including
benzene, a known carcinogen sometimes found
in natural gas.
"I have no idea why he found benzene, but I
am quite confident that there is no benzene in
that water," said William Dunn, chief chemist
for the health department. He said the tests will
be repeated again as a precaution.
The task force also concluded that the gas, in
the concentrations observed during the study, is
non-toxic to humans or animals and should have
no adverse health effects on humans or animals.
Rose Greer, one of the more vocal complain-
ants, lifted a plastic jug of her well water and
challenged the commission members and state
officials to drink it.
"In this hearing, we are going to hear. We are
not going to drink," said Schmidt, declining
Greer's offer.
•-1 r •
State/regIon
Page 10 - Rocky Mountain News, Denver,Colo. Sunday, May 16, 1982
Water that burns
isn 't new in Colorado
!f By DEBORAH FRAZIER Subsequent tests by the Colorado De- in artesian wells used to water cattle to
v..,sun partment of Health found methane in see how high the ignited gas would flare,
It may be small consolation to the Weld more than 100 wells in a 2,000-square-mile he said.
i County residents whose water has so much area. Health officials say there arc no "You didn't get any roaring blaze,but it
\
gas in it that it burns,but they are not the known health hazards associated with would flare for a few minutes," he said.
first Coloradans to encounter the problem. drinking methane-permeated water. "You didn't get any loud bang, but you
In fact. there is a long — and somewhat If there is any solace for the people of could hear the wh0000sh."
I \ rich — history of Colorado residents who northern Colorado with "gas water." it John Hold, state geologist, said that
have had to cope (ingeniously at times) may be that theirs is not the only area when he worked in the San Luis Valley in
- with"gas water." where it has been found. the late 1940s. ranchers would ignite the
Until the 1940s, a few ranchers and Southern Colorado's San Luis Valley has wells to burn off the excess gas in the
farmers in the San Luis Valley in southern a geological structure similar to that of summer. Flares were visible fur miles at
'\ Colorado tapped the gas from artesian Weld County. Early ranchers found large night.
wells to heat their homes. to fuel lamps quantities of gas would accumulate in Stories of cattle with singed faces from
and to cook.For years,youngsters delight- drinking out of stock pens that held water
ed in holding a match to the top of stock with enough gas to sustain a flame are still
L wells, producing a flare of fire. Everyone would light told in the area,Washington said.
"Someone might have thrown a match
"There was water aburning. you might the wells for fun. - on the stock n rust to see what ha
say;' said John Washington, a longtime pened," he said "You'd get a little lay
'I I 4. resident of Mosca.a town near Sand Dunes John Washington flame that would burn itself out in a little
National Monument. "Everyone would
{ '14 light the wells for fun." bit."
ux D.H. McFadden, division of water re-
The gas,predominantly methane,is pro- their well houses and cause explosions un- sources engineer in the area from 1971 to
duced by the decomposition of plants and less properly vented. 1981, said he saw many abandoned gas
animals in deep underground formations Washington said he remembers one collection devices in the area.perhaps he-
around the wells,a U.S.Geological Survey rancher,"Dole"Crow,who kept two gaso- cause most of the gas had been withdrawn.
researcher and a multiagency state task line barrels inverted over his well to col- Weld County residents, in addition to
force have concluded feet the pc and cnnneefed;he ha reel to his sharing the"gas water"sit oat inn with San
'I A half-dozen Weld County residents house with a garden hose. Luis Valley homesteaders, were nut the
complained in March about drinking water Crow funneled the gas to three or four first people to have the problem in their
as rt of the state.
that has so much gas in it that it could stove,grhecalled Wayne Jefferson,a state oil s in each room a heater and a pa High concentrations of gas in well water
sustain a flame for several minutes.They were re ore
became worried about their health and inspector based in Monte Vista. Ile said P ed in the Fort Lupton area by
livelihoods. Their suspicion that the gas an°they rancher useQ a 10-foot-high cone drillers and at least one water well state oil
-
0
came from leaking natural gas wells trig- to collect the gas. ed in 1977, said Mike Powell.
gored the slate investigation. Washington said Crow and the several inspector.
other ranchers utilizing the gas discos- Powell said he investigated, found the
A dairy farmer near Hudson, William nested their collection systems in the late cause lobe naturally occurring methane.
• Von Feldt, said he lost about f 1 million 1940s when electricity was extended to the rather than a leaking gas well,and provid-
because the water in his 10-year-old well valley and propane became available. ed a solution.
went bad last December. After several of Before Crow sold his ranch, he had a "I went to a hardware store, bought
his cows died.he sold the rest of the herd well some drilled to too little
for oil and gas, but tubing l and fixed a vent on his said
d
water. the animals could not m virtually irk the the flow was aifor Washington.
other itPowell.would [rot klow st any cents." h
worthl His form.he said,became than nters li c dsto the Washington. s real happy."
think it cost me 60 cents and he
.rw e. w c c .oso worthless Hunters liked to throw a lighted match was real happy."
James Leiker,who lives near Mead.no-
44, -qy,; ,,V" a 14.{yyjs'4° .iced gas in hls water lest fall and the root
a '4. rx v + ' t Y „,....*T„ " ' was blown off his pump house. By adupt-
df. ' : . . 8,z i ',"","'","".•
abl the casing and the well head he was
.. x $ mxx a ,. able to siphon off enough gas to keep his
'- t -,f).;,,......; ,e,c yg greenhouse at a toasty 85 degrees thmugh-
F
�' $ 'f ,¢ ^s - out the winter.
y- w ;'^ "Gas is gas.This stuff had no odor and it
-d- x w „v s' f burned,"said Leiker. 1 sec no point inn t
' ,i "f �t ? a'. K w using it It is cheaper than Public Service."
V-
4:-.
t•'P•^r y n.+ '� " ii .q- r� M = . ^ „ High concentrations of similarly gos-
$•ra t�� °+. s-.� i bearing water also exist m North and
If. ,,x9 ,�u ,� ;t....' .^_ I t _ fib +� ,- ,......."4,-:-%, South Dakota, Alaska New Vlrxico Ger-
-'t^T`f v ,v, _ ->7 3T. , a many, Trinidad southeastern Canada.
1 � ..,75'x. a. '. " Russia and Italy, according to a report
' ` ^� d yu y, published in the American Association of
Petroleum Geologists Bulletin-
% "„�"�-ao^ e ;,�-'' t Dudley Rice, arcs of the logist of the
_ d . U.S.Geological
olo c research also
hoe the
xc • s c , U.S.G on thealSun es t co-authored.1
Weldstudy
.; Count swells
t— lw ^ ' _„-..-;-' r Rice said Japan tapped water wells for
••.r gas,producing 4 trillion cubic feet of gas
between 1920 and the 19fi0s. until :If
v rj t oil became available.
40.
_" M i. '� ,,.- ^� Hold said engineer and geologicU
'* . .'x studying the Weld County Situation had
. hoped there would be a sufficient quantity
. w., of the gas to be useful but initial results
l` -` ;'it•'$rw , - cs'^ indicate mast of the wells du nn(generate
~ ^Or x`F y;,t enough methane.
HEWS PHOTO BY JOHN c xoon
William Von Feldt stands in frontal empty carrots• sell his dairy Gas vices being what the•are, n is a
�'' +-` i.-••••••• n�nr H d:nn H herd in December.because the cattle. . ' p' Hold 'We .le
had to wouldn't'drink Ihp'ens.beonnri'wnt,z Iz.-m 4 .. .di •
?fiamc lo'nl.'p "d"Sakiinch,'"
•
I—Rix I 6rnunla'n Nt.t Ihurt &pnl 8. 1987. Den.ci 00
Reagan aide leered
•
By BETH GAEDDERT claiming "Education is our best defense" and "Education "I knet
Ne.t Staff 1984, Survival of the Richest," — also voiced approval of But he
Chanting"Bonzo went to college, why can't we?"sever- history professor Robert Pois' contention that access to someone
al thousand University of Colorado students Wednesday education "is a right as well as a priviledge ... not a Tancre
hissed and booed a Reagan representative as he defended luxury. The military, with all its dangerous and hideous support
proposed budget cuts that would reduce by 56 percent the toys" is a luxury, he said. demonsti
federal aid now going to Colorado students. Also on hand to support the protest were CU President "The is
Rallying on the Boulder campus, the students jeered Arnold Weber, Chancellor Harrison Shull and Rep. Patri- that bad,
Torn Tancredo, regional chief of the U.S. Department of cia Schroeder, D-Colo. cant."
Education He told them the federal government was Tancredo, a former state representative from Arvada, Wirth l
never supposed to provide the main financial support for told the students the cuts were really "reductions in the Tancredo
their college educations. rate of increase," and said that claims they would put an do stude
The students cheered Rep. Timothy Wirth, D-Colo., end to public aid to education were false. students.
when he called the proposed budget cuts "extraordinarily Calling Reagan's proposal "a new focus on the needy," would lo:
short-sighted and unfair"and said they would leave higher Tancredo said, "I'm telling you over 50 percent of this Some i
education "only for those whose families could afford it." campus doesn't deserve it. They're elsewhere." Departm
The students — many carrying signs and banners pro- "You're all sickies," a young woman shouted. of gradu:
Residents •
meet about
ta •
inted water •
By DEBORAH FRAZIER
News Staff
LaSALLE — Weld County residents whose water has -
been contaminated by inflammble gas met here Wednes- - .
day night with a physicist who told them he can find the . .• .t .
source or sources of the gas. - - $ y f "
"I have confidence the source can be determined," said ,
Joseph Romig.the physicist who traced flumes in the city
•
of Northglenn's sewer system to an underground gasoline • - ' ,
. tank at a Chevron service station.Several families had to .
give up their homes because of those flumes. t
Romig told the more than 100 Weld County residents
"It is hard to tell people to be calm when you can light \ _ 1 a ' 4
their water." '�'„- . , \
Rose Greer, who organized the meeting at the elemen- ,�- .„a,-, i, • - 1, r
Lary school here, told the gathering of farmers and rural i 4. - �'6 "'��
residents the possible causes of the water problem should - i,ao,1 .o.•,•,...4, �, e lostne , ' -
be expanded to include improperly sealed water wells and ,p,- ' «,. >f*•
a deep surface coal mine in the area. r. „ `,,
The possible sources of the water problem also include • .x,,,. E'''''‘
tit -
septic tanks, underground coal seams, a leaking natural E'" \ y�; "
gas well-and sanitary landfills. Area residents said their ','\''t .. ‘Aar.
®+ . a ,
water sometimes gets so gas-permeated that it can be a '.' °,3
ignited. They said the problem began about a year ago. ff r1
Romig was introduced by former state Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Edward Day, who is counsel to a law firm :, a -, ;p
retained by a dairy farmer who has lost about $1 million
because of the bad water. Romig is being retained by ° ,t,. r �; ,- '
Anderson. Calder and Lembke, an Aurora law firm that '°f. k/ a+r'-it • 9`' ,
represents the dairy farmer, Willaim Von Feldt. . Sl
Romig said he had no opinion yet on the source of the '`°' •'� n°' - ' '
gas in the water but said if there was a natural gas .A x , 6P e
pipeline in the area, it too could be a source. °„ r m 4 -- 4 :I;#s' r j
Dave Stewart, who performed test the water of several } s ""4"..):1
,.p.. S 't
residents, said he found methane as well and evidence of ., . "�.. . r
ethane and butane in the water, but he lacked sufficient + r..d - �I
evidence to establish the source. r 3
"I don't think it is from a septic tank or a santitary { t 4 ,Y
landfill or a feedlot," said Stewart. a chemist with James °` calk v�
, , ,t
Stewart and Associates in Fort Collins. "A coal seam is ,.� ' - :"•Yg`" a'y :,
possible. but not plausible." he said.
t � 1
_ _ • _
'r��, �. x � is
. .tateirescon
Page 10 — Rocky Mountain News, Denver,Colo. Thursday,April 1, 1982
The Water burns
in Weld County
By DEBORAH FRAZIER get by said Von Veldt."The ones that did ...
Newt staff drink it 10 to 12 bloated and died from it.I y
Drinking eater with so much gas in that found them puffed up and bloated beside
it sometimes burns has enraged more than the water tank."
two dozen Weld County residents who sus- The lack of good water and the expense
pect nearby natural gas development has of buying water and trucking it to the farm ,
contaminated their wells. forced Von Feldt to sell his remaining 200
Residents of an area between Hudson milk cows "for hamburger prices" be- cg :,;'
and LaSalle are frightened by the water, cause "buyers were afraid to buy" dairy
which frequently can sustain a flame for cattle whose production had dropped "fir
up to five minutes. steeply for an unknown reason.
County and state officials are baffled as In the two sales, Von Veldt lost • �, ,;'5.
to the cause. They said efforts to deter- 2275,000. �w .t_ at...
mine the source have been thwarted by " "It has cost us everything we have ever ! a ,
budget cuts. worked for he said."The place is worth- +,yf r'f'"
The Natural Resources Department's less because the water is no good,and we
Oil and Ga Conservation Commission has have$500,000 tied up in the dairy,the land +..
notified gas-well operators in the area of and equipment."the
the problem and has scheduled a hearing Neighbors decided to take water sam _ _
for May 17. In the meantime, area resi- pies to a private company for testing and 't
dents are relying on bottled water for were told "it was not fit for human con-
domestic use. sumption."The amount of gas in the water *�" • 1'4%
William Von Veldt,owner of G&W Hol- seems to vary from day to day, residents a.• 7 � .�
steins.a dairy farm north of Hudson,said said,and on some days their water burns s+ -
the contaminated water has forced him to "If you run a gallon of water into a ," a - 4
cut back his operation substantially. He plastic jug and light it the flame would go
estimated his loss because of the impure up at least a foot and then stay a couple of sue,-
water at ft million. inches,like a pilot light,for five minutes," •y* •
Until last summer, his dairy operation said Von Veldt.
had drawn water from a deep well for Rose Greer, who lives two miles north „s
more than 10 years. of Von Veldt's farm, was among the nine 'f
'Then one evening, the kids wanted to people who sent water samples to James : ? " r
take a bath and when they ran the water, A Stewart and Associates in Fort Collins.
the water was black in the bathtub," he She said the laboratory analysis found eth- -
said."It lasted three or four days and then ane,methane and butane. 'NEWS PHOTOS eV.one coon,
went back to being normal." Greer called a meeting of 35 residents Gwen Von Feldt, wife of dairy flammable gas escaping from jug
During that three or four days, Von with water problems on March 15 after farmer William Von Feldt, lights of well water.
Veldt said.his 275 dairy cows produced 30 state and county officials failed to respond
percent less milk. Even after the water to her request for help. The group sent a Greeley
regained clarity, the cows' production re- petition to Gov.Richard D.Lamm. ,O 3,14
p re •,
mained low And a "greasy, oily" smell Cindy Taylor of the lieutenant gover- ' ny /( o persisted in the water,he said. nor's Citizen Advocate Office said the let- LaSalle -Von Veldt was forced to sell 75 cows. ter was answered March 25 and the infor-
Around Christmas, the water "stank to matron forwarded to the Colorado Healthhigh heaven and his children started gel Department's Division of Water Qualtity .. Hudson -ling diarrhea, fevers and backaches. and the Oil and Gas Conservation Commis- o
Neighbors in a 5-square-mile area report- stow
John Longenbaugh,assistant state en i-
pedect
the same ailments and started to sus- �r -.
neer in the Division of Water Resources, -
pest the said said. Denver -
t'on Veldt several neighbors took said the area affected covers at least a It
samples of the water to the Colorado square mile east and south of LaSalle. EI b, wIlt
Health Department,but were told samples He said the residents draw their water 1 41 ,
collected by non-professionals could not be from a rock formation several hundred J '41 Purer f
analyzed feet deep that is interspersed with coal - _
On Valentine's Day, the water turned seams. Ile said gas from the coal seams —'( a i' `-- o
black again and stayed black for five days, could enter the water if the casing around V .
he said.and milk production plunged fur- the water pipe eroded. •'; 25
ther The problem also could originate from a
"This really got to the cows. The cows some of the 20 natural gas wells in the - , William Von Feldt
would not drink it or drank just enough to (Continued on page 17) "It has cost us everything"
Dos,Agri I.1982.Dente,Colo. Ricly Mountain Hews-1
Lack of funds limits water samples
Gaseous water puzzles state testers
(Continued from page It) . formation or the coal seams that are limitations make it difficult to justify tak- conduct tests on the water or the casinl
area. Longenbaugh and other state of fir known to be in the area." ing any more samples,"he said. Rogers said.
cials said. The gas is in a rock formation Gary Brcetzman, director of the state Brcetzman and other state officials said Monte Pascoe,executive director of t
several thousand feet deep,well under the Water Quality Control Division, said the the next step in solving the problem rests Natural Resources Department, said 1
water-bearing layer. Generally, gas wells Health Department took a water sample with the Oil and Gas Conservation Corn- department has agreed to "make su
have a casing that insulates them from from Greer's land in February and tests mission,headed by Director Douglas Rog- funding was available if we agree U
water. But some residents believe a drill- found no hydrocarbons or petrochemicals. ers. additional testing was necessary."
ing operator used less casing than required "But those gases are very volatile and Rogers said if additional testing deter- Greer said she has spent several fn
to save money. mines the gas comes from a gas well trating days talking to state officials.
'We don't know where the gas is coming they could have escaped before the tests rather than a coal seam,the casing around "I think that the Department of Heal
from.There is some question as to what is were done, so it doesn't mean gases are each well would have to be analyzed. the Oil and Gas Commision and the Wa
the source of the flammable gas,"Longen- not present?'said Brcetzman. The commission,which is funded solely Quality Division are so involved in colle
Baugh said. -Hopefully, water samples "One sample is not necessarily conclu- by money from oil and gas drilling permits ing the money from the oil company
will provide a signature of whether the gas sive,but we have no specific authority to and a mill levy on oil and gas produced in they don't care about us farmers."
is running fr-vn-.ere petroleum-supplying take additional action, and our funding the state,lacks the authority and budget to said.
n
•
The Denver Post Sunday, May 16, 1982
Gas in Weld Water
Blamed on Ancient
Sealif e, Not Drilling
By PAT McGRAW ment agency detected a
Denver Post Staff writer trace of benzene, a gas from
natural gas or coal which is
Eons-old organic matter, thought to cause cancer.The
not drilling activity, is the government study found no
source of gas found in some such gas. In any case, she .
Weld County water wells, said Saturday, there was no
the director of the Colorado problem with the water in
Geological Survey said Sat- the area until after commer-
urday. _ cial drilling for oil and gas
John Rold said the phe- began about 1972, and she
nomenon is neither particu- said she and other residents -
larly unusual nor dangerous believe it is the drilling that
and residents of the area, is causing the problem. Upcoming
who have been able to flare Mrs. Von Feldt is a third-
gas coming from tap water, generation resident of the
have little cause- for con- area northeast of Denver,
cern. and said she could recall no Gas-in-water meeting set
lie said a state task force difficulties with gas in the vi-
composed of technicians cinity over the years until LA SALLE — Residents who are concerned that natural
from the Colorado Health drilling began.
Department and the state's The Colorado Oil and Gas gas may be leaking into their well water will be able to meet
Department of Natural Re- Conservation Commission is with attorneys to discuss the problem at 7 p.m.Wednesday at
sources have endorsed the to conduct a hearing at 9 La Salle Elementary School,111 N.3rd St.
findings-of a U.S. Geological a.m. Monday, 1313 Sherman The owners of at least 20 wells between La Salle and Hudson
Survey study, which con- St., on the residents' allega- claim the leaks, whose cause is still a mystery, have caused
eludes that the methane gas lions. the water to become flammable. Meanwhile, county and state
detected in the water is corn- Rold said the only precau- authorities have had the problem called to their attention,
ing from natural sources. lion residents need to take is though no course of action has yet been taken.
The explanation of the making sure that enclosed Rose Greer, who claims her water is polluted, said the
cause and about the scope of areas, where the flammable problem may either be the result of a leaking gas well or
the problem hasn't been ade- methane could accumulate, seismic blasting by oil drilling companies which cause rock
quate for some area resi- are vented properly. formations to shatter and allow gas to seep into water-bearing
dents, including William and Rold said the methane aquifers.
Gwen Von Feldt, who sold poses no danger to an ordi- The residents who claim they are affected by the leakage
their dairy farm near Mkt- nary household; to get I are now relying on bottled water.
son earlier this year after enough of it to explode into a
their water became unus- shower stall would require
able. running the equivalent of 10 I
Mrs. Von Feldt said an bathtubs full of water
analysis of the water by a through it with no methane
private firm using better escaping, an extremely un-
equipment than the govern- likely development. j
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A-4 GREEU.:Y(Colo.)TRIBUNE Sunday, Feb. 14. 1982
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Fort Lupton farmer Henry Deibel is concerned about oil dumping along the South Platte River near Weld 14'%.
I Dumping effects uncertain
CSU soil sciences professor warns of possible dangers
No one knows for sure if the 22,000 gallons dumped on the Roggen said. "Quite a few plants are
dumping of salty production water site per week "will ruin the soil in the susceptible to high levels of boron,
from oil wells onto unauthorized areas near future." including beans and fruit trees.Grains
like isolated farmlands or county "The salt concentration in the soil like wheat are semi-susceptible.
roads has any bad short-term effects "If you kill the vegetation and
r increase to a very high level in a
on the dump sites. period of 5 to 10 years depending there's no plant cover, there'll be no
on roots to hold the soil together which .
But Colorado State University soil the rate of precipitation and evapora- will lead to erosion. As the plants lake
'sciences professor Parviz Soltanpour lion," he said. "The plant community in the water the salts will be left
said continuous dumping of large will gradually change and eventually behind. Soon, the plants won't be able
quantities of production water could the soil will become denude of to absorb moisture from the soil."
.sterilize the land several years down vegetation. In that case the soil The effect of large amounts of
'the road and could also do harm to erosion rate will increase and proba- sodium is to seal off the soil, limiting
shallow water tables and to land bly the land form will change and will the soil's capacity to store water and
which is down slope from the dumping become unsuitable for agriculture." air,he said.
area. The Roggen site, he said, contained Sotanpour said the hazard of dum-
Soltanpour, who analyzed produc- 14,810 pounds of soluble ,salts per ping production water onto county
lion water samples from an illegal acre-foot, with 2,000 pounds consid- roads is that these roads are corn-
'dump site in Roggen last fall, ered safe and anything over 8,000 pacted, forcing the water to run off
!concluded that the quality of water considered harmful. The samples he the side.
'dumped on the six-acre site was very tested were rich in sodium and boron. "It could affect adjacent farm
poor. Ile wrote in a letter to Stan -flown is a needed element for areas," he said. ''If this sort of
Royce, director of CST's agriculiral plants, hut when you get large dumping happens in a lot of places it 1
""Vrn;lou ,,-r ein. III Grerli-v I hat Inc amonnn: of It ii could he toxic." lie could turn into a serious problem."
('t‘l em
, From page A3 4
` c} on it," June Briggs said. "I wouldn't between 18 and 20 (four miles north of
* State want to be guilty of such an activity." Fort Lupton), Weld 74, between 91 and
Roggen operation to continue without The Briggs said they approved of 93 (27 miles east of Eaton), and Weld
a permit "because at least we know the dumping because the mud would 68 near Barnesville.
a here provide a bentonite seal for that County engineer Drew Scheltinga
"I felt it was to our advantage to let property, which they want to convert said fellow employees have also
•him continue to dump because if the into a holding pond for irrigation spotted cases of dumping in the past
trucks didn't go there, they'd just water. year in Dearfield and Briggsdale.
dump along some county or They told Adams, however, that The county, in fact, once authorized
�mayheanearbycreekcounty road aid. they wouldn't permit any more production water spills on county .t._.
Lt. Robert Workman of the Welddumping after Adams told them roads as a way of cutting down dust.
County Sheriff's Department said Thursday they needed a commercial But he said that practice was stopped
deputies have caught about a halt permit to allow such activity. when it was discovered that this water 9 j
dozen truck drivers spilling production The county isn't claiming though can sometimes be flammable. It I J1(
water on county roads in the past year that the dumping pit is the source of "One time we lit a match to see if it 1: , x�
but said they rarely get repeat the Blacks' drinking water problems. would burn and it sure did,"he said.
violators. , Ron Stow, head of the county health
• "We call the owner of the truck
said the water problem more likely is department's environmental division, Legal sites
company and the Weld County Health
Department," orkman said. "I know the result of irrigation runoff from
of one driver who got fired." nearby farms or from pesticides. are available
Workman said the phone calls are He said the county recently took a St
I made in lieu of giving the driver a series of tests at the site which are for dumping 1a°'••'
now being analyzed by the Colorado den,m_c
-ticket.
Department of Health. Weld County Disposal Inc. is the pockets,'
Ron Stow, head of the county health The dumping of oil well wastes also largest of the county's two legal
t. department's environmental division, appears to occur frequently on
i said his authority is limited in this pp q Y county production water dump sites, taking in
area to taking tests and submitting roads. In defense of truck drivers, 110,000 barrels of water a month last
dispatcher Smith of Jim's Water year.
results to the state. \
"We usually call in the state to Service said the valves on tankers For a fee of 20 cents a barrel, truck
•determine hazardous ground water sometimes are loose, causing the drivers can dump their water at the \\‘‘.\\
situations," he said. "There's proba- water to spi out. site, located at 4982 Weld 35, about
.bly more dumping going on than we But Mike Conway, who lives about five miles east of Fort Lupton. A
know about.There's lots of oil activity two miles northwest of Johnstown, typical load, according to Weld County
;downinsouthcounty. said he sees oily water on county Disposal manager Dewitt McKnight, '�
: "But we only hear about these roads all the time while he is out for is 80 barrels,which would bring in$16.
.•things if people complain about his morning jogs. McKnight said about 1 percent of
them." "I'd be out running in the morning the production water contains oil
• and I'd see a half- or three-quarter- which can be skimmed from the top of 39
,.* Dumping mile spill down the middle of the a holding pond and be resold. The
road," he said. "The dumping appar- remainder is either basic.sediments, s G•Itot
Vacuum c
ently occurs at night or early in the which can be sold for various is wet
:trucking companies have poured dril- morning. Nearly all the roads between industrial uses, or water, which is
;ling mud onto their corner property, where I live and Johnstown have had stored in one of the lagoons on the 18
•which resembles a small, dried-out spills." acres of land owned by Weld County
•lake,black and grey in color. He said these roads include Weld 13 Disposal.
• But the Briggs said they were between Weld 50 and 52 and Weld 50 The lagoons are sealed on the
assured by the trucking companies, and 52 west of Weld 15. bottom with clay bentonite and the
who have dumped there for the past A county road grader who didn't water dissipates through evaporation.
;three years. that the mud is safe. In - want to be identified said he has McKnight, who lives at the site,
•fact, they said many farmers put noticed spills on Weld 10, a half mile makes sure the operation remains
drilling mud on their fields because it west of Weld 35 (about three miles clean.
makes for good fertilizer. southeast of Fort Lupton), on Weld 20, The other legal dump site, 31
"If there's a problem, Dan and I between 33 and 37 (about five miles Disposal, is located at 15267 Weld 18, a
:want to work with the people involved northeast of Fort Lupton), on Weld 31, couple miles northeast of Fort Lupton. A
L
•
Test issued on Hudson water coal
Colorado Health Department. The investigation was sparked by
the two most likely sources of methane Natural gas occurs in deep forma- reports that drinking water in a 30 mile
gas found in water that area residents tions and has all but been ruled out as a area in Weld County could be ignited
say can sustain a lighted match, possible source, Rold said. Coal and oil and sustain a flame for several
according to state officials. shale, which emit methane, generally minutes. Residents are worried that the
John Rold, director of the Colorado are found several thousand feet closer impure water is threatening their
Geological Survey and spokesman for a to the surface than natural gas in health and livelihoods.
task force created to investigate the vicinity of this Eastern Plains commu-
One dairy farmer said he was forced
problem, said Friday the results of the nity.
water analysis were tentative. to sell his cows because they stopped
But he said the findings were "The gas could be from shale or coal. drinking the water and some of them
consistent with methane-bearing, un- They are the two most likely sources," died. He claims his losses total around
derground rock formations in the area. Rold said. "We aren't coming up with $1 million.
The gas in the water was 97.5 percent anything startling. There aren't any
smoking pistols in anyone's hand." Residents have complained about
to percent methane, with only headaches, nausea and diarrhea, but
traces of other gases, Rold said, adding He said additional tests might pin- the health department says methane in
that the analysis was performed by the point the source of the methane. water has no known toxic effects.
_
(.-o t,0 r a d a re r -2 1 -5`
Gas wells not contaminating water
HUDSON(AP)—Gas found in well wa- tished reports that well water was so gas-
ter near this southern Weld County com- eous that it could be lit with a match and
munity is almost pure methane, and that a dairy farmer was forced to sell his
.. natural gas wells in the area have been cows because he said they had become ill
virtually ruled out as the source of the drinking contaminated water.
contamination,a state geologist says. "We have checked a number of operat •
-
John Rold, director of the Colorado ing gas wells and found no lower hydro-
Geological Survey, said Tuesday that carbons," Rold said. "This gives an
more tests will be conducted over a wider indication those wells are not the source
area before a conclusion is reached about of the methane in the water wells."
the source of the methane,which he said lie said that a more likely, explanation
does not pose a health hazard to humans is that the methane is the product of bac-
The water-well problem is being stud- terial action in organic shale rock forma-
ied by a state task force of geologists,hy- tions in the area. Other possible.sources
drologists, oil and gas specialists, of the gases are seismic drill holes,land-
chemists and other technical experts. fills, irrigation ditches and reservoirs,
They became involved following pub- Rold said.
•
Report stirs Weld water users
Several residents in south Weld wells. She said she still hasn't ruled Rice said methane gas is produced
County who found natural gas in their out the possibility that leaks from oil by a similar process in landfills,
water wells plan to attend an Oil and or gas wells are causing the problem. stagnant lakes and the human
Gas Conservation Commission hearing "I think that Stewart's studies are digestive tract.
in Denver Monday to dispute a U.S. right," she said. "Why would he have Residents with contaminated wells
Geological Survey report claiming the any reason to lie?" have discovered that their water could
contamination comes from decom-. The U.S. Geological Survey report, sustain a flame for several minutes.
posing organic matter, not leaks from released Friday and prepared in Greer said an explosion occurred in
oil or gas wells. cooperation with a monthlong state her bathroom when her son lit a
La Salle resident Rose Greer, a - effort to determine the source of the match.
spokeswoman for the residents, told gas, said the gas is a by-product of The water wells where the methane
The Greeley Tribune government bacteria that feeds on plant and gas has been found are from 150 to 300
officials who have tested the wells animal matter in.the soil. The process feet deep and are near several natural
"are just whitewashing us all the way is called "biogenic activity" and gas wells, which are at least 7,000 feet
through. They are just trying to save yields mostly methane gas, the report deep.
their jobs." said. Officials from the state Health
She said independent tests con- "These bacteria are pervasive Department have said that methane
ducted in March on a dozen wells by throughout the world, Dudley Rice, alone, in the concentrations found in
David Stewart of James H. Stewart & who co-authored the USGS report with the wells, poses no health hazard
Associates of Fort Collins prove that Charles Threlkeld, said Friday. "A lot because methane leaves the water
there is ethane, propane and benzene of the methane in the atmosphere is when the water is brought to the
gas as well as methane in some of the due to this kind of biogenic activity." surface.
•
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c: , cut :. ` ° d 5 4 .S .c e) v = a1.5.-O y . I placing'•McCorkle.:Councimen:Glenn •. tb
` a m T= v m y c W._ �9 m ♦ Cook,•Donaldycummins and 'ennls"- .
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u a m .. ,a N 3 y m 5 $, c .m u CO w y a: �. `ram C . -- A �.,. .p3t. {.•
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L 3 = O 10 $ s e w d.m b T� A.T...„ J. c ri 1cA,i ' f•5't''s .
2Weld County �pff�clals believe they
p0 c u n
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= E =-6 5 3 9 9 € e 2 " E'E 2_a _ A al m 0., „_ determining the origin Ol• atural gas �a
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E • „ I ; leaks suspected of contaminating well d
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. i County commissioners„Wednesday f
' , ....JE o^ u 3 $ c e
i Lm y-m w 2,a is Lo •x approved an agreEment between.the " I
o 0 V Ls. ,-.E u a m ml's r
�` L `o �" ".c oL c ` = o 3 3 u.8 S. •- = a:"' .. county health department and Balcom 1
.`oogin ir, g — > = .042,24„,- , 0 O �° a E V c� — °' c "' u e Se..-3 v; Chemicals Inc: that will allow the
' 'S . Y y O 9 ' - - '.
- y county to!use•some-of 'the-firm's
! E• n = S. ; 9 o s 2 m ._ g d :. - equipment, .which„officials says Is '
- '5 ' 02 o c E m m0, E A t E m E m 8 - necessary to analyze water samples..'
�^ = = - > °' u 0 ,O) O ` L E °' .-; The agreement•with Balcom ',will
- 3 .s E P m 5 o r:,: u 3 CC) 8 2 z i enable'county health officials!to use.,
the company's ,gaar'chromatigraph j
O 9 A o >3L a l o cuss .;;.m.lyva • during the firm's'oft hours,'.when the..
A g = m ° W $ 9 — 16 ," equipment is nermally,not lnuse. Jim
a• y,,. = m 8. ti d $9 o e 5 Krause, a health'department chemist,.
8
® o. v g .0 3 cg„ = m -.g.0 said Wednesday ,the;}•county P;wlll ?
.M
u m ._ g$ o y d y hoc. pefully be able'to use,the tests to•
t _0 =$ 0 m`� v y -0 = m 9 "`m.2 > determine gas tyPes'and ratios in the
0 m .-ci > h G c 3 c m -O m w m-o 6? ,.. contaminated wells. ,. / -
> : c m m E > d o > =i' ' 1 When asked what:alternatives the
$ ^ m rl d',a' r_Jn c 'y" Y .c a VL 'E E $.efr-'
®] o- a _ c:ea c '°' 0 V a 3'' m o m - E` •
• J ' county might pursuebnce the'nature
= o — >,
y of the contaminatlonels determined
m u a 3 E 'T t 0. m ; 0 E 4) v y: .Krause.said he wasn't certalnmWe're
In m t r c _?-C r; n 0 9 - o c E i L Q.,-.. • 00....
. ..r. saidnot .
whg 0.1.Te getting ri -o, he
® V--: q,.. - C'• -,V '� N 0 Tai -a e J - p, 1,e u ,
V y
E s` " 3 '2 x a T 0 E$ d iu c w ° Officials said •tests will•not begin
o ` V _o s-a t E e c c.B' m eo v 90.9 = t a r .until the health de•partment receives
8 necessary. attachments'1ta the
. u �as i- a4 m > c E — $a 3. a c � ≤o ou a c o Ea...
— m '= a s ao, aoi 3 E s o a r -O, a 9 c ; from-
matigraph that have been ordered
CO from- Pennsylvania."County
ti Envoronnental:4.
Health"Director Ron
Q na = °°>'0 y O 0• y ` Stow said the hea101 department wW !
t C0000 o in o i m m
-.cn O SEE J A _ o a ti- m pay about $500 for the attachments
w m _ V y d; ! $eis J E o The county:will not pay for the use of
q� �'a, �rd '� 9 :'o v o m 5::,,,, the$l0,009Baschromatigraph `
W c . . �� a d s �� = E a o o t E r • Balcom; Cbemlcals Inc • is-a e
1 I.._t. �d } 3 $. a a o C.;•:o 'ya �' s v• a § '^w 'J' 41,2 Pesticide formulator::t:S^'S gilt • t•..
o a = 0 6 e a g „ _ Stow said the?state,healtb',depart-
c , E ,.m o m t o .o 0 $ e c▪ L E r;' meat'took seven-water•samples from -
4 0 a 5 g = o d;� Li, -, d m t r ,Q the contamytate .wells on Monday'
e 74 8 >. y c� 20,0.05 = 5
,a v m L $ Results of the teats"area not •yet
y Y� O-E 3 r. E e m V 9 c N o j , I �t
_ ,,° r. y c $+ ,- a, :.' 8VaB81)la .'y a"y kt�*` Y
�.ne m s.1 al.-a 5 E c 9 e. f >.E e u 0 In 9•a •''/I Reports r4room4 residents ;have re- -'
C - n 9 3 N Eo `_0 A 0 -e o m 0 3 y ' .1 vealed that at!least:t5'wels between
• ." r-.m•,$- u'y�r E 8 0. 3 y u 0 ,.•. .L 'La Salle raadi Hudson Mhave :been
�a,�a aa) '- u 5 = v dris oat -075c4,'h u Contaminatednwlth,.natural gas Well
a•I $ ~n , =-�.0 3 L > E i "0 o = TY u , =1,-•• - owners.have saldjthat gas concentra-
(� -4' �� "mow t O 3 c u a 2 to �.t- 3,y fit.- lions"in some%waterysamples have
.--; 1 • ^, s ;4: `r'ays°:,:e+ been blgh,enough to sustain a flame
• o a, d e ra u ae ';no "Y✓''' � for as long as five minutes r. .;..;,:_,:y-..::.
m •
g - - A tcs >.a u ,:-2 ' 0 T5.+' Et.'"rim-
t t �.0 E 'a+ o a m'~ Q.E 0Ec �s�y?• .l: •
� l\ • gas so o.- . mu$ • wo,co a I
a A y m 0 j V O ca.-7.121u s u u oo� u.0 '? O t y e.. ty
g
m .y.g 6" `y A
• ' 4c ; 9.w'9,> u= a O� '.`A so oa3 'S
V W o..y....i W-EL.c o-a o _.'. 3.3-y E 9
1 j W CJ a m ---.4.--,_--..0.. O a0 m OJ
--
DI �N - TG9 � o yO e,.c.- fA Go u' > y �.
m E = uu o
1 Arr..ym 60 „ 0 o3'-ma 0 a.'.N a o=i - 0 0.Vu i%
. l > •.,3:o u o V �'o Co o•-u 07 c•g g o to D.e
, �;,.'m ,.. _: 9 .-. , �n,( t),a a--PLcc (°3. 3.u▪a
/Ask
) .
Residents
plan action
on gas leak
LA SALLE— Several rural La Salle
residents who believe natural gas is
leaking into their well water plan to
Shale, Coal file formal complaints with the State
Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
•May
the State Board of Water Well
IN4ay Cause Examiners.
In addition, a spokesman for the
residents said today, the group is
Bad Water seeking the aid of Gov. Richard
Lamm and probably will file some
sort of court action in coming months.
Associated Press At least 35 families in the Milton
HUDSON — Shale or coal are Lake area southeast of La Salle
• believe their water has been polluted
. IT-The two most likely sources of
methane gas found in water that • by natural gas, said Rose Greer, a
area residents say can sustain a spokesman for the residents.
S lighted match, according to state In the past decade, the Milton Lake
C officials. area has seen extensive drilling
John Rold, director of the Colo- activity for oil and gas. Greer said
ratio Geological Survey and residents believe the natural gas in
- spokesman for a task force created t their wells may be coming from a •
') to investigate the problem, said leaking gas well.Or, she said a second
Nr Friday the results of the water possibility is that seismic blasting by
analysis were tentative. oil companies more than a year age
Hut he said the findings were may have shattered rock formations
consistent with methane-bearing, and allowed gas to seep into water
— underground rock formations in bearing aquifers.
Lthe ;area. "The deeper the well, the more
The investigation was sparked problems we have," Greer said. She
Q. by reports that drinking water in a said residents with relatively shallow
30-mile area in Weld County could water wells — 200 feet deep or less -
-k he ignited and sustain a flame for • 1•:,.....,• r •`` generally haven't encountered pro-
several minutes. Residents are -'a+" ht,-_-'.` blems.
r) worried that the impure water is She said the residents may request
threatening their health and llveli- the owners of mineral rights in the -
c hoods. area to stop leasing their mineral
'S Residents have complained rights for oil and gas development:
u.) about headaches, nausea and diar- Union Pacific Corp. is one of the
i
rhea, but the Health Department largest owners of mineral rights in the •
1 says methane in water has no area.
known toxic effects. A group of 18 area residents met
The gas in the water was 97.5 with officials of the Weld County
percent to 100 percent methane, = }.
with only traces of other gases, Health Department Wednesday night.
Dr. Ralph Wooley, director of the -
Rold said. The analysis was per- health department and one of the
formed by the Colorado Health De- $ efficia!s who attended Wednesday's
partment. y�
Natural gas occurs in deep for- meeting, wasn't available for corn-
mations and has all but been ruled v. ment this morning.
out as a possible source, Rold said. During Wednesday's meeting, dairy
Coal and oil shale, which emit "ay' «a farmer William Von Felt said polluted
methane, generally are found sev- ,wsi water forced him to sell his farm for
eral thousand feet closer to the . ,;...,,'„ about half its true value. Von Felt
surface than natural gas in vicinity ' estimated his total financial losses at
of this Eastern Plains community. $1 million or more, a figure which
b;r, ro.' includes the loss of future income
from the dairy farm.
Von Felt said he first began to
encounter "black water" from the
well last summer.
Greer, meanwhile, said she found
•
natural gas in water from her well
late last year, and she said the gas
a r...mn•m
her. has been blamed for an illness which
struck several persons who visited her
home during the Thanksgiving and
9t Christmas holiday season.
She said the county health depart-
ment has identified natural gas in her
mknown
proper water.
Greer said residents of the area
Lek that sometimes set their water on fire
'onely because of the gas content.
The Denver Post Tuesday, April 20. 1982 38
Send signed letters, including address and
telephone, to: Open Forum, The Denver Post.
P.O. Box 1709, Denver, Colo. 80201
klands situation The state 's response
• s sup- — I did some touching up on my British
wand history. to 'bur"lug water' woes
w and "Pax Britannica." roared 19th century
Britishers. "We are the mistress of the seas,
never the empire of free trade."The more I read of
n and Britain's imperialistic past the more I found YOUR EDITORIAL of April 6 con-
that bloody word "honor" —honor, always i corning the alleged pollution of sever-
mf fed defended by the sea. And bloody its defense 1 al water wells in Weld County fairly
ended may he. prods, or even chides. government. A status POINT
As the Queen Majesty watches her mas- report concerning our action on the issue. D. MONTE
=, Mr. sive flotilla advance across the sea to teach together with more general information of VIEW PASCOE
_ntina those little rascals a lesson, with the British about groundwater regulation. may be help-
• may pound plummeting, let me remind.American ful to your readers.
xeCulive director
•idden viewers of one thing. Great Britain's past The Colorado Department of Natural Re- oottheColo ado Department
imperialism or "Pax Britannica" rested on sources and the Colorado Department of of Natural Resources
I NIX two significant foundations: one.economics, Health have combined their resources to
the other politics. I understand political loss form a group of geologists. hydrologists. oil
Brit- of honor—but .800 sheepherders? and gas specialists, chemists and other tech- to the atmosphere with the addition of a
lands T.R. BROWN Meal experts to address the problem of release valve in the water system. or it car
ntina Crested Butte "burning .water" in Weld County. This he flared. or it can he separated and used
group will: for various domestic heating purposes.
• Take water and gas samples of affect- The alleged contamination of private
* *, * ed water wells and of non-affected water water wells in Weld County raises a man-
wells in the problem area. her of serious legal and polio\ question.
• Take gas samples from some of the about the state's role in protecting water
��I ;' 9. „ producing gas and oil wells in the area, quality. At this time. there are few laws
and attempt to extract gases from associ- controlling groundwater pollutian
�, ated coal beds. • The Oil and Gas Conservation Coni-
< _ �� //- • Analyze the various samples in order mission has some authority to control p„t-
r y to determine constituent flammable gases lution of water supplies if it's caused h\
., (methane, ethane, butane. etc.) and oil and gas wells or by drilling for oil and
.0--- - whether they contain deleterious minerals, gas. `
-A-� or bacteria, and if so, in what proportion. • The State Board of Water Well and
'- • Collect or review- relevant geologic Pump Installation Contractors is author-
_ `1 - ` and hydrologic data for the area in order ized to license well drillers to insure that
���ttteee"` to understand transmission of gases or wells are constructed in a manner to main-
yy pollutants through or into the Laramie- tain natural p
-' — s- g protection pollution
Fox Hills aquifer and determine, if possi- of water-hearing formations and to e ble, the source of such contaminants. elude known sources of contamination.
• Review the completion logs for the • The Health Department is authorized
Sii:1,
water wells nd adjacent oil and gas wells to provide advisory opinions to local goc-
in question to determine if they were ernments on the siting of hazardous waste
'drilled, cased, sealed and cemented prop- facilities.
erly. • The State Engineer now issues ne\.
• Examine all possible adjacent sources well permits, which under certain circuni-
of contamination for the affected wells, stances contain a notatijn that the water
including oil and gas wells, seismic drill quality of a well should he checked before
holes, landfills, septic systems, and irriga- the water is consumed.
3 have a mutual friend, Ronald Reagan
Lion ditches and reservoirs. There is no question that both state and
• Legal and technical questions presented local governments have general responsi-
by the"burning water"situation are fairly bility to assure that public water supplies
complex. The collection and technical remain free of contamination. \yhether the
evaluation of the data will take several water is derived from surface supplies or
s Losing landmarks weeks at a minimum. We hope to com- from wells. However, as pointed out
plete a full and careful study of the techni- • above. state authority to deal with con-
cal issues by mid-May. Lamination of private water wells is limif-
THE OTHER NIGHT on TV we viewed In viewing the problem of"burning wa- ed, disjointed and clearl\ not comprehet-
the pieces of the cement lion that stood for
years in front of Molly Brown's house. They ter." it's important to point out that exist- sive. This is beginning to be recognized as
were found t a field in Aurora, broken b ence of methane in water wells in Colo- a big problem in Colorado.
vandals. y redo is not unusual. nor is it known to be The Deparunent of Health and the Dr
s she Another landmark also is facing vandal- injurious to public health. If liquid hydro- partment of Natural Resources are teeing
carbons, bacteria, heavy metals. or other to find a better way to control ground\ta-
ter ism. The vandals, however, are trustees of
!rned the Denver Museum of Natural History. Contaminants are present in these wells, ter pollution without creating a bureau-
wit ay ms. ow- cracy u ses Park This landmark
h was built.ps Auditorium in City they to quote Senator and ever, n many present health
wells in Colorado{and Icm itself. We at is tore hopcomplex
to lhave than the
other states produce methane. In most Lions for consideration by the Le_�i.lawre
z out Mrs. Lawrence Phipps who donated the
sup- money for the auditorium, "for the people cases the methane can be simply released during 191:
em- of the City and County of Denver." -
•
eems Over the years, this auditorium has been
bout used by the museum lecture series, Antonio
Brico concerts, Air Force Band concerts,
hen- small high school graduations and other Let it all hang out
Bests groups that needed a small auditorium.
teth- The trustees are tyring to raise money to
yard convert Phipps into an IMAX theater. If this
de- is done, the building will no longer be able TF ��WE ARE sincere about deterring the
to accommodate any of the m .-nv orn,,� It Soviris from . ,.n,,,. . ..,.,,, t r. ,--,p,..
Hello