HomeMy WebLinkAbout20180249.tiffLand use regulations for developers
RECEIVED
JAN 19 2018
WELD COUNTY
COMMISSIONED
It's time for county commissioners to place health & safety first. The county should be able to
set its own land use limits on top of the state requirements.
I propose that developers be required to follow NEW county land use regulations that further
protect the public when it comes to siting developments near existing oil and gas well pads.
There is no federal or state law that I know of that requires the county to allow developers to
build as close as 50 feet from well pads. I suggest setbacks of 500 feet from inhabited
structures and 1000 feet from high density neighborhoods for developers like the COGCC
regulations.
Further, I suggest daycare facilities, schools, hospitals, recreation centers, and senior housing
complexes be considered special cases where a half -mile safety net is necessary. When there
is an explosion, the fire department requires a half -mile evacuation. Try evacuating these areas
quickly when there is an explosion. The District 6 school board thinks it's ok for kids to walk
out of Bella Academy after an explosion at Vetting wells and over to the elementary school? Be
real.
It's time for county commissioners to place safety first.
Higher Mortality for Senior Citizens
A ten-year study published in June 2017 indicates Americans 65 and older who are exposed to
fine particulate matter and ozone are subject to premature death, even if exposed to less than
the current national standards.1
The "most comprehensive study of short-term exposure to pollution and mortality to date,"
published in December 2017, confirms that particulate matter and ozone levels below current
standards indeed increase the risk of premature death for senior citizens.2
The National Ambient Air Quality Standard for particulate matter is 2.5 microns in diameter
(roughly the diameter of singe coarse piece of hair) and must not exceed 35mg/cm in a 24 -hour
period. For warm season ozone, the 8 -hour standard is 70 parts per billion. Weld County is out
of compliance with current standards.
Oil and gas drilling and production increases airborne pollution where seniors live and play.
One shouldn't forget about this mostly invisible threat. Scientific evidence predicts that more
wells mean more premature deaths. And more wells are planned!
I'm one senior citizen who supports a newly filed initiative for a 2500 foot oil and gas setback in
Colorado. While a setback won't stop pollution, it is one step, among others, that will help to
save the lives of more senior citizens. Building senior housing on 71st Ave (still too close to the
Triple Creek well pad) seems like a bad idea to me.
I don't trust the current EPA to protect or support seniors. I can't expect the state to protect
and support seniors. Older Americans, as a block group, should demand more protection. The
county commission should work harder to protect seniors. These are your parents and siblings
and my neighbors.
Let's place health first when making rules for NEW senior citizen developments.
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Maydean Worley, Greeley
Sources:
1. "Air Pollution and Mortality in the Entire Medicare Population," Qian Di, Yan Wang, Antonella
Zanobetti, Yun Wang, Petros Koutrakis, Christine Choirat, Francesca Dominici, Joel D.
Schwartz, New England Journal of Medicine, June 29, 2017, doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1702747
2. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/lama/article-abstract/2667069?redirect=true
Esther Gesick
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Maydean Worley <mamworl@gmail.com>
Saturday, January 20, 2018 4:10 PM
Esther Gesick
msg for commissioners
As you know a bill has been introduced to protect residents of municipalities using local land use regulations.
HB18-1.071. Regulate Oil Gas Operations Protect Public Safety
I hope you will all support this bill.
1
Esther Gesick
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Maydean Worley <mamworl@gmail.com>
Saturday, January 20, 2018 4:13 PM
Esther Gesick
msg to commissioners
Please pass this on to commissioners.
SB18-064 Require 100% Renewable Energy By 2035
Please support this bill.
Calendar
Notification:
Thursday, February 1 2018
SENATE AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, & ENERGY COMMITTEE
1:30 PM SCR 357
(3) in senate calendar.
Short Title: Require 100% Renewable Energy By 2035
Sponsors: M. Jones / M. Foote
Summary: The bill updates the renewable energy standard to require that all electric utilities,
including cooperative electric associations and municipally owned utilities, derive their
energy from 100% renewable sources by 2035. The bill also:
• Removes recycled energy from the types of energy sources eligible for meeting
the renewable energy standard;
• Allows a utility to obtain energy efficiency credits equal in value to renewable
energy credits based on any energy efficiency upgrades made for a low-income
residential customer;
• Removes multipliers used for counting certain renewable energy generated; and
• Phases out the system of tradable renewable energy credits so that renewable
energy generated after 2035 is not eligible for renewable energy credits.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced)
Status: 1/12/2018 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture, Natural Resources, & Energy
Date Introduced: 2018-01-12
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