HomeMy WebLinkAbout20143550.tiff RESOLUTION
RE: EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT FOR THE EXISTING STATUTORY FRAMEWORK FOR
LOCAL AUTHORITY AND OPPOSITION TO ADDITIONAL REGULATORY
CLARIFICATION AT THIS TIME
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, oil and natural gas production and the jobs and economic activity it generates
is a proven pillar of the Colorado economy and led the state out of the Great Recession, and
WHEREAS, oil and natural gas development in Colorado alone generated $29.6 billion for
the state economy, contributed $1.6 billion in public tax revenue (equal to $817/household) and
supported more than 110,000 jobs in 2012, and
WHEREAS, oil and natural gas development provides $682 million a year to Colorado
school districts, emergency response, water and sanitation, parks and recreation, libraries and
other public entities without raising a single tax on Colorado families, and
WHEREAS, Colorado energy prices are 23% below the natural average because of the
abundant supplies of natural gas in the state, and
WHEREAS, reasonable access to oil and natural gas resources fuels Colorado's real
estate economy, manufacturing economy, homebuilders economy, and the agriculture economy,
as well as other industries through non-direct support to provide overall stability and job growth for
all Colorado families, and
WHEREAS, after collaboration with state health officials, environmentalists, local
communities and industry, over the past six years, Colorado has enacted some of the nation's
most stringent regulations protecting Coloradans' groundwater, air quality, land, communities,
and environment, and
WHEREAS, Colorado was the first state to require both pre- and post-drilling water
sampling, as well as methane emission testing, and the state is a national leader in requiring the
disclosure of fracking fluid ingredients in a publicly available Internet database, and
WHEREAS, these exceptional regulations represent best practices nationally, are
state-of-the-art technologically and are considered fully protective of public health and the
environment, and
WHEREAS, a vast majority of Colorado counties and municipalities have already proven
their ability to successfully regulate and negotiate in good faith with the industry to strike a balance
between private, state and local interests, and
WHEREAS, local communities can also enter into negotiated, legally-enforceable
Memorandums of Understanding with oil and gas operators to benefit the public and ensure
ongoing exploration and development, and
2014-3550
C0:3CCe4D BC0046
RE: EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT FOR THE EXISTING STATUTORY FRAMEWORK FOR
LOCAL AUTHORITY AND OPPOSITION TO ADDITIONAL REGULATORY CLARIFICATION AT
THIS TIME
PAGE 2
WHEREAS, local governments are already using their authority and standing in the
statutorily-sanctioned Local Government Designee program to rationally, prudently and
successfully have their concerns addressed, and
WHEREAS, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has dedicated
resources and staff to work with local governments and addressing local concerns by
incorporating them into regulations and permit conditions, and
WHEREAS, certainty of local and state rules and regulations is necessary for businesses,
local governments, and mineral owners to protect and advance their interests for the betterment
of Colorado citizens, and
WHEREAS, local agriculture owners and workers, many of whom are one of the 600,000
mineral owners in Colorado, support the current system, which protects their farms and allows
development of their mineral interests.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Weld County Commissioners
supports the existing statutory framework for local authority and does not believe additional
regulatory clarification is necessary at this time.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Weld County Commissioners
communicate this position to the Governor of the State of Colorado and encourage the members
to seek additional input from Colorado's county commissioners before making any legislative or
regulatory recommendations on local or state authority over oil and gas operations.
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted
by the following vote on the 12th day of November, A.D., 2014.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
ATTEST: d,itifey yc -4i lee`> Z.24viy<
.. ` as Rademacher C itr Weld County Clerk to the Board �. ]E L/ R ,
' tJc-121A--D-y
•ara Kirkme er, Pr -Tem
BY. �—
D •u. Clerk to the =oar's
n P. Conway
AP F M: ♦
Mike Fr man
��rCounty Attorney
William F. Garcia
Date of signature:
11119
2014-3550
BC0046
Hello