Showdown looms over drilling

Showdown looms over drilling by Michael Davidson, August 3, 2012, Boulder County Business Report
The Colorado Oil and Natural Gas Conservation Commission on July 30 filed suit against the city of Longmont, claiming an ordinance recently passed by the city would “undermine” the state’s role in regulating the oil and gas industry. The complaint was filed in Boulder County District Court by the state Attorney General’s office, which is acting on behalf of the commission. … The state finds several provisions of the ordinance objectionable, including provisions that would exclude drilling from residential areas…. Erie is taking a different approach, one that town officials believe will not cross legal boundaries but will lead to satisfactory results for residents and well operators. The town has seen a controversy emerge in recent months over drilling in the Canyon Creek area, which is near three schools. … Town officials are optimistic they can reach agreements with Encana and Anadarko Petroleum Corp., the major well operators in Erie, Diehl said. … Wiedenbeck would not address whether Encana would negotiate with a local government about whether or not it would use fracking within its borders. … “Colorado has some of the strictest regulations in the nation.”