Citizen groups have formed across Colorado to stop fracking in their communities. See below to find a group in your town.
350.org
Adams County Unite Now
Boulder County Citizens for Community Rights
Citizens for a Healthy Community
Colorado Progressive Coalition
Conscious Global Leadership
Denver Community Rights
East Boulder County United
Elbert County Oil and Gas Interest Group
Environment Colorado
Food and Water Watch
Foodshed Production
Frack Files
Frack Free Boulder
Frack Free CO
Frack Free Fort Collins
Frack Free Loveland
The Mother’s Project
Our Health, Our Future, Our Longmont
The Question Alliance
Routt County Frack
Vibrant Planet
Click here for a 2013 Colorado Legislative Wrap-up by Mary Edwards, Chair of the Sierra Club Legislative Committee for the Rocky Mountain Chapter
FIRST FRACKING BILLS ARRIVE AT 2013 COLORAO STATE LEGISLATURE
March 19, 2013 – Denver Post “Oil and gas battles move to Colorado statehouse”
Of a total of 10 bills introduced into the Colorado legislature that dealt with oil and gas only two made it to the Governor. Below is a summary of four bills that tried, unsuccessfully, to increase fines for well leaks or provide more inspectors to monitor the industrial and dangerous process of fracking.
Senate Bill SB 202 sponsored by Senator Matt Jones (D-Louisville) to increase inspections for oil & gas wells. The Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) currently only has 15 inspectors to visit 46,000 wells in the state. Sen. Jones’ bill would increase inspections from every four years to once a year (still not enough but a good start).
House Bill HB 1267 introduced by Representative Mike Foote (D-Longmont) to increase fines for spills from a maximum of $1,000 day to a maximum of $15,000 per day.
HB 1269, also sponsored by Rep. Foote, to prevent conflicts of interest and prevent individuals from serving on the COGCC if they are being paid by the O&G industry, and remove the COGCC goal of extracting every resource available to instead put a priority on public health and safety.
HB 1268 requiring sellers of property to disclose whether O&G rights have been transferred or leased, introduced by Rep. Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City.
To follow the status of bills, visit the website for Colorado Bill Info at www.statebillinfo.com.
