Colorado regulators have approved a preliminary plan for over 150 new oil and gas wells east of Aurora, despite concerns that the project could potentially contaminate a local drinking water reservoir and worsen Front Range air quality.
On Wednesday, the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission voted 3 to 1 in favor of the Lowry Ranch Comprehensive Area Plan, proposed by Crestone, a subsidiary of Civitas Resources. This plan involves developing up to 11 drilling sites across 32,000 acres in Arapahoe County.
Marsha Goldsmith Kamin, president of Save The Aurora Reservoir, criticized the decision, calling it harmful to the community’s health, safety, and environment.
The approval is conditional upon the use of electric drilling rigs and equipment at all proposed sites. This requirement aims to reduce noise and prevent additional smog-forming pollution, as gas- and diesel-powered engines have traditionally been used in drilling operations. The shift to electric equipment is intended to help address Colorado’s persistent air quality issues along the Front Range, which has not met federal air quality standards for over two decades.
This project is a significant test for Colorado’s updated oil and gas regulatory process. Following contentious debates over drilling practices, a 2019 law signed by Governor Jared Polis granted local communities more authority over new drilling projects and required state regulators to consider broad public health and environmental impacts.
Under the new system, developers must submit Comprehensive Area Plans (CAPs) to state regulators. Approval of Crestone’s plan allows for six years of potential oil and gas development in the area. However, each drilling site still requires additional approval from both the state and Arapahoe County.
The proposed drilling area, previously a military gunnery range and site for ICBM missiles, was purchased by the Colorado State Land Board in the 1960s. It now borders a former Superfund landfill and the Aurora Reservoir, a key water source for the City of Aurora.
Residents fear that hydraulic fracturing (fracking) could impact the Superfund site and contaminate water resources. In response, Civitas has committed to not drilling horizontal wells beneath the landfill.
While Kamin welcomed the requirement for electric equipment, she expressed concerns that regulators have not fully addressed water quality issues. Congressman Jason Crow has requested that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency evaluate whether fracking could increase the risk of pollution from the landfill site reaching the reservoir.
Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club, voiced disappointment, stating that the decision favors a billion-dollar company over the residents who depend on a clean, protected Aurora Reservoir.
Conversely, Kait Schwartz, director of the American Petroleum Institute, praised the approval as evidence that Colorado remains “open for business” despite recent regulatory changes. She emphasized the importance of responsible operation and adherence to the state’s stringent standards.
