Colorado sketches proposed natural gas, oil ‘setback’ rules

The director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission said it’s time to consider statewide rules on baseline groundwater sampling and monitoring at new well pads, which could show when drilling operations have contaminated groundwater supplies and when they haven’t.

For the last several months, the state has been holding meetings with the natural-gas and oil industry representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders to discuss revising the state’s so-called “setback” rules on how far wells must be from buildings.

The outline represents a starting point for more discussion on the details with parties affected by drilling activities, whether it’s the companies themselves, farmers, homebuilders, environmentalists, mineral-rights holders, communities or developers.

It includes the groundwater sampling proposal, but also a proposed requirement for a public hearing and commission approval before wellheads can be placed within 750 feet of schools, hospitals or other high-occupancy buildings.