Colorado sues city over oil and gas drilling regulations

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission sued the city of Longmont on Monday, saying the city's new oil and gas rules trespassed into areas meant to be governed by the state.

The lawsuit was filed Monday afternoon in Boulder County District Court. In it, assistant attorney general Jake Matter asked the court to kill several of the new regulations, including a restriction against drilling in residential areas.

The Longmont City Council passed the rules on July 17 by a 5-2 vote, its first update of the city's drilling rules since 2000. The regulations became effective Monday.

The case is believed to be the first time the COGCC has sued a community over oil and gas rules. Cities and towns have been sued on the issue before, but typically by oil and gas companies or private landowners.