LOGIC 2016 Voter Guide: Adams County Commissioner Race Responses

Transcription

1 LOGIC 2016 Voter Guide: Adams County Commissioner Race Responses Question 1: What role should counties, municipalities, local governments, and the state have in regulating oil and gas facilities? Local governments should have the abilities to adopt their own regulatory frameworks, based on their respective priorities, unique geologic features and citizens concerns. I have always supported local control. Those that live in the areas affected should have a say in how and where we allow access. I believe in protecting both surface rights as well as mineral rights. My basic concern is that all actions regarding direct drill, or by fracture, be done with the best possible safeguards. I think oil and gas are doing their best to meet the safe standards by working with local governments. This is best done centrally by the state, provided the state does so responsibly, writing regulations that take into account the impacts and threats of such facilities to traffic, quality of life, property values, air and water (and therefore health!) and on public safety, ensuring that negative impacts are not substantially greater than other business. However, when the state fails to take these factors into account, as is the case in Colorado, the local government should be able to assert its zoning, planning and public safety responsibilities, to ensure that their comprehensive plan and their residents' health and welfare will not be negatively impacted, just as it does for other industries. Question 2: What role should counties, municipalities, local governments, and the state have in approving large-scale oil and gas facilities in urban areas? All land use decisions should be made by the communities that are affected by the drilling.

2 Not to be redundant, I have always supported local control. Those that live in the areas affected should have a say in how and where we allow access. I believe in protecting both surface rights as well as mineral rights. In Adams County we are trying to work with the state by adding a liaison and will soon add an inspector, but both positions have been added with advise and input of the State Regulators. I do understand concerns in urbanized areas, but believe mineral right and property right owners can come to agreements if the activists stay out of the way. Heavy industry that emits tremendous amounts of particulate matter and toxins into the air is not compatible with human health, especially in densely populated areas, where children are most vulnerable for lifelong breathing problems. Local governments should be able to refuse such industry facilities if their state regulations don't protect them from them. Question 3: What role or rights should surface owners have when it comes to siting oil and gas facilities in or near their neighborhoods? Surface owners should have the right to turn away any land use that will interfere with their quality of life. They should have the same rights as mineral rights owners. They should have a voice at the table. Surface owners need to understand the owners of mineral rights have rights too. I do not view oil and gas as the big bad wolf every encounter I have had with oil and gas officials, has given me comfort they want the same safety for their employees and families. Surface owners have the right of quiet enjoyment of their property, the right to retain property values, and of course, the right to breathe air. They should be able to assert those rights when oil and gas puts in an application and their local government should back them. It should be up to the applicant to prove that their operations will not negatively impact those rights and to commit to covering the cost of any damages to those rights.

3 Question 4: What role should counties, the state, and federal agencies take in regulating air emissions at oil and gas facilities? I am proud of the methane gas regulations that Colorado passed. However, this is only first steps and more needs to be done and I will continue to advocate for stronger emission standards. I have worked very hard over the last three years testifying in front of the local EPA, EPA in Washington D.C. and testifying in front of the Air Quality Control Commission here in Colorado. I am very proud of the protections that have been put in place. These protections will help insure our overall health both as individuals and as a community. Because we have been Fracking for more than 60 years in Colorado without incident, I think should be a standalone message. However, we can all continue working together to devise the safest methods possible. I just do not have a concern. The federal government is best equipped to conduct the scientific studies that set standards that protect human health and climate goals. The state should follow those standards, as should counties, to protect their residents and air. But the only way to check that and to monitor local emissions is if all oil and gas facilities are measuring emissions in a standard way and the public can access that information. That is not occurring and must occur. The industry emits should obviously pay to install emissions measurement devices. Question 5: What role should counties, the state, and federal agencies take in reducing natural gas and methane waste at oil and gas facilities? The courts ruled that local governments in Colorado cannot regulate gas and oil. The State needs to address with regulations the following: 1. Regular leak detections and repair programs 2. Cleaning up older equipment compressors and gas driven pneumatic equipment 3. Capturing natural gas that would otherwise be released from oil and gas wells The county can address the above through a Motion of Understanding (MOU). However, the gas and oil industry does not have to sign an MOU with the local government.

4 I support a stronger inspection system, whether shared (Financially) by the county or not. I do not think the current system is adequate. We have taken steps to improve this by hiring an inspector just for Adams County to help address this issue. Same answer as to question 4. Even the EPA can t find proof that concerns them. The federal government is best equipped to consider the climate change science and determine what is in the national interest. Continued climate instability becomes a national security issue, with superstorms, mega drought, water shortages, and crop failures, and may lead to zero emissions standards to uphold national security. States and counties don't normally have those scientific resources and should therefore look to the federal government for standards that will best serve all of our interests. Question 6: When it comes to siting and regulating oil and gas, how should the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and local governments be working together? We have to learn to trust each other and work together on these very important issues. Adams County is working on a Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA) with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. This will set guidelines for both entities to follow regarding the inspections of the wells in unincorporated parts of our county. We should be working to make decisions based on factual scientific data as well as the impact our decisions have on surface rights and neighborhoods or surrounding areas. Creating a collaboration on research of the effects of drilling. I believe they are, at least in Adams County we have put in place a Memorandum of Understanding and trying to ease concerns by not only residents but of oil and gas companies too. Local governments should retain zoning and planning rights to serve their comprehensive plan for their area and the best interests of their residents. The COGCC must be responsive to these local rights.

5 Question 7: What changes, if any, would you like to see in how oil and gas is regulated in Colorado? I would like to have the same rights as local governments in Texas have. The ability to adopt our own regulatory frameworks, based on our respective priorities, unique geologic features and citizens concerns. Not to be redundant, I have always supported local control. I am comfortable with the standards that exist now. Local governments should retain zoning and planning rights to best serve their comprehensive plan for their area and the best interests of their residents, just as they do in their consideration of all other industries. Question 8: Do you have active oil and gas wells in your district? How often do you hear from your constituency regarding oil and gas issues? Yes, Adams County does have active drilling. I frequently hear from citizens regarding their concerns on the drilling activities in their community. Yes, over 800. Almost daily. We have active oil and gas already occurring in our County. I seldom hear from them because they know I come down on the side of protecting the owners of mineral rights. I did not support the moratorium, or so called temporary hold in Adams County. I am a charter member of a group called (CASE)Citizens Action for Safe Energy. We meet once a month and are doing our best to reach out and educate citizens regarding all energy aspects. As a County Commissioner, I make decisions based on facts not scare tactics or innuendo.

6 Yes. Frequently and usually about negative impacts to property, traffic, lights and noise, health. Question 9: What reporting, if any, would you want to see in place at oil and gas sites regarding air and water pollution? Who should be responsible for gathering the information? Any violation should be reported to the Dept. of Health. These violations should be posted at the sites. I would be in favor of more air quality monitoring and reporting of those findings as well as stronger inspection requirements at older wells. The operators should be held accountable for these reports as well as the COGCC. Who should be responsible for gathering the information? We are hoping in Adams by creating the position of an inspector and working under the state guidelines to provide oversite and help to gather information on any concern that might need to be addressed. There should be daily monitoring for the chemicals and gases of greatest concern when emitted (such as benzene, methane), at each facility, that is publicly accessible, paid for by the industry that emits but overseen by the state and local government. Water measurement is improving but must include assessment of endocrine affecting chemicals that can cause birth defects, reproductive failure and other severe health issues, and be similarly paid for by industry and overseen by state and local government. Question 10: How should information regarding new oil and gas development be relayed to the public? Gas and Oil should follow the local governments requirements for notification on new development. Operators & the COGCC and the County/municipalities should try to use all means possible and /or feasible. Working together to utilize Social Media, Newspaper, direct mail, etc

7 We need to come up with the best methods for all concerned, not just carry a big stick against oil and gas. With today s multitudes of social media and websites, it should not be that difficult. Almost every jurisdiction has Public Information Officials (PIOs). We just need to work together. The public within 5 miles should be invited to provide input in public meetings. People who live within 2 miles should be sent notices. Question 11: How should information regarding regulatory violations noise, air, water pollution be relayed to the public? Through local publications and websites that can be checked on a regular basis by any concerned citizen Operators & the COGCC and the County/municipalities should try to use all means possible and /or feasible. Working together to utilize Social Media, Newspaper, direct mail, etc Same answer as above in 10. I don t think there is such a thing as too much information. That information should appear on the local government website page for oil and gas and affected residents should be notified immediately.