Background
On June 4, 2019, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved authorization for text amendments to the Boulder County Land Use Code in Docket DC-19-0002: Amendments to Article 12 of the Land Use Code. Read more.
Staff requested the BOCC authorize text amendments to Article 12 of the Land Use Code in light of SB19-181 (Protect Public Welfare Oil and Gas Operations), which was signed into law on April 16, 2019. SB19-181 prioritizes the protection of public safety, health, welfare, and the environment in the regulation of the oil and gas industry by modifying the oil and gas statute and by clarifying, reinforcing, and establishing local governments’ regulatory authority over the surface impacts of oil and gas development. The bill granted additional authority to local governments to regulate oil and gas development. Specifically, it clarified that local governments have land use authority to regulate the siting of oil and gas locations to minimize adverse impacts to public safety, health, welfare, and the environment and to regulate land use and surface impacts, including the ability to inspect oil and gas facilities; impose fines for leaks, spills, and emissions; and impose fees on operators or owners to cover the reasonably foreseeable direct and indirect costs of permitting and regulation and the costs of any monitoring and inspection program necessary to address the impacts of development and enforce local governmental requirements.
View the Oil and Gas webpage for public meetings, hearings and documents related to Docket DC-19-0002: Amendments to Article 12 of the Land Use Code.
Contact for this Docket
Kim Sanchez, Chief Planner
720-564-2627