Attorney General Phil Weiser pledges to work with state agencies, local communities to ensure oil/gas development is consistent with public health, safety, and environment

Jan. 14, 2019 (DENVER, Colo.) — Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser released the following statement in response to the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision in Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission v. Martinez:

“The Colorado Supreme Court properly ruled today that the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has the statutory authority and obligation to regulate oil and gas development as necessary to protect the public health, safety, and environment. In so doing, it also characterized the Commission’s action as a decision on the merits of the proposed rule and emphasized the discretion of the Commission on how it can choose to address this issue.

“Before I took office, the Attorney General’s office, representing the Commission, pursued an appeal in this case and argued for a more limited vision of its authority than the law provides. In this case, the Supreme Court appropriately recognized that the Commission has broad authority to regulate oil and gas development to protect the public health, safety, and environment.

“Moving forward, I will work with the Commission and other state agencies to ensure that oil and gas development in Colorado is consistent with the public health, safety, and environment. To do so, the Attorney General’s office will provide sound legal advice as the Commission develops appropriate protections and evaluates particular applications. Furthermore, I am committed to working with local communities—as they enter into surface use agreements and memoranda of understanding, for example—to provide technical assistance as they seek to protect the public health, the safety of their residents, and their local environment. Finally, should the legislature seek to clarify the mandate of the Commission, I look forward to working with it.”

###

CONTACT
Lawrence Pacheco, Director of Communications
(720) 508-6553 office | (720) 245-4689 cell
Email: Lawrence.pacheco@coag.gov