Larimer Alliance Forms to Push Health, Safety in Oil and Gas Rules
The
Larimer Alliance for Health Safety and Environment formed quickly after Larimer
County convened a task force to advise county staff and commissioners on land
use regulations for the oil and gas industry because members felt the make-up
of the task force was weighted toward the industry itself.
“This
is a highly imbalanced task force,” said Ed Behan, a member and spokesman for
the coalition.
The
coalition, which through its associated groups boasts thousands of members,
plans to hold forums to educate residents on health and safety issues, to offer
feedback in whatever way possible to the task force and to put pressure on the
commissioners to create rules that protect health and environment.
The
next public education session, sponsored by a partner group, is scheduled in
Fort Collins this Saturday.
“With the passage of major reform legislation
earlier this year, Colorado law now prioritizes protecting public health,
safety and the environment in matters of oil and gas development,” the
coalition states in an announcement of its creation. “The new law also provides
local governments more authority and regulatory powers for oil and gas
development in their jurisdictions.”
Larimer
County does not have any existing land-use regulations that pertain to this
industry; the county is in the process of developing its first set. The county
commissioners, who ultimately will adopt the regulations, created a task force
to advise them and staff members on those regulations.
All
three commissioners, two Republicans and one Democrat, said they strived for
balance on the group, for people with expertise who are willing to compromise
and create common-sense regulations that are fair to both residents and oil and
gas development.
However,
the Larimer Alliance does not agree that the task force is balanced, Behan said,
claiming that the majority of members have direct ties or a vested interest in
the oil and gas industry.
“The
Larimer Alliance intends to make certain the task force upholds the public
interest and state law to protect communities and natural resources in Larimer
County, and is not improperly influenced by industry bias and self-interest,”
according to a press release.
The alliance is made up of community members as well as already existing groups such as the Sierra Club’s Poudre Canyon Group, League of Oil and Gas Impacted Coloradans, Physicians for Social Responsibility Colorado, Climate Justice Ministry of Foothills Unitarian Church, Fort Collins Sustainability Group, Transition Fort Collins, 350 of Northern Colorado and the Community for Sustainable Energy.