Boulder County is concerned about the potential for significantly expanded oil and gas drilling within the county, and supports appropriate, tighter restrictions on drilling and increased local control to mitigate the impacts of these activities.
County and other local governments in Colorado do not have complete authority to regulate drilling. In order to ensure that the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use regulations are as thorough and up-to-date as possible, a temporary moratorium was approved by the Boulder County Commissioners on Feb. 2, 2012, on the processing of the required development plans for local oil and gas permits under the county Land Use Code (Resolution 2012-16) (422 KB). On January 24, 2013, the Board of County Commissioners extended the temporary moratorium on Boulder County’s processing of applications for oil and gas development in the unincorporated county until June 10, 2013.
View: Commissioners full statement on oil and gas drilling
Residents and other interested parties may submit comments on this issue to commissioners@bouldercounty.org.
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Review of proposed Oil and Gas Development Regulations
Public Meeting Information:
Joint Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners Public Hearing
Public Hearing for the Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission to consider proposed amendments to Article 12 of the Boulder County Land Use Code (oil and gas regulations), to include a phasing program for Development Plan Review applications or permits. Public testimony will be taken.
Action Requested (by Planning Commission only): Discussion and recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.
Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Commissioners Hearing Room, Third Floor, Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder
Board of County Commissioners Public Meeting
Board of County Commissioners Public Meeting to consider action on amendments to Article 12 of the Boulder County Land Use Code (oil and gas regulations), to include a phasing program for Development Plan Review applications or permits. Public testimony will not be taken.
Date: Thursday, June 6, 2013
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Commissioners Hearing Room, Third Floor, Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder
History:
May 21, 2013: Board of County Commissioners hold a Public Meeting to continue their discussion from May 16, at which they accepted additional public comment regarding any issues related to oil and gas development in Boulder County. The Board authorized staff to process Land Use Code amendments to Article 12 (new oil and gas regulations) to include a phasing program for Development Plan Review applications or permits, and made a decision not to extend the temporary moratorium beyond June 10, 2013. No public testimony was taken. BOCC Authorization Memo for May 21, 2013 (430 KB) News Release: Commissioners approve drafting new regulations for phased approach to oil and gas development
May 16, 2013: Board of County Commissioners hold a Public Hearing (a) to consider setting appropriate transportation fees for oil and gas activities in the unincorporated county based on the County consultant's final Oil & Gas Roadway Impact Study; and (b) for the limited purpose of considering any necessary amendments to the transportation sections of the oil and gas regulations approved in Docket DC-12-0003, to conform to the proposed impact fee or other cost recovery mechanism. Public testimony was taken. In response to requests by the public to have an opportunity to address the county commissioners on other issues related to oil and gas development in Boulder County, the commissioners stayed beyond the conclusion of the transportation-related items to take additional public comment. Staff Report to Board of County Commissioners for May 16, 2013. (13.9 MB) Oil and Gas Roadway Impact Study, January 14, 2013 (4.4 MB)
January 24, 2013: Board of County Commissioners holds second public hearing to: 1) review results of final Oil & Gas Roadway Impact Study to include consideration of setting appropriate transportation fees for oil and gas activities in the unincorporated county; and 2) to consider the adequacy of the length of the current temporary moratorium in terms of finalizing regulations and developing a plan to administer those new regulations. Board takes public testimony and 1) directs staff to implement the Oil & Gas Roadway Impact Study into the Land Use Code and through an impact fee ordinance, and 2) extends the current temporary moratorium on Boulder County’s processing of applications for oil and gas development in the unincorporated county until June 10, 2013. Staff Report to Board of County Commissioners for January 24, 2013 (6.2 MB) Land Use Staff Presentation to Board of County Commissioners on January 24, 2013. (1 MB)
Transportation Staff Presentation to Board of County Commissioners on January 24, 2013. (301 KB) Resolution 2013-18: Roadway Impact Fee and Extension of Temporary Moratorium to June 10, 2013 (2 MB)
December 20, 2012: Board of County Commissioners adoption of Resolution 2012-142 (5.5 MB) approving the oil and gas Land Use Code amendments proposed in Docket DC-12-0003.
December 13, 2012: Approval of the proposed oil and gas Land Use Code amendments (5.5 MB) by the Board of County Commissioners. Meeting on December 13 was a public meeting, but no public testimony was taken.
December 6, 2012: The Board of County Commissioners holds a public meeting in order for staff and transportation consultants to present the results of the Transportation Oil and Gas Roadway Impact Study. This meeting was informational only, and no public testimony was taken.
Staff Report on Transportation System Impacts of Oil and Gas Development and Potential Roadway Impact Fee Analysis for December 6, 2012 meeting (447 KB) Presentation on Oil and Gas Production Transportation Impact Study for December 6, 2012 meeting (808 KB)
December 4, 2012: Board of County Commissioners holds second public hearing on the draft regulations, as well as a public hearing to consider the adequacy of the length of the current temporary moratorium in terms of finalizing regulations and developing and implementing a plan to administer those new regulations. Board takes public testimony and tables docket to December 13 at 4 p.m. Staff Report to Board of County Commissioners, including Draft Proposed Oil and Gas Development Regulations (8.4 MB) Staff Presentation to Board of County Commissioners (4 MB)
November 15, 2012: Board of County Commissioners holds follow-up public meeting after the November 13 public hearing in order to discuss the proposed amendments addressing oil and gas development and provide direction to staff. Board tables docket to December 4, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. Staff Presentation to Board of County Commissioners (1 MB)
November 13, 2012: Land Use Staff presents proposed oil and gas Land Use Code regulations to Board of County Commissioners, and Board takes public testimony. Board tables docket to November 15, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. Staff Report to Board of County Commissioners including Draft Proposed Oil and Gas Development Regulations (18.8 MB) Staff Presentation to Board of County Commissioners (3 MB)
October 30, 2012: Planning Commission recommends approval of the proposed oil and gas Land Use Code regulations (Docket DC-12-0003: Amendments to Oil and Gas Regulations) to the Board of County Commissioners. Staff Report to Planning Commission (3.6 MB) Staff Presentation to Planning Commission (1.4 MB)
October 17: Planning Commission continues discussion of the proposed oil and gas Land Use Code regulations at their regular monthly meeting, and takes public testimony. Staff Report to Planning Commission (8 MB). Staff Presentation to Planning Commission (1.7 MB).
October 1, 2012: Continued discussion of proposed oil and gas Land Use Code regulations during Planning Commission Special Session. Staff Presentation to Planning Commission (2.9 MB).
September 24, 2012: Land Use Staff presented proposed oil and gas Land Use Code regulations to Planning Commission during a Special Session, and Planning Commission takes public testimony. Staff Report to Planning Commission, including Draft Proposed Oil and Gas Development Regulations (3.6 MB).
Staff Presentation to Planning Commission (2.84 MB).
August 22, 2012: Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission met in a Joint Special Session, which included a Joint Executive Session for legal advice pursuant to CRS Section 24-6-402(4)(b), related to oil and gas comprehensive planning and Land Use Code regulatory matters (BCCP-12-0001 and DC-12-0003), and a Joint Study Session Without Public Testimony to discuss possible Land Use Code amendments addressing oil and gas development within the Boulder County Land Use Code and to Article 4-900 (“Development Plan Review for Oil and Gas Operations”).
August 15, 2012: Planning Commission discussed additions and modifications to the 3rd draft of the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan oil and gas policy amendments, and voted 6-0 to approve the draft. Staff will take the text to the Board of County Commissioners for a public hearing requesting that they acknowledge and accept the Planning Commission's action. The policies will go into effect as soon as the resolution of approval is drafted and signed, and will be inserted into the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan. Adopted Oil and Gas Policy Amendments, August 15, 2012 (160 KB).
August 7, 2012: Boulder County Land Use Code oil and gas policies open house. Staff from Boulder County Land Use and other departments hosted a second open house on potential new oil and gas regulations. Staff solicited input and provided information about the process and steps the county intends to follow for considering changes to oil and gas regulations in the Boulder County Land Use Code and related programs and policies the county can pursue to address the issue.
July 18, 2012: Planning Commission further reviews proposed oil and gas policies amendments presented by Land Use staff, and takes public testimony. Staff Report to Planning Commission (2.5 MB).
June 20, 2012: Planning Commission reviews proposed oil and gas policies amendments presented by Land Use staff, and takes public testimony. Staff Report to Planning Commission (1.47 MB).
May 16, 2012: Planning Commission approves Docket BCCP-12-0001: Amendments to Oil and Gas Policies, authorizing initiation of an oil and gas policies amendment process. Staff Report for Planning Commission (16MB), Staff Presentation to Planning Commission (776 KB).
May 31, 2012: Boulder County Comprehensive Plan oil and gas policies open house. Staff from Boulder County Land Use and other departments hosted an open house to give interested residents more information about the process and steps the county intends to follow for considering changes to the oil and gas policies in the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan.
April 16, 2012: Commissioners vote unanimously to extend temporary moratorium on processing of applications for oil and gas development in unincorporated parts of the county until Feb. 4, 2013. (Resolution 2012-46).
An archived video of the March 1 hearing is posted on the County Commissioners’ Hearing and Meetings webpage. The video can be found by scrolling through the Event Bookmarks list to number 35. The list is located below the video player. Microsoft Silverlight is required to view video content.
March 1, 2012: Public hearing for commissioners to hear staff presentations and public testimony. After the four-hour hearing, commissioners direct staff to continue gathering information about the impacts of oil and gas drilling on air, water, land, roads and infrastructure. Staff Report to Commissioners (13 MB), Land Use Presentation (1.2 MB), Parks and Open Space presentation (2.2 MB).
Feb. 2, 2012: The Board of County Commissioners approve a temporary moratorium on the processing of the required development plans for local oil and gas permits under the county Land Use Code (Resolution 2012-16) and release a statement detailing their concerns about the potential for significantly expanded oil and gas drilling within the county.
Oil and Gas Development E-Map
The Boulder County Land Use Department has made an oil and gas development map available using Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission GIS data. To view oil and gas development information for a specific location, enter a Boulder County street address and town in the search box below and press enter: