In April, El Paso County’s newly appointed local government designee, Diana May, held an informational meeting about her role involving oil and gas operations.The meeting took place at the El Paso County Citizens Service Center in Colorado Springs. Besides residents, county employees and commissioners; also present were representatives from Ultra Petroleum; Hilcorp Energy Co.; Colorado Oil & Gas Association and LoneStar Energy Fabrication.May discussed her role as the LCD (local county designee). ìI’m the contact for the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission when they have comments back to the county,î she said. ìI also have the opportunity to be the point of contact within the industry regarding oil and gas operations.ìThe board of county commissioners wants the LCD to be proactive. I’m trying to receive input and feedback from various groups and organizations. I also want to make sure to get the information out about what is going on with oil and gas by posting information on the EPC Web site.îThe county’s Web site has been updated to allow citizens to submit questions or comments for immediate consideration, May said. ìWe can now work on being more responsive,î she added.May will hold regular meetings on oil and gas operations, starting June 6. The meetings will take place the first Wednesday of every other month at 2 p.m. at Centennial Hall. ìWe can use that to address problems or concerns and keep the communication going,î she said. The meeting dates will be posted on the county Web site under ìLCD meeting.îAs the LCD, May is already working on issues. ìI’m currently working with the attorney general’s office to work through the differences between the county’s regulations and the COGCC’s,î she said. ìWe are hoping to finalize an intergovernmental agreement with the COGCC within the next month. We’re hoping to present it to the BOCC next week and have it on the agenda for May.ìI want to work with the state on areas that the COGCC could improve on, specifically, notifying the LCD when there is a violation.îThe intergovernmental agreement will be available online for citizens to review and comment on prior to a vote by the BOCC, May said.The LCD position has already benefited the community. May addressed complaints of dust on roadways near well drilling sites. ìI got in touch with representatives from Ultra, as the discussion about the dust was going on, and by the end of that day had a commitment for a meeting,î she said. ìWe met 24 hours later to resolve the issue. Ultra changed their driving routes and had their subcontractors do the same. They put down water. They also committed $30,000 to provide two applications of magnesium chloride to control the dust.î
