After months of discussion between El Paso County and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regarding regulation of oil and gas operations, the two entities have adopted a Memorandum of Understanding. The MOU was officially approved by a COGCC vote Nov. 15.The MOU between El Paso County and the COGCC incorporates the voluntary Colorado Oil and Gas Associationís water testing program into the stateís mandated requirements for issuing drilling permits in the county, said Diana May, the countyís local government designee. The MOU is not statewide.According to http://coga.org., ìThe purpose of the COGA program is to collect data before and after drilling operations at individual well sites to demonstrate that groundwater quality has not been impacted by the drilling and hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells.îThe website states that samples will be collected before drilling begins and again within one to three years of drilling completion. It also states that landowners can decline to participate in the program if they do not wish to have samples collected on their property.ìThis is an historical agreement between a county and the COGCC,î May said. ìThis agreement assures that the concerns of the El Paso County commissioners about water quality testing are properly addressed. Itís a win-win for the citizens of El Paso County.î As the LGD, May has worked as a liaison between the county and the state to ensure constructive, effective communication. She said this agreement is a prime example of the system working efficiently.May also said the agreement indicates the county and state are moving in a positive direction. ìThis shows the willingness on the part of the COGCC to work with local governments and their LGDs,î she said.Robert Frick, COGCC hearings manager, said, ìThe COGCC is very much committed to working with local committees and addressing local needs.îFrick said the MOU is effective immediately and will expire either in three years or once the COGCC sets a statewide groundwater sampling rule into place.
