First Regular Session
             Sixty-seventh General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                                 INTRODUCED
                                                           
                                                           
 LLS NO. 09-0105.01 Thomas Morris        HOUSE BILL 09-1062
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 Curry, 
 
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 Schwartz, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 House Committees
 Senate Committees
 
 
 Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning the authorization of a water quality monitoring
            program in the Piceance basin relating to the effects
            of oil and gas operations.
       
       
                           Bill Summary
       
            (Note:  This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
       not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently
       adopted.)
       
            Directs the Colorado oil and gas conservation commission
       (commission) to contract with the United States geological survey to
       develop and implement a baseline surface and ground water monitoring
       program in the Piceance structural basin area in Rio Blanco, Mesa, Delta,
       Garfield, and Gunnison counties to provide accurate and consistent water
       quality and quantity data to discern long-term water quality trends and to
       effectively conserve, protect, and manage water resources for beneficial
       uses as energy development and associated land and water use changes
       occur.
            Authorizes the expenditure of up to $500,000 per year for 4 years
       from the oil and gas conservation and environmental response fund. 
       Limits the state's share of the monitoring program to 50% of the total
       costs of the program.  Directs the commission to seek the remaining share
       from the federal government, oil and gas operators, affected local
       governments, and affected water conservation and conservancy districts. 
       Prohibits the commission from expending any moneys from the fund until
       the commission receives financial commitments for the nonstate portion
       of the monitoring program.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
            SECTION 1.  34-60-124 (4), Colorado Revised Statutes, is
       amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW PARAGRAPH to read:
            34-60-124.  Oil and gas conservation and environmental
       response - repeal.  (4)  The oil and gas conservation and environmental
       response fund may be expended:
            (d) (I)  For the purposes authorized by section 34-60-130.
            (II)  This paragraph (d) is repealed, effective July 1, 2013.
            SECTION 2.  Article 60 of title 34, Colorado Revised Statutes, is
       amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:
            34-60-130.  Piceance basin water quality monitoring study -
       repeal.  (1)  In order to provide accurate and consistent water
       quality and quantity data to discern long-term water quality
       trends and to effectively conserve, protect, and manage water
       resources for beneficial uses as energy development and
       associated land and water use changes occur, the commission
       shall contract with the United States geological survey to
       develop and implement a baseline surface and ground water
       monitoring program in the Piceance structural basin area in Rio
       Blanco, Mesa, Delta, Garfield, and Gunnison counties.
            (2)  The general assembly shall appropriate up to five
       hundred thousand dollars per year for each of the fiscal years
       beginning on July 1, 2009, July 1, 2010, July 1, 2011, and July 1,
       2012, from the oil and gas conservation and environmental
       response fund for the monitoring program authorized by this
       section; except that the state's share of the costs of the
       monitoring program shall not exceed fifty percent of the total
       costs of the program.  The commission shall seek the remaining
       share from the federal government, oil and gas operators,
       affected local governments, and affected water conservation
       and conservancy districts.  The commission shall not expend any
       moneys from the fund until the commission receives financial
       commitments for the nonstate portion of the monitoring
       program.
            (3)  This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2013.
            SECTION 3.  Act subject to petition - effective date.  This act
       shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
       ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly that is
       allowed for submitting a referendum petition pursuant to article V,
       section 1 (3) of the state constitution, (August 4, 2009, if adjournment
       sine die is on May 6, 2009); except that, if a referendum petition is filed
       against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period,
       then the act, item, section, or part, if approved by the people, shall take
       effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by
       proclamation of the governor.