Sixty-second General Assembly

STATE OF COLORADO

BY REPRESENTATIVES Larson, George;

also SENATOR Dennis.

AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK AND NATURAL RESOURCES

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 99-1018

WHEREAS, There has been and continues to be significant growth occurring throughout Colorado, with the concomitant development pressures for housing, business, and the energy necessary to serve them; and

WHEREAS, Colorado has an enviable storehouse of natural gas and oil and is among the top ten states in the union in the production of these resources; and

WHEREAS, The regulation of the oil and gas industry has become increasingly complex as technology has advanced making it possible to extract these resources with greater effectiveness and efficiency; and

WHEREAS, The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is charged with the regulation of oil and gas production by promoting the development of the resource to eliminate waste and to protect correlative rights consistent with the public health, safety, and welfare; and

WHEREAS, Local governments are also regulating certain land use issues associated with development to the extent there is no operational conflict with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission rules and regulations; and

WHEREAS, There is a need to study the current regulatory framework of the oil and gas industry in light of the seemingly irreconcilable goals of the people involved; now, therefore,

(1)  That there shall be a committee to meet in the interim after the 1999 Regular Session of the Sixty-second General Assembly to study the regulation of oil and gas production in Colorado. Such interim committee shall consist of six members of the General Assembly. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three members of the House of Representatives, no more than two of whom shall be from the same political party. The President of the Senate shall appoint two members of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader shall appoint one member of the Senate. The interim committee may consider, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(a)  The scope of existing regulation of the oil and gas industry and what might assist the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to meet its statutory mandates;

(b)  The effectiveness of rulemaking procedures of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission;

(c)  The impacts that the production of oil and gas has on affected citizens and their property, health, safety, and welfare;

(d)  The relationships that the production of oil and gas has with Colorado's other natural resources; and

(e)  The examination of mineral rights development and the attributable economic development benefits.

(2)  That, in conducting such study, the interim committee may consult, as may be required, with appropriate local, state, and federal agencies and interested members of the public and members of the General Assembly. The study shall not require additional staff for any state agency or any additional appropriation to any such state agency.

(3)  That the interim committee may tour at least four locations throughout the state that are affected by oil and gas operations, including, but not limited to, areas that are experiencing a significant amount of development and in-filling of oil and gas wells. The interim committee may hold public hearings in the locations toured and other locations as deemed necessary for purposes of the study.

(4)  That the Legislative Council shall report its findings and recommended legislative changes to the Second Regular Session of the Sixty-second General Assembly.

(5)  That all expenditures incurred in the conduct of the study enumerated in this resolution shall be approved by the chairperson of the Legislative Council and paid by vouchers and warrants drawn as provided by law from funds allocated to the Legislative Council from appropriations made by the General Assembly.