Last Friday, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission ("COGCC") unveiled a new and streamlined process by which members of the public can lodge complaints about oil and gas activities in the state.
This complaints process continues the agency's efforts to promote transparency and strike a balance between furthering public knowledge and safety while also promoting the continued development of the oil and gas industries in the state. Coming on the heels of the increased fines recently approved by the COGCC, and in anticipation of the reports of the fracking panel commissioned by Governor Hickenlooper, it is clear that the relationships between state regulators, environmentalists, the oil and gas industry and the public are all fluid.
Add in the additional issues and complexities attendant to the drop in oil prices and one thing is abundantly clear — 2015 will be an interesting year!
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.