GarCo has its own plan for Sage Grouse protection

Garfield County commissioners are upset about a federal plan to protect the greater sage grouse, and earlier this week, they met with the Bureau of Land Management to share their thoughts.

For this week's news brief, KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke to reporter Amy Hadden Marsh about Garfield County's own plan to protect the bird.

COGCC Setback Rules Spur Mixed Reactions

Last week the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission held hearings to consider expanding the required distance between gas wells and homes and buildings. As KDNK's Ed Williams reports, the decisions to come out of the meetings left people disappointed on both sides of the issue.

New Drilling Rules Too Lenient, Say Some

This week the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission met to create new rules on groundwater protection and setback distances for fracking operations in the state. KDNK's Ed Williams talked to Conservation Colorado Executive Director Pete Maysmith about the COGCC's new groundwater regulations.

Environmental Assessment Before Four Mile Drilling

Texas-based SG Interests recently filed an application to drill a gas lease in the Thompson Divide area. The Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, and the US Forest Service are reviewing the application, and once they deem it complete, the two agencies will initiate an environmental assessment process.

KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke to the BLM spokesman David Boyd to find out what that process would entail.

GarCo Commissioners Rescind Oil Shale Resolution

A controversial resolution about public lands allocated for oil shale exploration in Garfield County was at the heart of yesterday's Garfield County commissioners meeting. KDNK's Amy Hadden Marsh was there and has this report.

Eagle County's Adam Palmer on Economy and Efficiency

In Garfield County we have CLEER - Clean Energy Economy for the Region. It's a sort of clearinghouse for efficiency programs and incentives. Some neighboring counties have pooled their efforts and shared millions in grant money from the Department of Energy. Adam Palmer is the Energy Smart program manager in Eagle County. On this episode of NRG with MG, Adam Palmer tells KDNK's Marilyn Gleason how efficiency is improving home economics in the region.

Sen. Michael Bennett Drafts Thompson Divide Protection Bill

U.S. Senator Michael Bennett has written draft legislation to permanently protect the Thompson Divide area from oil and gas extraction. Recently, energy company SG Interests took steps toward drilling on leases in the area and the Thompson Divide Coalition welcomes Bennett's efforts. Energy trade groups, however, have written a letter opposing the measure.

The bill is open for public comment and is available by clicking here.

Drilling Activity Is Way Off Says GarCo EAB

Garfield County's Energy Advisory Board met in Rifle late last week. About 30 citizens and politicians turned out for updates on gas drilling and a presentation on hydraulic fracturing. As KDNK's Marilyn Gleason reports, several also attended in order to voice criticism, complaints and concerns before the board.

Official and Independent Air Monitoring in GarCo

Questions over the impact of natural gas development on air quality have been making headlines in recent months. Garfield County has its own air monitoring program, but as KDNK's Ed Williams reports, one former gas worker thinks the systems that are in place don't cut it.

GarCo's New Way to Spend Oil and Gas Money

Garfield County commissioners met with Carbondale town trustees this week in part to talk about a funding program set up by the county to distribute money contributed to the county by the oil and gas industry.

KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke with commissioner Mike Samson after the meeting to find out what kind of projects these funds are meant for and about why they moved to this new system for spending oil and gas money.

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