Colorado Supreme Court rules against plaintiffs in Martinez v. COGCC
DENVER -- Statement by Dan Haley, President & CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association, on today’s Colorado Supreme Court ruling:
“The Colorado Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, reaffirmed the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s (COGCC) long-held practice of acknowledging multiple policy goals in deciding whether to accept or deny a petition for rulemaking. The Supreme Court upheld the Colorado way of doing business, which is to weigh many interests and diverse views in overseeing a regulatory framework that serves and protects us all.
“The plaintiffs in the Martinez v. COGCC case ignored, and attempted to disrupt, decades of regulatory precedent and legal oversight. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Act (Act) directs the COGCC to consider multiple factors in making its decisions, including environmental priorities. Following the Act, which is existing Colorado law, the COGCC has enacted the most extensive and stringent regulations for the oil and natural gas industry in the country. Colorado was one of the first states to require that operators disclose the chemicals in hydraulic fracturing, conduct pre- and post-drilling groundwater monitoring, and undertake comprehensive inspection and repair requirements to safeguard our workforce and our communities.
“The Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Act will continue to allow for development, while also protecting our environment. As Coloradans, we value the environment and our member companies are committed to health and safety. Those who filed this lawsuit have said they want to ban oil and natural gas development in Colorado, so we’re happy to see the Supreme Court strike down this extreme effort and shortsighted agenda.
“While the current regulatory structure can be an arduous process for our companies, Colorado serves as a national model for oil and natural gas regulatory oversight.”
