Natural Resources Law Center Intermountain Oil and Gas BMP Project is sponsoring the following workshop in conjunction with the Colorado Water and Energy Research Center:

Monitoring and Protecting Groundwater During Oil and Gas Development

November 26, 2012
University of Colorado Law School
Boulder, Colorado

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) recently initiated a rule making process to develop new, statewide regulations for baseline sampling and monitoring of groundwater near new oil and gas wells. COGCC’s first rule making hearing was held November 14; the rule is expected to be finalized December 10. This workshop discussed oil and gas development procedures that can impact groundwater, the current rules that protect groundwater, those being proposed by COGCC, and other options.

View the final agenda for the workshop.

Presentations

These presentations can be heard via an mp3 recording.

COGCC Rulemaking Hearing

COGCC’s first rule making hearing was held November 14; the rule is expected to be finalized December 10.

The Oil and Gas Conservation Commission of the State of Colorado, on its own motion, will consider additions and amendments to the Rule 600 Series
(Safety Regulations) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure 2 CCR 404-1 to establish new and amended rules for statewide water sampling
and monitoring.

The Commission, through numerous orders, rules and conditions of approval, has required water well sampling and monitoring for many years throughout various parts of the State. The proposed water sampling rule would establish sampling and monitoring requirements on a state-wide basis. The proposed rule will eventually supersede other Commission water sampling rules and orders, with the exception of Rule 608 concerning sampling in coalbed
methane areas. The proposed sampling rule will provide the COGCC with a mechanism to obtain data consistently across the state. These data will be used to verify that water wells, ground and surface waters, and residents of producing basins are adequately protected and that impacts, should they occur, are quickly identified and mitigated.

For Further Information

COGCC

Information webpage: Statewide Water Sampling and Montoring Rulemaking (10/16/2012)

Notice of COGCC Rulemaking Hearing

Rule 609: Statewide groundwater baseline sampling and monitoring proposed rules

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Recommended Rule 609 for Colorado
     Appendix A: Sampling and Analysis Plan

Comparison Table of COGCC and Alternative Rule 609 Proposals

Colorado Hydraulic Fracturing State Review (Oct. 2011), by the State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulations, Inc. (STRONGER)

Rules and Proposed Rules from Other Jurisdictions

Summary of State Groundwater Sampling Rules

Recommended Practices for Pre-Drill Water Supply Surveys, Marcellus Shale Coalition

Longmont Ordinance O-2012-25  Oil and Gas Regulations (See especially section w. (Special Development Standards), part x. (Water Quality Testing and Monitoring))

Boulder County Draft Oil and Gas Regulations (See Attachment A.1 Development Plan Review for Oil and Gas Operations)

New York Proposed Rule for Water Well Testing

Sampling Protocols

Comparison of sampling parameters from various jurisdictions and proposals

Sampling parameters, information provided by GatewayEnterprises/John Huntington, Ph.D.

Gallery of photos for water well sampling

Monitoring Water Quality in Areas of Natural Gas Development: A Guide For Water Well Owners (Comments Draf)t, available on the CWERC website. 

Impacts

Unconventional Oil and Gas Development: Key Environmental and Public Health Requirements, United States Government Accountability Office (GAO)
See Table 12, page 193 of the report for comparison of water well identification and testing for CO, ND, OH, PA, TX and WY

Updated Trend and Data Analysis, San Juan Basin Water Quality Analysis Project, San Juan, Colorado

This workshop was cosponsored by the Intermountain Oil and Gas BMP Project and the Colorado Water and Energy Research Center with financial support from the Environmentally Friendly Drilling Project and the CU-Boulder Outreach Committee