Oil and Gas

With the passage of Colorado Senate Bill 181, additional authority has been given to county governments to enhance oil and gas regulations in their communities. In response, Arapahoe County is drafting an amendment to the Land Development Code to include oil and gas regulations for unincorporated parts of the county. Those changes are expected to further protect quality of life, public health, safety and welfare for county residents. Public feedback on this process is critical. Read on to learn more about how you can get involved.

The Process

Since the passage of Senate Bill 181 in April 2019, Public Works and Development planning staff have conducted small-group stakeholder meetings with citizens, emergency services providers, industry representatives, regulatory/state agencies, municipal partners, utility companies, home builders/developers and fellow county departments. The following graphic shows how the public outreach and decision-making process will continue into 2020.

Oil and Gas Public Process

The Big Picture

Arapahoe County has a diverse landscape and many residents have sought a rural lifestyle in the eastern portion of the County where oil and gas drilling primarily occurs. The County is committed to balancing quality of life, and health and safety issues without inhibiting responsible development. Through an open feedback process with stakeholders, new regulations will be drafted to reduce the impacts of oil and gas development on nearby properties and local infrastructure. Updates to the Land Development Code will provide the framework. The following are issues that have been raised by the community. Click the icons to explore more information.

CONSIDER
THESE
WHAT
WE HEARD
POTENTIAL
SOLUTIONS
CLICK
& LEARN

Quality
of Life

Light
Noise
Visual Mitigation
Odor
Wildlife
Traffic
LEDs and shields
Setbacks and sound walls
Berms and tree planting
Air quality/emission monitoring
Seasonal restrictions
Timing restrictions
Quality of life


Health
and Safety


Lightning
Emergency Response Plans
Water
Flag poles/lightning rods
Plan submission and training
Well water sample testing		Health-Safety


The
Process



Community Notification
Development Plans
Incentivize Pipelines

Public meetings and hearings
Plan submission
Process efficiencies
The Process