Oil And Gas Facilities Distance From School Property

As part of the Colorado oil and gas conservation commission's (commission) authority to regulate oil and gas operations to prevent and mitigate significant adverse environmental impacts to protect public health, safety, and welfare, the commission requires oil and gas production facilities and wells to be located at least 1,000 feet from school buildings and other high occupancy buildings.

The bill clarifies that the minimum 1,000-foot distance from which newly permitted oil and gas production facilities and wells must be located from any school applies to the school property line and not the school building. The bill further clarifies that the minimum distance requirement does not apply if a school commences operations near oil and gas facilities or wells that are already actively in use or permitted; except that the minimum 1,000-foot distance applies to real property owned by a school district on which a future permanent or temporary school building is planned to be constructed within 5 years.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)