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4714235DB35F7BA08725895800726527 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For HB23-1069

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Date Feb 16, 2023      
Location LSB A



HB23-1069 - Amended, referred to House Appropriations

01:49:32 PM  
The sponsor of the
bill, Representative McCormick, gave an overview of House Bill 23-1069
concerning studying biochar in the plugging of oil and gas wells. The bill
will create the Biochar in Plugging Oil and Gas Well Plugging Working Advisory
Group to make recommendations for the development of a pilot program.
01:51:30 PM  
Representative McCormick introduced and gave an overview of the strike-below amendment L.001 (Attachment A).
01:55:09 PM  
Ms. Janis Hallowell,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Carolyn Aspelin,
representing Colorado State Forest Service, testified in support of the
bill. Trevor Slansky, representing themself, testified in support of the
bill. Ms. Jan Rose, representing Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate,
testified in support of the bill. Dr. Ramesh Bhatt, representing Sierra
Club, testified in support of the bill.
02:07:40 PM  
The committee asked the panel how to make biochar, pyrolysis through an electric source, the role of the State Forest Service in supplying material, what materials can be used, contaminants, and other uses for biochar.
02:19:24 PM  
Mike Foote, representing
350 Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Cindy Copeland, representing
Boulder County, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Richard Andrews,
representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Director Julie Murphy,
representing Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC), was
available to answer committee questions.
02:27:30 PM  
The committee asked
several question, including COGCC's oversight in plugging wells; the amount
of unplugged wells; how long the cement used to plug wells lasts; how long
wells are monitored after being plugged; if biochar will last longer in
plugging wells; and how the COGCC will receive notice when plugged wells
are not properly plugged.



Additional written testimony is included as Attachments B.1 and B.2

02:38:43 PM  
Representative McCormick
spoke more about amendment L.001 (Attachment A) and introduced and gave
an overview of amendment L.002 (Attachment C), which amends L.001 (Attachment
A).
02:41:11 PM  
The committee gave comments about the amendments.


02:42:06 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment C).
Moved Weissman
Seconded Willford
DeGraaf Excused
Dickson
Evans
Froelich
Valdez
Velasco
Vigil
Weissman
Winter T.
Willford
Kipp
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


02:43:05 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A).
Moved Weissman
Seconded Willford
DeGraaf Excused
Dickson Yes
Evans No
Froelich Yes
Valdez Yes
Velasco Yes
Vigil Yes
Weissman Yes
Winter T. No
Willford Yes
Kipp Yes
YES: 8   NO: 2   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
02:43:07 PM  
The sponsor gave closing comments on the bill.

The committee gave closing comments on the bill.



02:47:17 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 23-1069, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Valdez
Seconded Willford
DeGraaf Excused
Dickson Yes
Evans No
Froelich Yes
Valdez Yes
Velasco Yes
Vigil Yes
Weissman Yes
Winter T. No
Willford Yes
Kipp Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 2   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS