h_hie_2016a_2016-03-10t13:36:00z2 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/10/2016

03:24 PM -- HB 16-1310



Representative McCann called the committee back to order.

03:26 PM



Representative Salazar, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 16-1310. With regard to litigation or arbitration, current law requires that the owner of surface property rights demonstrate that an oil and gas operator's use of the surface land in mineral development "materially interfered" with the surface owner's use of the land. This bill amends this standard to allow the owner of surface rights to demonstrate that the operator's oil and gas operations harmed the surface owner's use of the land, caused bodily injury to the surface owner or any person residing on the property, or damaged the surface property.



The bill also holds oil and gas operators strictly liable for their conduct if oil and gas operations, including hydraulic fracturing, cause an earthquake that damages surface property or injures an individual.



Representative Salazar provided a handout (Attachment F) to the committee. Representative Salazar answered questions about the bill.



160310 AttachF.pdf



03:45 PM



Representative McCann placed the committee in recess.



03:55 PM



The committee came back to order. Committee discussion with Representative Salazar about the bill ensued. A handout (Attachment G) from the Colorado Oil and Gas Association was distributed to the committee.



160310 AttachG.pdf



04:22 PM -- Zabrina Arvovitz, Colorado's People's Alliance, testified in support of the bill and answered committee questions.



04:26 PM -- Mizraim Cordero, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill and answered committee questions.



04:32 PM -- Mark Gormley, representing himself, testified in support of the bill and answered committee questions.



04:41 PM -- Jeff Wasden, Colorado Business Roundtable, testified against the bill.



04:44 PM -- Natasha Jones, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jones answered questions from the committee.



04:49 PM -- Denise Onyskiw, representing herself and the Colorado Petroleum Council, testified against the bill. Ms. Onyskiw answered questions from the committee.



05:03 PM



Representative Salazar responded questions from the committee.



05:04 PM



Committee discussion with Ms. Onyskiw and Representative Salazar ensued.



05:21 PM -- Maria Orms, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Orms answered questions from the committee.



05:27 PM



Representative Salazar answered questions from the committee.



05:28 PM



Committee discussion with Ms. Orms and Representative Salazar continued.



05:38 PM -- Nicole Johnston, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Johnston answered questions from the committee.



05:42 PM



Representative Salazar made comments to the committee.



05:45 PM -- Dave Neslin, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. He provided a handout (Attachment H) to the committee. Mr. Neslin answered questions from the committee.



160310 AttachH.pdf



05:53 PM



Committee discussion with Mr. Neslin and Representative Salazar continued.



06:00 PM -- Brent Boydston, Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in opposition to the bill.



06:05 PM -- Phil Doe, Be The Change, testified in support of the bill.



06:08 PM -- Ken Summers, Larimer Energy Action Project, testified in opposition to the bill and answered questions from the committee.



06:18 PM -- Letitia Gaillard, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and answered questions from the committee.



06:27 PM



Representative Salazar responded to questions from the committee members.



06:28 PM -- Bob Golden, South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill. He provided a handout from Vital for Colorado (Attachment I). Mr. Golden answered questions from the committee.



160310 AttachI.pdf



06:34 PM -- Pat Greenberg, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



06:38 PM -- Polly Page, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



06:42 PM -- Wes Wilson, Be The Change, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Wilson answered questions from the committee.



06:56 PM



Representative Landgraf distributed a handout (Attachment J) to the committee.



160310 AttachJ.pdf



06:57 PM -- Josh Zygeilbaum, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Zygeilbaum answered questions from the committee



07:06 PM



Committee discussion with Mr. Zygeilbaum and Representative Salazar continued.



07:16 PM -- Mary Burns, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. She read a statement from the National Association of Royalty Owners.



07:20 PM -- Gaythia Weis, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Weis answered questions from the committee.



07:25 PM -- Jamie Jost, Colorado Oil and Gas Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Jost answered questions from the committee.



07:37 PM -- Mildred Griffin, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



07:39 PM -- Dan O'Connell, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, testified in opposition to the bill.



07:43 PM -- Kristi Douglas, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



07:48 PM -- Nicholas Colglazier, Colorado Competitive Council, testified in opposition to the bill and answered committee questions.



07:52 PM -- Sara Loflin, League of Oil and Gas Impacted Coloradans, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Loflin answered questions from the committee.



08:01 PM -- Stan Dempsey, Colorado Petroleum Association, testified in opposition to the bill and answered committee questions.



08:12 PM



Representative Salazar and Mr. Dempsey responded to questions from the committee.



08:17 PM -- Lee Mickus, Colorado Civil Justice League, testified in opposition to the bill and answered questions from the committee.



08:29 PM



Representative Salazar answered questions from the committee.



08:33 PM



Tom Morris, Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered questions from the committee.



08:35 PM



Committee discussion with Representative Salazar, Mr. Morris, and Mr. Mickus ensued.



08:39 PM



The committee members made comments about the bill. Mr. Salazar answered questions from the committee.



08:43 PM



Representative Salazar made concluding remarks about the bill.



08:52 PM



Committee members commented on the bill.

09:02 PM



The committee adjourned.