S_AGR_2016A 03/02/2016 11:47:00 AM Committee Summary

11:47 AM -- SB 16-129



Senator Jones, sponsor, described the provisions of Senate Bill 16-129 concerning neutral oversight of oil and gas activities by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC). He also discussed the impact of oil and gas development on homeowners and other persons. This bill implements a recommendation of the Colorado oil and gas task force to change the word foster to administer in the legislative declaration for the COGCC. The Colorado Oil and Gas Task Force was established by Governor Hickenlooper through Executive Order B 2014-005 on September 8, 2014. The task force convened seven meetings, and issued a final report, which contained nine recommendations for the Governor. The report also contained a minority report which included several recommendations that did not receive the required approval of two-thirds of task force members. Among these recommendations was recommendation #9, which this bill partially implements.



The following persons testified on the bill:



12:02 PM -- Sara Barwinski, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee about the Colorado Oil and Gas Task Force recommendations and its membership. She also distributed a copy of her testimony (Attachment A).



160302 AttachA.pdf



12:08 PM -- Michael Bellmont, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill.



12:11 PM -- Kay Fissinger, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



12:14 PM -- Judith Blackburn, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.









12:18 PM -- Joan Peck, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



12:20 PM -- Marilyn Hughes, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



12:22 PM -- Jeannette Hillery, League of Women Voters of Colorado, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill and distributed a copy of her testimony (Attachment B).



160302 AttachB.pdf



12:25 PM -- Jacky Kowalsky, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



12:28 PM -- Ray Fuller, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the Colorado Oil and Gas Task Force recommendations (Attachment C). He also compared the mission statement for the Colorado Oil and Gas Association and the COGCC.



160302 AttachC.pdf



12:31 PM -- Mark Ruzzin, Boulder County Board of County Commissioners, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the Colorado Oil and Gas Task Force recommendations.



12:35 PM -- Matt Sura, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and explained that he was a member of the Colorado Oil and Gas Task Force.



12:40 PM



Senator Sonnenberg closed testimony for bill proponents.



12:40 PM -- Matt Lapore, Director, COGCC, discussed legislative changes to the COGCC's mission and composition that were enacted in 2007. He also discussed recent COGCC rulemakings to implement the 2007 legislation that required the COGCC to protect public health and the environment.



12:45 PM -- David Neslin, Colorado Petroleum Council, spoke in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout that identifies recent COGCC rulemakings to implement the 2007 legislation that required the COGCC to protect public health and the environment (Attachment D). He also explained that he was previously the COGCC Director.



160302 AttachD.pdf



12:49 PM -- Dan O'Connell, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, spoke in opposition to the bill.



12:53 PM -- Stan Dempsey, Colorado Petroleum Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.



12:57 PM -- Jamie Jost, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill.









01:01 PM -- Mizraim Cordero, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, spoke in opposition to the bill.



01:04 PM -- Brett Moore, National Association of Royalty Owners - Colorado Chapter, spoke in opposition to the bill.



01:06 PM -- Dan Haley, President and Chief Executive Officer, Colorado Oil and Gas Association, spoke in opposition to the bill and read a list of other organizations that are opposed to the bill.



This bill was available for remote testimony. However, the individual who signed up to testify remotely at Fort Lewis College did not show up to testify.



01:10 PM



The chair closed testimony and Senator Jones closed his comments on the bill.

01:20 PM



The committee adjourned.