Presenters:

Therese Gilbert, Trisha Golding and Gene Moore

LinktotheaudiorecordingfortheJanuary15,2015TaskForcemeeting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHdp7VVdT0k&feature=youtu.be
Thisgrouppresentationstartsatapproximately6:51:10.

Presenter:ThereseGilbert
Goodafternoonandletmethankyouforhearingourtestimony
today.MynameisThereseGilbertandIama22yearresident
ofGreeley.Iamateacher.MyfamilyhasbeeninCOsincethe
1880s drylandfarmingeastofLaJunta.Theysurvivedthe
DustBowlandmadeCOtheirhome.Asa4th generation
ColoradanIappreciateofthepreciousresourceswehaveinCO
andItreasuretheinvaluablebeautyofthisstate.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

Hereweseetheoil&gasdevelopmentalongtheFrontRange.
Denverisdowninthelefthandcornerhere.Thearrowis
pointingattheCityofGreeley.Allofthereddotsareexisting
drilledwells,thegreendotsareshowlocationsthathavebeen
permitted.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

HerewearegettingcloserGreeley,referredtoastheDonut
Hole,whereIlive. Therearecurrently22,000producingactive
wellsinweldcounty.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

Andhereweare.ThismapshowsthecityofGreeley.Wehave
about500activewellsinthecityandmanymorethathave
beenpermitted.Keepinmindthattherearetwicethatmany
withinGreeleysgrowthboundaries tuckedwithinafew
hundredfeetofthecitylimits.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

Andherewasthesiteofthewellproposedwith8blocksofmy
house.
Fiveorsixyearsagofriendsofminesharedthattheyhadleased
theirlandandwaterrightstoafrackingcompanyontheirfamily
farminruralWeldCounty.AtthattimeIfiguredthiswastheir
choice makingalittleextra$offthefamilyfarm butIwas
becomingawarethattherehadbeenproblemswiththe
process:Iheardstoriesofwatercontamination,airpollution,
andnotallwerehappywiththiskindofdevelopment.
IattendedaschoolboardmeetingDec.2011,whereitwas
decidedtoleasemultipleschoolsitestoaproducerwho
convenientlysatontheschoolboardatthetime.Therewasno
discussion.IthenlearnedthatUNChadalsosignedleasesprior
totheschooldistrictandwithinafewweeksIreceivedmylease
offerinthemail.
Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

Now,understand,IneverknewIevenownedmineral
rights. Whoknew? IliveinthehistoricpartofGreeley,a
neighborhoodofhomesbuiltintheearly1900s.Iremember
gettinginmycaranddrivingbytheproposedlocation;asmall
postagesizedpieceoflandrightsmackinthemiddleoftown8
blocksfrommyhouse. Ijustcouldntbelievehow37wellswith
tanks,separators,equipmentandsemiswerepossiblygoingto
fitonthislittlepieceoflandwithin300feetofthetraintracks,
350feetoflowincomeapartmentsalonga2laneroadjust3
blocksfromabusyintersection! Iwoulddrivebymultipletimes
tryingtomakesenseoftheproject. Itseemedludicrous!

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

Hereyouseeevenbetterthelocation;completelysurrounded
byresidences.Itwascheaperfortheproducertochosethissite
becausetheywerethesurfaceowners.
So,Iwentonlineandstarteddoingresearchtryingtolearn
abouttheprocess.Iknockedonmyneighbor'sdoors,wentto
citycouncilmeetingstovoicemyconcernaboutplacingsucha
heavyindustrialprojectrightinthemiddleofaresidential
neighborhood onlytolearnthattherewerequiteafewwells
alreadydrilledintownandmanymoreplanned.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

Drillingindenseresidentialareasbecameanichemarketfor
someproducers;theydaredgowhereotherswouldnotand
residentstooktheriskwhiletheypulledtheprofit.
Thismapshowsthemultiwellproductionfacilitiesthathave
recentlybeenapprovedinourcity.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

Hereweseeamultiwellsitewithinafewhundredfeetofour
NationalHeritagesite somanywellsplacedrightwithinwater
shedsthatdrainintothePoudreandPlatteRivers.Youreally
can'ttakeawalkorbikeridealongthePoudreTrailwithout
seeingmanyofthebeautifulcondensatetanksdotingthe
landscape.Butifaestheticconsiderationswereouronly
complaint,wewouldbesatisfiedwithbermsandshrubbery
hidingtheugliness.Butitsmoreseriousthanthat.Thereare
seriousdatagapsonhowlivingclosetosomanywellsimpacts
ourhealth.Itswhatwecantseethatcanhurtus.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

10

AgainandagainIheardtherefraintheresnothingyoucando
aboutit.Thisisthe difficultyposedbypreemption:especially
sinceGreeleylosttheLundvallVosslawsuitin1992. Thereisa
commonperception bylocalgovernmentthatnothingthatcan
bedonetostopapprovedsites.
Soasneighborswemetandorganized.Wespentcountless
hourscanvassingneighborhoodsthatwereabouttobefracked
translatingdocumentsintoSpanishtoensurethatresidents
wouldbenotifiedandinformedaboutdrillingprojectsplanned
intheirbackyards. Weattendedeveryplanningcommission
hearing.Wemadeappealstothecitycouncil.Wedidour
research,heldpublicforumsandbecamewatchdogsforour
community.Thiswashowourorganization,WeldAirandWater,
wasborn.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

11

WeachievedasmallvictorywiththeMidtownsite.Aftertwo
yearsofcitizenpressuretheproducermovedthewellstoan
industrialzonedlocationfarmoreappropriatetotheactivity.
Theywerestillabletoaccessalltheirmineralsfromthenew
site.Understand,mitigationslikeelectricrigs,soundwalls,and
shrubberymaybehelpful,butthesecannotcompensatefor
wellsplacedininappropriatelocations!Thiscanandshouldbe
avoidedbyregulationsthatmakeadvancedcomprehensive
planningbetweenindustryandstateandlocalgovernmenta
requiredpractice.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

12

RecentlyIwenttotheschoolboardwhenIlearnedofavideoon
YouTubethatshowedvolatileorganiccompoundsleakingfrom
thecondensatetanksnearthehighschoolwhereIworked.
Youcanseethatthetanks,highlightedingreen,arewithin400ft
ofthetrack.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

13

Now,whenIsaynearthehighschool,thispictureofthe
graduationceremonyinMaylastyearshowsyoujusthowclose
thesewellshavebeenplacedrightnexttoourschools.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

14

[videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN_ABMiCQCk ]
ThisbigplumeisfilledwithVOCs.Itwaftsclosetotheground
wherewebreathe.VOCsareheaviercarboncompoundsthat
donotdissipateveryquickly.Thethermographer hasfollowed
theseplumesformiles.
ThecommunitywaspromisedbyCOGCCandtheoperatorthat
thesewellswouldhave"stateoftheart"technologycapableof
capturing98%ofVOC'sasaconditionof theirapproval. Now,
onlymonthsaftertheyweredrilledandfracked wehavethis
video,takenbyacertifiedthermographer,showingleaking
toxinsspewingoutofthetanks. Howcanwebereassuredthat
thesewellsposenorisktoourhealthandsafetywhenweare
toldtheseleaksareacceptablebyCOGCC! Thattheyoccur
multipletimesadaywhenevertheypullproduct?!? Weare
NOTreassured.Regulationsmaybeinplace,butwithout
monitoring,whatisthepoint?
Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

15

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

16

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

17

PresenterTrishaGolding:
Iappreciatetheeffortsofthetaskforcetotryandfindbalancebetween
industryandresidentialcommunities.
IamaresidentofGreeley,Ilivealittleover1,500ftfrommultiwellpad,Iam
MomtoadaughterwhoattendsFrontierElementarySchool,andIamalsoa
partofthesteeringcommitteeforFPG FrontierParentGroup,whoformed
afterlearningofaproposedmultiwellandtanksitebehindtheFrontier
Academyelementaryschoolplayground.Ibychance,foundoutaboutthis
proposalafterithadbeenapprovedbyCOGCConMay30,2014anditwas
twoweeksawayfromgoingtothepublichearingwiththecityofGreeley.

Theproposalwasfor67wells,32tanks,350ft awayfromthe
playground.350ft awayfromthefencethatmydaughterplaysby
everydayatrecess.
Iwasshockedthatsuchamassiveindustrialmultiwellcomplexcouldpossibly
beapprovedatthislocationnearourschoolandnexttohomesand
businesses.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

18

Thispictureshowswhattheconfigurationof67wellswouldhave
lookedlike.
Itrulythoughttheremustbesomemistakeandspentthenextfew
daysfranticallyresearching,onlytodiscoverthatitwasnota
mistake,itwasapprovedandnoonetoldparents;notCOGCC,not
ourcity,andnotourschool.Sadlythereisnolegalrequirementfor
ustobeinformedbecausewearenotthepropertyowners,even
thoughitisourchildrenwhoarebeingaskedtoassumeallthe
unacceptablerisksassociatedwithanindustrialsitejustfeetfrom
ourplayground,alongwithadjacentresidentsandbusinesses.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

19

Parentsandcommunitymembershavehadtotakealmostayearof
ourtimefightingthisproposal.InJune2014,theoperator
submittedanewlocationassessmenttoCOGCC,withthesitebeing
marginallyreconfiguredandslightlymovedbackfromtheschool.
Thisstilldoesnotsolvetheproblemsofnoise,industrialtraffic,
healthandsafetyrisksforourschoolanditcreatedadditional
problemsbymovingitclosertobusinessesandhomes,especially
consideringtheeightrecentoilandgasrelatedemergenciesinWeld
County.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

20

Frederick:April2014,threeunitsrespondedtoanoilstoragetank
fire. Anearbyschoolwasaskedtoshelterinplace.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

21

The2013wellblowoutinWindsorspewedover1,500ftandtook30
hourstocontain.TheWeldCountyEmergencyManagement
Director(RoyRudisill)stated,Ifthewellhadbeendrilledcloser
than1,500feetfromhomes,itwouldhavebeenagreaterhazardto
people.
Inthecaseofmydaughterselementaryschool,theplaygroundis
1,000ftfromthedrillsite.Iwouldhopethatwhenthetaskforce
looksatdistancebetweenmultiwellsitesandhighoccupancy
buildings,itisalsorecognizedtherearesensitiveoutdoorareasthat
areapartofthesestructuresthatneedtobeconsidered.Our
childrenaremostvulnerablewhentheyareoutatrecess.Wehave
manystudentswithasthmaandotherhealthconcerns.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

22

ThisisapicturefromtheGreeleyTribuneoftheLucernefirein
March2014.Ittook18firefightersfromthreemunicipalitiesfour
hourstobringitundercontrol.Ourschoolalreadypracticesdrills
foranarmedintruder,firesandtornados.Nowtheyarebeingfaced
withaddinganindustrialaccidenttothelist.Thankfully,this
incidenthappenedatasitethatprovidedanadequatesetbackfrom
homes.Accidentsdohappenandonethisclosetotheschooland
thesurroundingbusinessesandhomescouldquicklybecomea
terribletragedy.Distancematters.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

23

COGCCCommissionerDeAnne CraigstatedonAugust7th atthe

Longmonthearing,therearemanyconcernsandrisksassociated
withmultiwellsitesthatwerenotproperlyaddressedthelasttime
COGCCwentthroughsetbackdiscussions.Shealsosaid,Tome,
thisisaboutsafety.Thisisaboutmakingsureyoudontlosecontrol
ofseveralwells,anddistance,distanceisgoingtoreallymatter.
Particularlyifyouareinapopulatedarea. COGCCRule
604.c.(2)(e)(i)statesthatmultiwellsitesneedtobeasfaras
possiblefromoccupiedstructures.Itisagoodstartingpointto
addresstheissue,butfurthermeasuresneedtobeputinplace.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

24

COGCCrecentlyamendedtheirlocationassessmentapplications
requestingjustificationfromoperatorsonmultiwellsiteplacement,
butadditionalsitescontinuetobeproposedthatarenotasfaras
possiblefromoccupiedstructures.ThislocationisinWindsor,
calledthePacePad,andisplannedfor28wells,45tanksandother
relatedequipment.Therearealternatelocationsavailableforthis
tobesited,buttheoperatorhaschosentoplaceitinthemiddleof
twosubdivisions.Thisiswhyweneedgreatersetbackswith
advancedplanning.COGCCneedstoenforcetheasfaraspossible
ruleandrejectthesetypesofsites.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

25

TheCityandtheStateplaythefingerpointinggameofnotwanting
tobesuedbyeachotherortheoperator.Inthemeantime,itisour
childrenandthecommunitywhoareputinpotentiallyharmful
situationsandfacehavingahighlyindustrialneighbor.Wehave
spokentolargeroperatorswhohavesaidtheywouldnotdrillthese
locations.Nootherindustrywouldbeallowedtolocateinthese
sensitiveareas,butoilandgasisgrantedexceptions.Whenpoor
plansareapproveditcreatesabacklashfortheentireoilandgas
industry.Responsibledrillingbeginswithappropriatelocations
andpracticingmorecomprehensiveplanning.Mitigationsdonot
makeabadlocationgood.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

26

AsaMom,whenmychildrenareatschool,Iwantthemtobe
surroundedbyanenvironmentthatdoesnotsubjectthemto
unnecessaryrisksordisturbancesfromnoise,dust,emissions,and
industrialtraffic.Childrenspendsevenhoursattheirschooleach
day,tryingtolearnandenrichtheirlives. Theydeservetobesafe
andtheirhealthandwelfareprotected.Ourcommunityshouldnot
befracturedbylargeindustrialoperationswithmultiwellsand
tanksbeinglocatedinthemiddleofbusinesses,shoppingdistricts,
homesandschools.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

27

Presenter:GeneMoore
Greeleyresident,formernavycorpsmanandrespiratorytherapist.
LivesintheCenterofGreeley360ftawayfromaproposedmulti
wellsite.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

28

ProposedGilbertsite.Surroundedbyresidentialcommunities,
businesses,aparkandaschool.ThehaulroutegoesbyGreeley
WestHighschoolon24th street.Highschoolstudentstravelthis
roadmultipletimesaday.Thisisalimitedincomearea,thereare
residentstravelingthisroadonmotorizedscooters,manyinthis
areaarehandicapped.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

29

Proposed360ftawayfromlowincomehousing,lessthan500ft
fromhomes.ThesitehasbeenapprovedbyCOGCCfor16wells,40
tanksandrelatedequipment.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

30

Residentswillbeexposedtoemissionsincloseproximity.Thereare
residentswhoareonoxygenandhaveotherhealthconcerns.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

31

DistanceMatters.Inthisinstancedistanceequatesdirectlytotime;
reactiontime,escapetime,anddissipationtime.Peoplelivingin
thisapartmentcomplexdonothavetheluxuryofjumpingintheir
caranddrivingaway.Somerequireextensivesupporttoleavetheir
residence.
OurgreatestresourceinthisStateisnotfoundundertheground.
Itsfoundonthestreets,intheschoolyards,andinthebuildings
surroundingthesesites.Thatiswhereourfuturelies,not
underground.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

32

Presenter:ThereseGilbert
Inconclusion,weliveinGreeley,wegetit.Weunderstandthatoil
andgasisapartofourcommunity.Werecognizethatoilandgas
cannotbeexcludedentirelyfromourenergyportfolioatthistime,
aslongasairlineshavetoflyand18wheelershavetogetover
mountainpasses.Weshouldnotbeforcedtotakeonthe
unnecessaryrisksofhavingthesewellsplacedsoclosetowherewe
liveandbreathe.Weshouldnotbetheguineapigsinthis
experimentaslongasdatagapsexistregardingthehealthimpacts
oflivinginsuchcloseproximitytothesewells,leakingwells,andthe
industrialactivitythataccompaniesthem.
InGreeleywedidgatherover23,000signaturesonproposals88and
89.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

33

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

34

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

35

Weneedtorememberthecumulativeeffects.Thisisaviewlooking
westtowardsthemountains,whicharehiddenbehindthatbrown
cloud.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

36

Traveling40minutessouthofGreeleywecanfinallybegintoseethe
mountainsagain.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

37

Theeffectsoffrackingareongoingforthoseofuslivingbythewells.
Webelievethatweneedtodobetter,wecandobetterandwewill
dobettertogether.

Presented1/15/15totheOilandGasTask
ForceatthemeetingheldinGreeley,CO

38