Withdrawal of Colorado fracking ballot initiatives disappointing, community protection still possible through commission
Statement of Earthworks Oil & Gas Accountability Project Director Bruce Baizel
Earthworks
August 4, 2014
DURANGO, CO: We are disappointed that Colorado’s environmental rights ballot initiative that would have allowed local governments to protect their citizens from the potential harms of oil and gas drilling has been withdrawn.
Colorado’s oil and gas oversight favors the oil and gas industry’s interests before the public interest. That’s why hundreds of thousands of Coloradoans backed ballot initiatives to fundamentally change oil and gas regulation for the better this November.
The fracking commission announced today by Governor Hickenlooper and Representative Polis provides a possibility that Colorado’s community and environment may yet be protected from the environmental and health threats associated with oil and gas development.
Impacted communities must have a real seat at the table, and must be allowed to determine that in some cases no fracking may be the right choice.
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