Newsmaker Q&A: Foote bills take aim at oil, gas industry

Rep. Mike Foote, a Democrat from Longmont, introduced two new bills addressing his concerns with oil and gas drilling on March 18. House Bill 1267 would impose a mandatory minimum fine of $5,000 for drilling violations that have a significant adverse impact on public health, safety, welfare and the environment. If passed, it would also eliminate total maximum fines and raise the maximum daily fine from $1,000 to $15,000. The second, House Bill 1269, would prohibit members of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from working within the oil and gas-drilling industry during their commission term. We caught up…