Commissioners protest applications for drilling in Boulder County

BOULDER – Boulder County Commissioners on Monday filed two protests with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on the drilling and spacing unit applications submitted by 8 North LLC, a subsidiary of Extraction Oil and Gas LLC.

8 North filed the applications Sept. 11. They are the first step in the state process for drilling in a 1,280-acre area between Arapahoe and Baseline roads at the far eastern edge of the county along East County Line Road and a 2,720-acre area between Oxford and Quail roads also along East County Line Road.

The city of Lafayette joined with Boulder County on the protest for the southern drilling and spacing unit application as that area includes a portion of the city of Lafayette, asking the commission to deny the applications.

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The commissioners said in a prepared statement that the operations contemplated by 8 North would have a significant impact on Boulder County residents in unincorporated eastern Boulder County, as well on the municipalities of Lafayette, Longmont, and Erie. We will continue to participate in each and every step of the state review process and want to make sure that everyone who may be impacted by this development has the ability to participate in the state process as well.

If the state approves the drilling and spacing orders, 8 North would still have to apply to the commission for a permit to drill that would include specific plans and proposed locations. In addition, the company will need to go through Boulder County’s local government regulatory process.

Filing the protests prevents the COGCC from administratively approving the applications without a full hearing.