Governments take different approaches to regs

Northeast Colorado is beginning to look like a test program for how Colorado’s new oil and gas permitting rules work. It’s a tale of two counties, Boulder and Weld, with each setting its unique priorities under the new law, Senate Bill 181.

“They are called 1041 powers, which essentially delegated counties and cities authority” over permitting, said Barbara Kirkmeyer, chair of the Weld County Board of Commissioners. Weld County is hiring 11 new employees to oversee oil and gas permitting, anticipating that a revamped Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission will severely threaten revenue in a county…