Broomfield attempted to prevent the Cosslett East fracking project by using the new rules that give local governments standing to participate in oil and gas decisions. This 19-well mega-pad will be in unincorporated Weld County, near suburban Erie and Broomfield neighborhoods. Broomfield presented evidence of poor air quality data and cited multiple studies showing increased health problems for people living near fracking projects. COGCC approved the project anyway.
This is another example of the legislature passing more protective oil and gas laws, but the regulators (charged with enforcing those laws), using overly permissive interpretation and giving the industry far more than a reasonable benefit of the doubt. COGCC could easily have rejected this permit on any number of grounds, but chose instead to capitulate.
