Colorado’s NBC 9 reports that “the oil and gas industry… pushed back hard against Colorado’s proposals to require that energy companies communicate more and earlier with local governments when big oil and gas operations are planned near homes.  

Industry representatives said the proposals put together by the staff of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC), which held the second day of hearings on the matter, went far beyond the written recommendations of Gov. John Hickenlooper’s 21-member oil and gas task force. They also offered the industry’s suggestions for modifying the proposals.  

The proposed rules aim to require increased communication between companies and local governments when “large” facilities are proposed in areas where there are at least 22 homes within 1,000 feet of the site — known as urban mitigation areas.