The demand for oil and gas is pushing exploration and drilling activities to an all time high in the Rocky Mountain region and communities are concerned that environmental impacts from this activity are not being addressed.
"County and state officials, as well as environmental groups, say one prime source of the mud choking the region's streams and creeks is the construction of some 9,546 oil and gas wells in western Colorado"
In Colorado local communities historically have had little control over drilling activities that are located on nearby federal lands. Now state-enacted water quality rules covering well exploration and production have been nullified by congressional revisions to the federal Clean Water Act that will ease environmental restrictions on such activities. With drilling activity at record levels in the western part of the United States communities here are questioning whether or not be they will be able to adequately protect their water resources.
Thanks to Patrick Olsen
FULL STORY: Drilling's role in runoff awash in murky claims
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Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
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Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
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