Getting Fracking Protections On The Ballot

Mac and Linda are out to get signatures, no matter the weather.

While many people may think of Colorado in terms of the song, Rocky Mountain High, they may not also realize that the State sits on top of the Niobrara Shale, a source of natural gas that is coveted by fracking companies. But residents of the State have only to look at the flooding that occurred last summer in southwest Colorado that included toxic wastewater from an abandoned mind to realize that resource development comes fraught with consequences.

Then there is COLORADANS RESISTING EXTREME ENERGY DEVELOPMENT (CREED), a group that set out to educate citizens about the hazards of fracking and to get laws passed to prevent the practice. There is a lot at stake, including the toxic chemicals that are injected into the ground to remove the gas, and the high potential of the ground where the fracking has occurred to become unstable, much like the citizens of Oklahoma experience, with frequent earthquakes alerting them to that consequence.



Back in April, CREED began a process of petitioning to get Ballot Initiatives #75 and #78 placed on the November ballot, initiating the gathering of signatures on the official petitions. Just before they started, the Supreme Court affirmed the title language for both proposals.

Initiative #75 is titled "Local Government Control Of Oil And Gas Development". It recognizes the fact that local jurisdictions had authority over oil and gas development in their area. Essentially, this initiative allows local jurisdictions to protect the health and well-being of their citizens from the damages of oil and gas development, including the fracking process.

Initiative #78 is known as "Mandatory Setbacks From Oil And Gas Development". It establishes a buffer zone around houses, hospital, and schools, of 2,500 feet (less than 1/2 mile). The buffers also are included around such sensitive areas as playgrounds and sources for drinking water. In these buffer areas, no oil and gas development is allowed. Current setbacks put the buffer zone at 500 feet. However, it was determined through health studies that increased health risks occur within 1/2 mile of a fracking zone. The setback also accounts for such issues as explosions, burn zones, and reasonable evacuation.

Both of these initiatives fill in holes in current Colorado law and would provide better protection for the lives and health of its citizens. CREED executive director, Tricia Olson, stated, "In recent weeks, the Colorado legislature rejected two bills designed to remove biases in the law and protect Coloradans from the harms and proximity of this industrial process. One would have changed the state's mission from fostering the development of oil and gas to administering it. Another would have given cities and counties the ability to zone oil and gas like they do other industries. Both bills failed, providing further proof that we, the people of Colorado, must change Colorado law ourselves."

Organizing requires a plan and meetings.

Before they even set out to gather signatures, members of CREED had already garnered the support of "Our Health, Our Future, Our Longmont". Peggy Tibbetts, who lives in Garfield County, was also supporting the initiatives, "There's no better time than the present decrease in production to make certain that when Colorado operators ramp up the drilling again, they'll be playing by a whole new set of rules."

Bernie Sanders knows all about the consequences of fracking.

By August 8, over 100,000 signatures had been gathered for each measure. They were placed in boxes and driven over to the office of the Secretary of State for delivery. Next steps, making the ballot and voting. Power to the people!

Thanks for information from this press release on CREED's website: http://resistextremeenergy.org/uncategorized/colorado-oil-and-gas-ballot-measures-to-begin-petition-process/; and the above link.