Republican senator's proposal would ease drilling curbs in wildlife areas

By Ed Sealover, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 22, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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State Senate Republicans vowed to try to cut gas prices Monday by easing restrictions on drilling near wildlife and by fighting efforts to slow exploration of the Roan Plateau.

Gov. Bill Ritter and a key Senate Democrat argued, however, that oil and gas production is on the rise and the restrictions that are in place serve as a balance between the industry and the environment.

Monday's news conference was the first organized effort by GOP legislators to address what has become among the most talked-about issues in America. While the General Assembly cannot tap into strategic petroleum reserves or loosen federal regulations on mineral extraction, it can take steps to increase production in the state, members and Republican candidates said.

Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, put forward a draft bill that would scale back rules designed to protect animals in areas that they share with platforms. Brophy's measure also would reduce from months to days the amount of time it takes to get drilling permits and would give tax benefits to companies that increase production incrementally.

Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, argued also that Republicans need to work the bully pulpit as well. Specifically, they need to stop environmental groups from pressuring Ritter into joining their protests against a federal plan to begin leasing western Colorado's Roan Plateau for drilling next month, he said.

Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer noted that drilling permits have increased from an average of 426 per month in the two years before he took office to 565 per month since January 2007. Ritter is considering protesting the Bureau of Land Management plan because he wants drilling to be phased in, a strategy that would allow for greater economic return, Dreyer said.

Sen. Dan Gibbs, a Silverthorne Democrat who wrote the Colorado Wildlife Stewardship Act, which is meant to reduce drilling's adverse effects on surrounding species, added that the idea that the new law is hindering production in the state is "a huge leap to make."

He said he hopes the new rules to protect the hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing industries will be allowed to go into place before someone tries to change them.

sealovere@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5438

• July 22, 2008

  2:41 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Sage_Sam writes:

  Good to see the GOP lawmakers solidifying their incestuous relationship with Big Oil. I love the fact that the GOP lawmakers pushing hardest on this issue are from the Front Range (I mean you McMaulty and Mitchell) and have no flippin idea what they're talking about. Before you decide to go and destroy my natural heritage maybe you should actually check to see what folks on the western slope would like to see. Maybe even take a trip over the divide to see how things are over here in the gas patch. Maybe check with sportsmen on how we feel about easing proposed wildlife regs that are already too god-darned watered down. It is pretty telling that Dan Gibbs is the only sportsmen quoted in the article and he supports the proposed regs fully.

  I'm tired of being an energy colony for the nation and I sure as hell resent my quality of life and livlihood being put at risk for political gain.

• July 23, 2008

  9:04 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  an3378 writes:

  It just amazes me that there is no consideration for the wildlife and natural resources like water that are more important then drilling and drilling and then drilling some more. This resource is going to run out eventually. I think it is time to find a more sustainable energy resource. Instead of just drilling everywhere till there is nothing left and we are actually searching for clean water cause we have posioned it all by drilling. I think it is better to be catious then going into something without knowing the consequences of our actions. Though that seems to be the theme of Republicans now a days, unfortunately.

• July 30, 2008

  12:06 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  SL10 writes:

  Yeah, big oil and the GOP want to dril and drill without regard to the enviroment. Ask GOP Ted Stevens U.S. Senator who was arrested for accepting money from big oil and using his office to give big oil federal favors at the taxpaper's expense. I love when the GOP get their hand caught in the cookie jar. Way to go GOP in helping McCain. *thumbs up*

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