Regulation? Who, us? But why?

The oil and gas industry has been incredulous in the face of new regulations in recent months. The industry has enjoyed a free hand in this state for decades and bristles at the notion of anyone but their hand-picked industry insiders regulating their operations. At the same time we are seeing them push for new and expansive oil and gas development, some if it in environmentally sensitive areas like the Roan Plateau. "Don't worry," the industry says "we are responsible and with new technologies we are environmentally friendly." This is of course a load of shit,

PARACHUTE, Colorado — State oil and gas regulators are looking at two additional releases of waste that have reportedly affected groundwater northwest of Parachute.

Those two spills occurred about two to three weeks after one man went to the hospital after drinking his cabin’s spring water, which was allegedly contaminated by a release from area drilling operations.

One of the discharges reportedly caused water contaminated by oil and gas waste to emanate from several springs in the area of Cascade Canyon, northwest of Parachute, and to flow into nearby tributaries, according to state records.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) is investigating Williams Production RMT and Oxy USA WTP, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corp., for an alleged discharge of exploration and production waste that occurred around June 23 in the Rock Spring area, according to a state notice of alleged violation (NOAV) issued against both companies. That area is about nine miles northwest of Parachute and near the head of Willow Creek.

The oil and gas industry is inherently destructive to the surrounding environment and carries with it significant risk to our environment if not properly monitored. Anyone arguing differently is a fool or on the payroll of the industry.