Air Emissions from Oil and Gas
Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission passed new precedent-setting rules targeting air emissions and is the first state to regulate methane.
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Fourteen Rulemakings in Eight Years
The State of Colorado is a national leader in its commitment to fostering safe and responsible development of Colorado’s oil and gas resources. Over the past 8 years Colorado has implemented precedent-setting regulations from baseline groundwater testing and monitoring to air regulations targeting methane leak detection and repair.
This regulatory timeline provides summary information on significant legislative and regulatory efforts affecting Colorado’s oil and natural gas industry from 2011 to 2018.
Download Regulatory OverviewComplainant Rulemaking
COGCC implements a streamlined process for the public to submit complaints. The new online portal makes the agency’s methods for receiving, processing, addressing, closing and communicating complaints more effective and transparent. It includes guidance for making a complaint, what a complainant can expect and the rights of the complainant.
Learn MoreSetback
Created a uniform 500-foot statewide setback, applicable in both rural and urban areas and a 1,000-foot setback from high occupancy buildings such as schools, nursing homes and hospitals.
Learn MoreWildlife Map Update
Keeping maps updated provides state regulators with information to ensure that sensitive species are appropriately accounted for during exploration.
Learn MoreBaseline Water Quality Sampling
Rigorous mandatory groundwater sampling and monitoring rules.
Learn MoreFlood Lessons Learned
The state updated its regulations to require remote shut-in capabilities and enhanced protections around tanks. Additional reporting of equipment and wells in existing floodplains also was required.
Learn MoreHydraulic Fracturing Disclosure
Requires comprehensive public disclosure of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing treatments.
Learn MoreSpills and Releases
Tightened spill reporting requirements to broaden the definition of what needs to be reported and requires that spills are reported within 24 hours to landowners and local governments.
Learn MoreEnforcement and Penalties
Fines were increased from $1,000 to $15,000 for each violation and eliminated the $10,000 overall cap for violations.
Learn MoreGovernor’s Oil and Gas Task Force
The Task Force put forward 9 recommendations that empowered local governments in the permitting process and allowed for site specific mitigation as a condition of permit approval.
Learn MoreState Implementation Plan (SIP)
Strengthened rules to reduce ozone levels for the Denver Metropolitan and North Front Range nonattainment area.
Learn MoreAQCC CTG Rulemaking & Revisions to Reg 7
To further reduce ground-level ozone, improve air quality, and comply with federal requirements, new rules were passed to reduce emissions from oil and natural gas sources.
Learn MoreFlowlines
Dozens of new rules pertaining to flowlines and other types of piping systems were approved, along with other regulations increasing transparency in safety and gas leak reporting.
Learn More811 Underground Facilities
(SB 167)
This legislation brought Colorado into compliance with new damage prevention enforcement rules issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in 2015.
Learn MoreWellbore Casing
Wells are constructed with multiple layers of steel casing and cement; COGCC rules require the following specifications for each well:
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