COGA Baseline Groundwater Quality Sampling Program

Participation in COGCC’s Greater Wattenburg Area Rule 318A.e.(4), COGCC’s Coalbed Methane Well Rule 608.b, or existing fieldwide orders will supersede COGA’s Program within the applicable geographic areas.

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Generally, yes.  The COGCC will post the data to its database which is currently under development.

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Yes. Sampling will only be conducted on private property with landowner permission granted in writing.  Participation in the program will grant the operator permission to provide copies of the laboratory results to the COGCC which will then be available for public review.

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Yes. Within three months of collecting a sample, the landowner will be provided with a letter explaining the testing and analyses completed and a copy of the laboratory analytical report.  At the same time, the results will be provided to the COGCC.

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Samples will be analyzed for the following constituents:  major cations and anion; total dissolved solids; iron, manganese, and selenium; nutrients (nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates); dissolved methane; pH; specific conductance; and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX).  Field observations at the time of sampling such as temperature, odor, water color, sediment, bubbles, and effervescence will also be recorded.

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With landowner approval, the operator will notify COGCC of potentially anomalous data and submit the data to COGCC for follow-up. Operators are not responsible for conducting follow-up testing, investigation, or remediation at such locations unless additional evidence implicates the operator as the responsible party for the identified alleged impact.

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Baseline samples must be collected before the well’s conductor casing has been set.

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Existing baseline sampling data that is less than three years old may be use in lieu of collecting new data, provided the data were collected in manner consistent with or equivalent to the guidelines outlined in the Program Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP).

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This program applies to newly developed or new expansions of wells or pads, not existing wells or pads.

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COGA is striving for 100 percent participation and we welcome all operators to join our program.  Please send an email to Andrew Casper, COGA Regulatory Counsel, at Andrew@coga.org.

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Yes.  Any company can participate provided that they meet program standards.  For example,  all companies that participate in the program will be required to annually confirm with COGA that they are meeting the program conditions.

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