Citizen Suit Could Delay Oil And Gas Drilling In Broomfield

BROOMFIELD, CO – The City of Broomfield and Extraction Oil & Gas are expected next week to answer a lawsuit filed by a citizens group Oct. 8 in Broomfield District Court.

The suit [see below] filed by Residents Rights and national environmental group WildEarth Guardians alleges that the city, and City Manager Charles Ozaki rushed through an agreement with Extraction to build 84 new wells in Broomfield without taking into account the health provisions spelled out in Ballot Issue 301, approved by voters in November, 2017.

Extraction has been working with the City Council for months to present a drilling plan, and after several revisions Ozaki approved the plan in September. Plaintiffs allege Ozaki overstepped his office and approved the plan unlawfully, "despite the plan's failure to comply with the requirements of the Broomfield/Extraction Operator Agreement or the city's own charter and ordinances," the suit says.

"[T]he oil and gas industry is creeping closer to densely populated Colorado communities throughout the Denver Metro and Front Range region at the same time it builds larger mega well pads with 20 or more wells per pad, presenting new and more significant risks to the health and safety of more and more people," Residents Rights said in a press release.

“Broomfield engaged in a ten-month process of amending its Operator Agreement with Extraction in 2017, only a few months after it made amendments in 2016," said attorney Kete Merlin in a statement. "Then it folded in the face of legal threats from Extraction, and approved this Drilling Plan which doesn’t even comply with that Agreement, or with Broomfield’s Charter. The people of Broomfield deserve better than to have an unelected City Manager approving a non-compliant Plan which won’t protect them or their families from serious threats like explosions, fires, or toxic spills and leaks."

"The City Attorney's Office and City Manager's Office are currently reviewing and analyzing the complaint," Anne Lane, director of communications and governmental affairs told the Broomfield Enterprise. "The city spent many months negotiating with Extraction Oil and Gas to include the most protective best management practices in Colorado in the Operator Agreement and implemented those in the comprehensive drilling plan."

READ MORE in the Broomfield Enterprise

Read the complaint here:

Image via Shutterstock

Stay up-to-date on Broomfield news with Patch! There are many ways for you to connect and stay in touch: Newsletters and Email Alerts|Facebook