PROP. 112- ECONOMY KILLER

Should electors support Colorado Proposition 112 it would effectively eliminate the state’s gas and oil industry and cripple the state’s economy, state Rep. Jon Becker, R-Fort Morgan, and state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling, said Friday in announcing their opposition to the measure. “It is too extreme for Colorado,” Becker said.

He pointed out a map from a Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission analysis in July which indicates 85 percent of non-federal surface acreage in the state would become closed for gas and oil development should Proposition 112 be supported.

The ballot measure asks voters whether to support increasing the setback distance for new gas and oil development to at least 2,500 feet from any structure intended for human occupancy or other area designated by the measure, the state or local government.

Election Day is Nov. 6. Morgan County ballots will be mailed Oct. 15.  “The map should speak for itself,” Becker said. “Why would we shut down 80 to 90 percent of gas and oil development in the state?”

The existing setbacks require gas and oil development be at least 1,000 feet from high-occupancy buildings, such as schools and hospitals, 500 feet from occupied buildings, and 350 feet from outdoor areas such as playgrounds.

If approved by voters, 94 percent of non-federal surface area in the state’s top five gas and oil producing counties would be closed to new development….read full article here