Denver suburb approves oil and gas deal after lengthy fight
Broomfield leaders said yes to a controversial oil and gas drilling operation involving 84 wells planned for northern Broomfield, but not until 7 1/2 hours of testimony and discussion was had at a meeting that went into the early morning hours of Wednesday.
The close 6-4 vote, giant crowd and marathon meeting were illustrative of what has become a festering issue in this northern suburb.
City leaders specifically approved an agreement — formally known as a memorandum of understanding — with Extraction Oil & Gas Inc. that places limits and conditions on company operations at several proposed drilling sites along the Northwest Parkway.
Because oil and gas permits are ultimately issued by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, municipalities have only limited influence on energy operations within their borders.
A worker heads to the drilling deck, at an Anadarko Petroleum Corporation rig near Broomfield, July 28, 2014. Oil and gas operations are booming in Weld County. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
