Colorado Wildlife Federation Update: May 11 — The bill was introduced in the Senate last night and assigned to the State, Veterans and Military Affairs and Local Government. The bill has died. This is good news!!
Update: May 5 the House passed HB 11-1223 by a vote of 34-31. The bill would dilute the wildlife and reclamation seats on the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission – by increasing the oil and gas industry seats on the Commission by 2. The bill now moves to the Senate Agricultural Committee. CWF opposes this bill and so testified in the House Agricultural, Livestock & Natural Resources Committee on April 4.
Update: The bill moved from Appropriations Committee on April 19 to the House Floor.
On Monday, April 4, 2011 the Colorado House Agricultural Committee voted 6-5 to dilute the wildlife and reclamation seats on the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, by increasing the number of members with oil and gas experience. The bill number is HB 11-1223. Next the bill moves to the House Appropriations Committee. The bill changes the current composition of the COGCC from 3 to 5 members with oil and gas experience. The bill was further amended to change the two ex officio seats held by the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources and the Executive Director of the Department of Public Health and Environment to nonvoting seats.
CWF testified against the bill because the current composition of the COGCC works. The current composition was created by HB 07-1341. As oil and gas drilling permits increase, and wildlife management on the surface of leased lands becomes more complicated, it is necessary to maintain this balance among interests.
The bill was forwarded to the House Appropriations Committee and is expected to be heard on Tuesday the 19th. If it passes, it would move to the House Floor.