Colorado Wildlife Federation On October 15, 2024 Colorado’s Energy and Carbon Management Commission completed its deliberations to formulate rules that will govern determination of cumulative impacts from oil and gas operations to the environment, including wildlife, water, and nearby communities. CWF was a party to the rulemaking in conjunction with Western Resource Advocates and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. The “area of evaluation” for cumulative impacts to wildlife is a one mile radius from the working pad surface of the oil and gas operations. Impacts to ungulates and other wildlife from some particular wellpads likely will extend well beyond this prescribed radius, attributable to new roads, traffic and noise. We note that the new rules also provide, “In determining whether it is necessary and reasonable to expand the Areas of Evaluation, the Operator will defer to input from the Director, the Relevant Local Government, CDPHE, and CPW. However, this necessitates keeping a watchful eye on new proposed operations to discern whether such input is needed to expand the area of evaluation. As to the area of evaluation for water resources, the new rule provides the area of evaluation is a 2.5 mile radius from the working pad surface of the oil and gas operation(s). If such location is within a “surface water supply area,” the area of evaluation also will extend 5 miles downstream. Here is the link to the finalized Rules. See also WRA’s press release