DENVER (Legal Newsline) — Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman has commented on a recent state Supreme Court decision to invalidate two voter-approved hydraulic fracturing bans enacted by Longmont and Fort Collins.
Coffman’s office represented the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in the Longmont case, which involved a permanent pan on hydraulic fracturing.
“As the Supreme Court recognized today, Colorado has ‘a strong interest in the uniform regulation’ of oil and gas operations, and local attempts to ban hydraulic fracturing undermine the interests of the state as a whole,” Coffman said. "The state has always balanced the need to protect our environment with the desire to encourage robust economic development.
"Sadly, I fear today’s ruling will not end this divisive debate and instead some activists will continue to push anti-development initiatives undermining the state’s record of local cooperation on these policy issues.”
The Colorado Supreme Court decided local prohibitions go against comprehensive state regulations.