Boulder Co. Files Lawsuit Against Oil and Gas Commission, 8 North

From Boulder County: Earlier today, the County Attorney filed a lawsuit against the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission (COGCC) and 8 North, LLC, in the Denver District Court.

The lawsuit appeals the COGCC’s approval of 8 North’s applications for drilling and spacing units and additional well density in two areas of eastern Boulder County. The county alleges that the COGCC committed numerous errors in approving the applications.

For example, the Complaint states that 8 North failed to provide adequate evidence that owns the mineral rights it claims and the COGCC should not have accepted or relied on the summary and hearsay evidence 8 North did provide.

The county also alleges that the approval was contrary to state statute and that the COGCC’s rules for establishing drilling units are flawed. Although 8 North has indicated that the well pad sites for the approved units will not be in unincorporated Boulder County (one is proposed in Weld County and one in Erie), the county nonetheless has concerns about the effect these pads would have on Boulder County residents and environmental resources in Boulder County, in addition to its concerns about the fairness and adequacy of the COGCC’s procedures.

Reference: Copy of Complaint

Image via Shutterstock