HB 17-1256

House Bill 17-1256 requires oil and gas production facilities and wells to be at least 1,000 feet away from school property lines in Colorado. This means that new oil and gas operations must maintain a distance of 1,000 feet from any existing or planned school buildings on the property. The law does not apply if schools are built near already established oil and gas facilities. Since the bill has been signed into law, it is now enforceable by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to protect public health and safety around schools.

Official Summary

As part of the Colorado oil and gas conservation commission's (commission) authority to regulate oil and gas operations to prevent and mitigate significant adverse environmental impacts to protect public health, safety, and welfare, the commission requires oil and gas production facilities and wells to be located at least 1,000 feet from school buildings and other high occupancy buildings. The bill clarifies that the minimum 1,000-foot distance from which newly permitted production facilities and wells must be located from any school applies to the school property line and not the school building. The bill further clarifies that it does not apply if a school commences operations near production facilities or wells that are already actively in use or permitted and, with respect to property owned by a school district, the distance requirement applies to the school building, other facilities used for school activities, and real property on which a future permanent or temporary school building is planned within 5 years after a production facility application is filed. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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