Oil, Gas Drilling Proposals By Democrats Rejected

DENVER (AP) - Democratic proposals to limit oil and gas drilling have been defeated in Colorado's Republican House.

The House Local Government Committee voted Tuesday to reject a bill that would have set a statewide buffer of 1,000 feet between drilling wells and schools or residential areas. The committee also voted down a bill to ban open-pit storage of drilling fluids.

The buffer proposal came from a suburban Denver Democrat whose county has only recently seen interest from drilling companies. The storage proposal came from a Western Slope Democrat who said his constituents are worried about the possibility of contamination.

The Colorado Oil & Gas Association, and some Democrats on the committee, opposed both measures.

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