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Dems To Introduce At Least 10 Oil & Gas Regulation Bills This Session

DENVER (CBS4) - A battle over oil and gas regulations is heating up at the Capitol as some lawmakers say more must be done to hold the industry accountable.

Oil and gas drilling in Colorado has more than doubled in the past 10 years, and more wells near homes has set off a push for more regulation.

Democrats will introduce at least 10 bills this session.

"Our citizens are very concerned that this activity is causing damage to the air and to the water," said Rep. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, D-House Majority Leader.

Hullinghorst says there's a perception the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which regulates the industry, is too lax. There are bills to increase fines and inspections, and turn regulation over to local governments.

"I believe that both municipalities and counties should have ability to say distances, regulations, how to take care of your air emissions," Hullinghorst said.

Longmont and Fort Collins have already banned hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

"Either a statewide or local ban on the ability of anybody who owns mineral rights to develop those mineral rights in a responsible way, that's a constitutional taking," Stan Dempsey with the Colorado Petroleum Association said.

Dempsey said they welcome more regulation, but warns if it's not reasonable, Colorado puts at risk an industry with a $20 billion economic impact.

"What will harm our economy, in my opinion, is if we allow one industry like this to foul our air and our water and create problems for our communities," Hullinghorst said.

"That fact is we aren't fouling Colorado's air and water. We've been improving Colorado's air quality for a number of years. We've been the industry that's the most regulated industry in the state," Dempsey said.

Even if the bills pass, it's unclear if Gov. John Hickenlooper will sign them. He admits he drank fracking fluid and is suing Longmont and Fort Collins for banning fracking.

"This is one area where we do disagree," Hullinghorst said.

Two bills have already passed out of committee. One measure would require every well be inspected once a year. The other raises fines on violations to $15,000 a day.

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