City OKs oil and gas project

Broomfield leaders have approved a controversial oil and gas drilling agreement for 84 wells in the northern part of the city that could also impact neighbors living in nearby Adams County.

The oil and gas discussion, which began Tuesday evening, lasted more than 7½ hours, concluding around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The City Council’s final vote was 6-4 in favor of an agreement — formally known as a memorandum of understanding — with Extraction Oil & Gas Inc. that places limits and conditions on company operations at several proposed drilling sites along the Northwest Parkway.

Many in the audience — 90 people signed up to speak — said Broomfield shouldn’t sign the deal, or should at least delay a vote to impose an even more rigorous set of restrictions. Many Adams County residents spoke, including several commissioners. They objected to a recent decision by Extraction to move several of its proposed well pads — containing 49 wells — to areas still within Broomfield but just north of neighborhoods on the Adams side of the county line.

But those concerns were countered by many who said the deal the city hammered out with Extraction was a shining example of how local communities could exercise some control over oil and gas operations, which are otherwise the purview of the state.

They said the company made numerous concessions that went beyond state law, including use of quieter, state-of-the-art drilling equipment; installation of pipelines to reduce truck traffic and on-site storage; and implementation of setbacks that go farther than what state law mandates.

Councilman Mike Shelton said if Broomfield didn’t approve the agreement, Extraction could move ahead with far fewer protections in place for residents.

“We’re almost forced to say yes — and if we say no, we lose control,” Shelton said.