March 19, 2013 08:56 AM UTC

Legislative Democrats Take Action on "Fracking"

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• by: Colorado Pols

Cathy Proctor of the Denver Business Journal reports:

Three new bill proposals calling for additional regulation of the oil and gas industry were introduced late Monday in the Colorado Legislature.

They’re among a wave of legislative proposals addressing the oil and gas industry that have been predicted for months, as controversy has swirled along Colorado’s Front Range over the industry’s recent boom. Colorado has hit record levels of oil and natural gas production in the last few years.

“I hope we can get some of them through,” House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, said Monday regarding the latest bills.

None of the three bills would resolve the issue of local governments banning the use of controversial "fracking" methods for oil and gas production within their boundaries–an issue that has pitted popular Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper against cities like Longmont and Fort Collins. Hickenlooper's ardent-trending-irresponsible backing of the oil and gas industry has earned him the critical nickname "Frackenlooper," and moments of exposed deception like his claim to have "drank frack fluid," later clarified to not be the fluid actually used in drilling operations, have significantly undermined his credibility.

What you do have here are three bills to increase fines on the industry (House Bill 1267), set up mandatory disclosure of the "split estate" system and mineral rights to surface property buyers (House Bill 1268), and a bill changing the mission of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) and barring oil and gas industry employees from the commission beginning next year (House Bill 1269).

We have heard that Gov. Hickenlooper, while unmoved on the larger facts of the issue, has been personally stung by the criticism he has received during the growing rebellion against "fracking" in Colorado, and his apparent inability to bring the sides to a mutually acceptable resolution. Hickenlooper's ability to do exactly that was a major selling point during his 2010 election bid, though GOP disasters in the gubernatorial race mean he didn't have to sell himself much. Some of the arguments that will be presented in these bills will be harder for Hickenlooper to oppose; changing the mission of the COGCC so that it is not both a cheerleader for the industry and the organization charged with regulatory oversight, for example, seems like a pretty common sense measure. Either way, the conflict over "fracking" in Colorado represents the biggest crisis of Gov. Hickenlooper's political career thus far–and he has not acquitted himself well.

So, obviously, Hickenlooper's handling of these bills will be closely watched.