In this Dec. 5, 2012 photo, the sun sets behind an oil pump jack and the Rocky Mountains near Fredrick, Colo. Citizen fears about hydraulic fracturing, a drilling procedure used to pry oil and gas from rock deep underground, have made "fracking" the hottest political question in Colorado. In November, citizens in the Denver suburb of Longmont voted overwhelmingly to ban fracking despite heavy opposition from the oil and gas industry and warnings of lawsuits. Now the fracking debate is rocking small local governments _ and leaving the industry wondering how to proceed in a state that has long embraced the oil and gas industry. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

AURORA | Taller vapor towers and no fences around fracking well pads may be in the city’s future after Aurora officials say they’re reconsidering local oil and gas regulations.

According to Senior Planner Stephen Rodriguez, the city has received eight applications to drill within city limits. There are five more applications in process and more on the way. According to the city’s data, Conoco Phillips has submitted a majority of the applications. One active well near the Cottonwood Creek neighborhood in Aurora is under development by the gas company.

Rodriguez told the city council that the city may be considering allowing taller vapor towers on the well pads, from 20 feet to 31 feet. Rodriguez said many of the applications asked for a waiver on the city’s shorter requirement to meet the state’s clean air guidelines. Rodriguez also said fracking applications asked for smaller access roads, reduced fencing and lower landscaping requirements around the drill sites.

Councilwoman Renie Petersen told the council she disagreed with the waivers granted to Conoco Phillips, saying it went against regulations drafted by the council in 2012.

“I think this needs to go to the city attorney because this council came up with those rules for a specific reason,” she said. “There’s a problem, our policy needs to be followed.”

Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan told the council that the disagreement may be with the process itself.

“Having a waiver process was part of the policy. If you don’t want to offer waivers, don’t make it part of the process,” he said. “You all know how touchy this was 27 months ago.”

According to the city’s planning department, two of the well pads may approach neighborhoods on the city’s eastern edge, but would not approach the 1,000-foot setback limit.

4 replies on “Aurora ponders backing off some fracking, oil and gas regs”

  1. They can frack in my backyard if I can get some royalties. Petersen is correct that if the waivers go against the regs they shouldn’t be granted. Hogan is correct that if waivers are part of the regs they should be granted. So, let’s just solve the confusion and allow fracking subject to the state laws, which take precedence over city ordinances.

  3. So, Tornado Alley with damaging, frequent earthquakes! GO AURORA! Now THAT is a quality of life I want!! :/

  4. I am completely disgusted that these ugly, noisy, stinky huge sites can go right into neighborhoods. The site proposed by us will be 4 acres, a large well, pipelines, 6 20 foot high barrels, site lit up 24×7, oil burning smells coming from large flame/flares. This is not right. Don’t wait til it happens to you to say no. Then it’s too late.

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