Boulder County Commissioner's Fail to Respond to Questions Regarding Seismic Testing Conducted by the Fracking Industry in Boulder County - Did they participate?

Below is the email with specific questions for the Boulder County Commissioners to answer regarding the seismic operations that appear to have occurred within Boulder County. I submitted my questions via email to the three commissioners on 17 December 2017 some thirty-six day ago. I received an email confirmation that they are in-fact, in receipt of my email and questions, but I have not received a response to date. Crickets…

It is important that all environmental advocates and associated organizations ask the very same questions I have asked and hold the Boulder County Commissioner’s accountable.

Please copy and email the questions below and send to: commissioners@bouldercounty.org

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EMAIL

Boulder County Commissioners, Elise Jones, Cindy Domenico, and Deb Gardner:

I am providing you public information sourced from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s website database: cogcc.state.co.us compiled on my blog page for your review: Were Seismic Operations Conducted by the Oil and Gas Industry in Boulder County? Supporting Documents May Reveal Answers 

Extended link for review: https://fractivist.blogspot.com/2017/12/were-seismic-operations-conducted-by.html

The information compiled appears to clearly illustrate oil and gas seismic operations took place in three separate areas in Boulder County Colorado (BOCO).  Supporting COGCC documents: Form 20 and Form 20A, state and oil and gas industry mapping also illustrates  these activities took place in Boulder County.

I would like you to answer these questions in a timely manner please.

1.       Do you have access to the information I have provided regarding the COGCC documentation authorizing seismic testing operations in Boulder County?

2.       Did you three commissioners, in whole or individually, have any form of knowledge of seismic activity, permitting, Form 20,20A, mapping, operator information in Boulder County during your active role as a commissioner?

3.       Do you have any digital and or hardcopy correspondence from the three of you, to include the former Commissioner Will Toor,  to and from the COGCC , Anadarko Petroleum Inc., Encana Oil and Gas, Extraction Oil and Gas Inc., and/or their associated industry contractors regarding seismic testing operations within the boundaries of Boulder County Colorado during the time-frames before, during and after the testing dates listed in the COGCC documents provided?  Please accept this as a formal request to obtain all documentation regarding these specific issues from January 2012  through December 2018.

4.       Did Boulder County  planning and zoning, legal team et al,  have  any form of knowledge or information, such as but not limited to; email correspondence, mapping, COGCC communication, oil and gas industry documentation regarding the documented seismic activities by the documented oil and gas industry operators and or their contractors?

5.       Did Boulder County update any mapping systems or datasets to include seismic operations and all associated data on the Form 20/20A and any additional data pertinent to the seismic operations? If so, please provide details to include links to mapping systems and or public data sets.

6.       If an oil and gas operator and their seismic contractors were to want to conduct shale seismic testing/operations in Boulder County, what would be the procedure to do so? Please describe the operational flowchart of requirements, documentation, agencies and people involved to obtain permissions to conduct seismic testing operations in Boulder County.

7.       Do you recognize Boulder County as a location for seismic activities on the mapping, Form 20 and Form 20A that I have provided to you?

8.       If Boulder County approved seismic testing operations would you receive the 2D and 3D surface maps created by the oil and gas operators conducting such a test?

9.       Do you have any additional information you can provide to me for the three areas and operators that have already conducted seismic activities in Boulder County? If so, please accept this as a request for that information.

Thank you for your time and assistance with my requests. Please see attached supporting documents and links.

I look forward to hearing from you in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

Shane Davis

Boulder County

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Shane Davis

fractivist.org

Twitter: @fractivist

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Were Seismic Operations Illegally Conducted by the Oil and Gas Industry in Boulder County? Supporting Documents May Reveal Answers

It appears three oil and gas operators conducted seismic operations in Boulder County in 2013 and 2014. According to documents and mapping maintained by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, (COGCC), Extraction Oil and Gas Inc., Encana Oil and Gas and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation have conducted 3D seismic testing operations in Boulder County. 

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

1.) Extraction Oil and Gas Inc., filed a Form 20 (Notice of intent to Conduct Seismic Operations) on December 8 2014. With the signatures of COGCC Director, Matt Lepore and Permit Technician and project manager, John Krull approved Extraction’s approximate 41 square mile seismic testing for shale in Larimer, Weld and Boulder Counties.

On the Form 20, Extraction indicated that their start date for seismic testing would occur one month prior to the authorization of the permit with an estimated date of completion of Feb 15 2015.

The type of seismic shale testing conducted is listed as 3-D – Vibroseis.  It is a truck-mounted or buggy-mounted device that is capable of injecting low-frequency vibrations into the earth.

Vibroseis trucks conduction seismic shale operations. Image Wikipedia

Extraction hired Houston Texas contracting company, Geokinetics USA Inc. to conduct the seismic testing with RLI Insurance holding the bond for the operations.

COGCC FORM 20 - Extraction Oil and Gas authorized permit to conduct
seismic activities in Boulder County. Click  image to enlarge.

Extraction's 3D mapping indicating Boulder County in 3N 69W.
Note the bottom right of map indicating Larimer, Boulder and Weld Counties
are the area of seismic testing interest. Click map to enlarge.

Green area illustrates Extraction's seismic operations in Boulder County.

Reviewing the legend on the bottom right indicates the green areas are listed by Extraction as
'Good to Go.' Could this mean seismic permitting authorization has been approved or the
shale is viable for drilling?

LINK TO DOWNLOAD EXTRACTION DOCUMENTS


2.) Encana Oil and Gas Inc., filed a COGCC Form 20A - Completion Report for Seismic Operations on April 18 2013. Notice of intent Form 20 is missing from the COGCC's database.

Encana's seismic operations contracted by Lockhart Geophysical Crew #4 out of Montana consisted of 5,438 square miles of 3-D Vibroseis methodology in Weld and Boulder Counties starting on March 15 2013 with a stated completion date of March 24 2013.

It seems odd that seismic operations for 5,438 square miles could be completed in a mere nine days  by Encana when in-fact, it took Extraction almost three months to conduct seismic testing on much smaller 41 square miles.

Encana Oil and Gas Inc Form 20A Completion report for Seismic Operations.
Click to enlarge

Longmont, CO map indicating Encana's seismic activities. Red diagram - left side

Encana's seismic operations mapping - possibly indicating select areas in Boulder County
(left side of map - red areas).

LINK TO DOWNLOAD ENCANA'S SEISMIC DOCUMENTS


3.) Anadarko Petroleum Corporation filed a Completion report for Seismic Operations on April 27 2015. 

Yet another out-of state contractor was hired. Dawson Geophysical Company from Midland, Texas conducted the seismic operations on 70-100 square miles. (The Form 20A has both 70 square miles and 100 square miles listed.)

The start date of seismic activities on November 5 2014 with a completion date of December 15 2014. 

Anadarko's FORM 20A Completion report for Seismic Activities April 27 2015

On the left side of the map you'll notice 1N 69W and 2N 69W (Boulder County Sections) where
Anadarko seimic operations took place in 2014.

Anadarko's Seismic Identifier is listed as #8750, however in the file cache, this document is listed as #8055 with information of seismic activities in Boulder County. There is more than one Identifier listed in the COGCC's database. 

There is much more to discover about Anadarko's seismic operations in Boulder County and there are many missing documents that need to be found to provide public transparency.

According to the COGCC, one of the three seismic contractors described above, Geokinetics USA Inc., conducted illegal seismic testing operations in Weld County without prior submittal and approval of a  COGCC Form 20 - Notice of Intent to Conduct Seismic Activity.

Geokinetcs USA Inc, Houston Texas was issued a ‘Notice of Alleged Violation by the COGCC and was fined $10,000 for illegal seismic testing operations for 196 days. The fines imposed were $1,000 per day of the violation, up to ten days for a maximum fine of $10,000 for ten days of illegal operations. Geokintetics was not fined for the additional 186 days of illegal operations.

Download documents here

One more time: Geokintetics was not fined for the additional 186 days of illegal operations.

This is a clear demonstration of ineffective, unfair and unbalanced, arbitrary and capricious COGCC oil and gas rules and regulations to issue a fine that is in no way, a deterrent. The COGCC should be fined for allowing these illegal activities to occur unnoticed for any length of time, let alone 196 continuous days.

The COGCC and the industry both know it’s clearly cheaper to operate without rules and regulations and pay a fine (also known as a fee) rather than have a single day of down-time. The COGCC rules and regulations were created with the interest of ‘time’ in mind to not fairly penalize the fracking industry for not following the suggestions in the COGCC rules and regulations handbook.  

After all, it’s the COGCC’s job to foster oil and gas development and not slow the industry down.  

      

Do not be fooled however, there are no fines that currently exist in the COGCCs Rules and Regulations that would deter an operator or contractor from practicing illegal activities if it saves them money long-term. 

In-fact, many of the violations have fines that are a positive economical avenue for the industry to take and the cost of a fine is nothing when it comes to ‘down -time’ operators would face waiting for public comments, notifications, permitting, signatures etc. - so much down time wasted on paperwork.  

The fines are designed as a public pacifier to create the appearance of penalties in action. Wait, isn't that called 'fake news?'

COGCC rules and regulations are an annoyance.  If a person got a ticket for running a stop sign or red light 196 times in a single year what would be the imposed fines and penalties? Would the operator still have a license to operate?

How could Geokinetcs USA conduct seismic operations for 196 days without the state regulators even knowing? The answer is simple; there are not enough inspectors, and the COGCC Rules and Regulations penalties and fines are insufficiently assessed and imposed.

On the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s website it states: ‘The Commission provides rules and regulations to establish operational standards and requirements for industry activity in the state.’ The COGCC rules and regulations are not effective or adequately enforced, but rather suggestions like a speed sign on the Autobahn. 

Operate as fast as you want, wherever you want, and don’t worry about reading the regulations, the fines are so small it does not matter and there are no police to enforce your illegal activities anyway.

This case also demonstrates the lack of enforcement of formal processes within the fracking industry and state regulators to ensure accountability of all procedures of operations. Both the COGCC and the fracking industry are not fully accountable.

Any novice review of the state’s online oil and gas database illuminates the COGCC’s and the oil and gas industry’s operations as grossly incomplete, incompetent and in shameful disarray, thus harming public health, safety and environment.

Please leave a comment and donate for more information.


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Does Anadarko Petroleum Want Firestone Home Explosion Information Kept Secret?

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5TICjekaSe-UlhScmZPSFZJQjQ ...........

FIREstone Colorado - A Visual Tour of the Fracking Invasion in Your Backyard: WARNING

The short piece below was filmed in 2014 but is more relevant now than any other time. It was filmed in Firestone, Colorado where I lived for two years and eventually got out! 

My deep condolences to the Martinez and Irwin families for their tragic loss and continued suffering. There is nothing that can replace your loss.

I have no doubt whatsoever, this tragedy could have been prevented if we had a state governing agency that was balanced and put public health, safety and welfare first. Oil and gas operations should never be in neighborhoods and houses should never be built around fracking well-pads. 

It appears the State of Colorado and bloated greedy fracking industry have questions to answer. And the victims families and public have many questions.

I have been warning every city council member, county commissioner, mayor, senator, governor and everyone at hundreds of public presentations across Colorado for seven years, that a catastrophe would happen because of the shocking failure rates of the state and oil and gas industry.

In 2012, on record, I gave a formal fracking industry presentation to the COGCC on the dangers of oil and gas operations in and around neighborhoods LINK to Matt Lepore Director, Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC).

I explained that the proposed 500' setback was not adequate enough to protect human life. I further explained  that oil and gas should never be in or near neighborhoods and the risk of a catastrophe was imminent.

Mr. Lepore did not care at all what I had to say. In fact, he and his oil and gas cronies had likely already decided fracking industry operations would happen no matter what and nothing I had to say would make a difference.

I also explained that home explosions from migrating gas is not a possibility, but a probability and that the State Oil and Gas Commission has already documented cases where homes have exploded and in many cases, explosive levels of methane seeped into dozens of homes that had to be evacuated before an explosion occured. 





This is not an anti-fracking movement, but rather a civil rights movement.Our civil rights to safety have been stripped from us. We, the people, can no longer protect ourselves from the state or fracking industry. The COGCC, Governor Hickenlooper and the oil and gas industry chose oil and gas over community health, safety and environment. Shame on them.

We must stand up against a rogue industry, and fight for our lives and the lives that were tragically lost.  The State of Colorado, Governor Hickenlooper and the COGCC appear to have have failed to protect us and it appears they had reckless disregard for our safety. 

Always remember: "The only promise the oil and gas industry and an oily politician will give you is a lie." 


Please donate to the Martinez and Irwin family: GOFUNDME


Sincerely,

Shane Davis
Fractivist



MORE TO COME!


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Why a New Industry-Sponsored Fake News Section in the Denver Post Threatens the Newspaper’s Reputation

By Erin Moriarty

Even the most seasoned Denver Post readers can be fooled by a new advertising ploy from oil and gas front group Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development (CRED), in which fake, industry-sponsored news stories are being published as part of a special “Energy and Environment” section on the newspaper’s website.

Each CRED-authored story uses the same font and layout as real Denver Post articles from real Denver Post reporters, undoubtedly attempting to pass CRED’s message off as real news. But, it’s not. It’s yet another paid effort that CRED is using to validate its now-dwindling credibility. CRED is no stranger to promoting its message through paid advertising, as can be seen by the television, radio, online, and bus advertisements that the group has been running since its inception in September 2013.

This time, the ad on Denver Post’s website boasts “news” about oil and gas development in the state, when really, the group is just peddling its own version of facts. In the “Energy and Environment” section on the Denver Post’s website, CRED’s advertorial features several stories on natural gas exports, local control amendments, and other energy issues Coloradans have been following for months.


Read more...

Should the Federal trade Commission intervene and stop CRED's (Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development) deceptive ads?

 

P.S. Energy development? According to the first Law of Thermodynamics; energy can neither be created nor destroyed, so CRED's acronym is COMPLETELY INCORRECT AND DECEPTIVE.



- Shane




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