Senate Bill 13-202 Summary

• Increased oil and gas development in Colorado has created environmental and public health risks without corresponding increases in inspection staff at the Colorado oil and gas conservation commission.

• The commission currently has authorization for only 16 inspectors to cover more than 50,000 active wells in Colorado, allowing inspections of each well only once every four years on average.

• Requires the Colorado oil and gas conservation commission to implement a risk-based inspection strategy targeting operational phases most likely to experience spills, excess emissions, and other violations by July 1, 2014.

• Commission must submit a report by February 1, 2014, to the General Assembly's Joint Budget Committee and relevant legislative committees with findings, recommendations, and a plan including staffing and equipment needs.

• Appropriates $100,000 from the oil and gas conservation and environmental response fund for fiscal year 2013-2014 to conduct a risk-based inspection study.