Senate Bill 19-181 Summary

• Repeals exemption allowing oil and gas development areas to avoid state interest designation, requiring state oil and gas conservation commission to identify such areas for local government approval.

• Grants local governments authority to regulate surface impacts of oil and gas operations including land use, facility siting, water quality, noise, air emissions, reclamation, and infrastructure impacts to protect public health, safety, and welfare.

• Requires oil and gas conservation commission to adopt rules minimizing methane and hydrocarbon emissions, establishing leak detection and repair inspections at least semiannually, continuous monitoring at facilities near occupied dwellings, and reducing pneumatic device emissions.

• Restructures commission from nine to seven members with at least one dedicated to public health expertise and establishes technical review process allowing local governments and operators to challenge siting determinations regarding resource recovery impacts.

• Appropriates $851,010 for fiscal year 2019-20 to implement enhanced regulation and oversight of oil and gas operations by the conservation commission and related agencies.