The Energy Carbon and Management Commission (ECMC) is responsible for regulating the oil and gas industry in Colorado. They conduct inspections, monitor spills, and review applications to drill, among other things.
The ECMC's Website can be difficult to navigate, yet their business is a crucial point for the public to fight back against the oil and gas industry. They regularly host public hearings regarding development plans and they allow the public to file complaints, but if we can't decipher their website, we can't participate.
This webpage has been put together to take information from the ECMC's website and make it easy to access. It's a work in progress, and there's more coming soon.
The Latest, ECMC
State Blanca OGDP
- This Oil and Gas Development Plan (OGDP) is 1 of 8 that compose the Lowry Ranch Comprehensive Area Plan (CAP).
- A CAP is a comprehensive plan for a large oil and gas project.
- An OGDP is a component of a CAP that addresses the project's development and logistics.
- The Lowry Ranch CAP will have up to 8 OGDPs.
- The State Sunlight/Long OGDP proposes 18 new fracking wells.
- The ECMC plans to review this OGDP on 6/3/2026.
- To submit written comments, click HERE
- You can also use the eFiling Public Comment Portal to submit comments.
- Instructions on how to use this are detailed below.
- Comments can be submitted until 4/16/2026.
- Docket No. - 250600109.
- Hearing eFiling Doc Search (select "DNRCOG Search for Docket Related Documents")
State Sunlight/Long OGDP
- This Oil and Gas Development Plan (OGDP) is 1 of 8 that compose the Lowry Ranch Comprehensive Area Plan (CAP).
- A CAP is a comprehensive plan for a large oil and gas project.
- An OGDP is a component of a CAP that addresses the project's development and logistics.
- The Lowry Ranch CAP will have up to 8 OGDPs.
- The State Sunlight/Long OGDP proposes 32 new fracking wells.
- The ECMC plans to review this OGDP on 4/21/2026.
- To submit written comments, click HERE
- You can also use the eFiling Public Comment Portal to submit comments.
- Instructions on how to use this are detailed below.
- Comments can be submitted until 4/20/2026.
- Docket No. - 241200313.
- Hearing eFiling Doc Search (select "DNRCOG Search for Docket Related Documents")
Social Cost of Carbon Rulemaking
- WildEarth Guardians petitioned the ECMC to incorporate Social Cost of Carbon into its cumulative impacts analysis.
- Social Cost of Carbon is the financial cost of damages caused from emitting carbon dioxide (CO2).
- Cumulative Impacts Analysis is the ECMC's way of assessing a fossil fuel project's overall impacts on public health and the climate.
- Petitioning the ECMC is formally demanding the ECMC make a consideration.
- The ECMC's current rules do not consider financial damages from emitting CO2.
- The ECMC has voted to continue the rulemaking process until 9/17/2025.
- Oral public comment will NOT be received on this date!
- To submit written comments, fill out THIS FORM by 9/3/2025.
- Docket No. - 250500081.
- You can also use the eFiling Public Comment Portal if you are not comfortable using Google.
- CLICK HERE for instructions
- Hearing eFiling Doc Search (select "DNRCOG Search for Docket Related Documents")
Investigation into the Falsification of Remediation Data
- In November 2024, it was revealed to two environmental consulting companies working for oil and gas operators submitted falsified laboratory data reports to the ECMC between 2021 and 2024. It was determined that the data manipulation affected soil, groundwater, and inorganic and organic contaminant data. To date, the ECMC has identified 3,275 instances of falsified date points on 683 lab reports spanning 404 locations. Put simply, these folks allegedly falsified data in a manner that led state regulators to approve closing wells that otherwise wouldn't (and shouldn't) have been closed.
- Remediating wells is work that requires great attention to detail because of how destructive oil and gas extraction is. The ECMC has issued "notices of alleged violation" (NOAV) to these folks, but otherwise action is in the process of being taken. The ECMC has begun putting up safeguards to prevent this from happening in the future.
Statutory Alignment Rulemaking
Bishop Well Incident
On 4/6/2025, there was a blowout of water, fracking fluid, and crude oil from an oil well. Basically, a geyser of this stuff spewed out from underground, and this happened because the well wasn't able to withstand the pressure of the flow of these fluids.
There has been massive media coverage of the incident. The spewing stopped about 4 days later. On 4/25/2025, the ECMC issued an order to the operators that directed them to assess all of their policies and procedures regarding well management. The operators of this well are Noble Energy, which is owned by Chevron, and they must have their review submitted to the ECMC by 5/9/2025.
Due to the high pressure of the blowout and the length of time this blowout lasted, it likely emitted an immense amount of fracking fluid and crude oil. Moreover, the well is located in priority mule deer habitat, as well as near the small town of Galeton, and only 12 miles from Greeley. All these reasons make this blowout a substantial one that highlights the dangers of oil and gas extraction on nearby communities.
For more reading and resources, here are some links to browse.
- ECMC Press Release 4/16/2025
- Denver7 Leak Contained
- Denver Gazette Community Meeting
- Denver7 Recovery Begins
This Week's Hearing!
The ECMC's general meeting takes place weekly every Wednesday at 9AM. CLICK HERE to view their final hearing agendas. Scroll down for that info plus more!
CLICK HERE to view tentative agendas!
CLICK HERE if you wish to give oral public comment at a weekly hearing. Sign up before 12pm the day before!
April 21
1. OGDP Docket No. 241200313, Crestone Peak Resources Operating LLC - State Sunlight/Long OGDP
April 22
1. Commissioner Comments
2. Public Comment
3. Consent Agenda
4. OGDP Docket No. 250700128, Anschutz Exploration Corporation - Topaz Fed 0297-24 OGDP
5. OGDP Docket No. 241200315, Magpie Operating - Campion OGDP
6. OGDP Docket No. 250800174, Laramie Energy LLC - 2025 Eklund OGDP
April 29
1. Commissioner Comments
2. Public Comment
3. Consent Agenda
4. DNR Executive Director's Office Monthly Update
- Jennifer Walker Graf, DNR Associate Director of Energy Innovation
5. OGDP Docket No. 250600118, Noble Energy, Inc. - Brahman OGDP
6. OGDP Docket No. 251000224, QB Energy Operating LLC - PCU Fed 527 197 OGDP
7. Variance Docket No. 251200264, Williford Resources, LLC, Rule 903.d Variance
How To
How to Use the EFiling System
Link: eFiling Public Comment Portal
Step 1: FIND YOUR DOCKET NUMBER
The docket number is the number the ECMC uses to organize all of its hearings.
The docket number will always be listed on this webpage at the bottom of an update.
Step 2: ACCESS THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTAL
Click HERE to access the public comment portal.
Scroll down until you see "Written comments."
Click on the box that reads "eFiling Public Comment Portal."
Step 3: ENTER THE INFORMATION
That link will take you to a new page. You will need to enter the following:
- The appropriate docket number.
- Your name
- Your email
- An attachment of your comments***.
***CREATING A DOCUMENT WITH YOUR COMMENTS
Because nothing can be simple, you cannot write your comments directly in the portal.
Instead, you must type them out separately, download them as a file, then upload that file to the portal.
Click on the "attach public comment" button at the very bottom.
If you are unsure about how to make comments separate, here are some methods.
Type them in Microsoft Word. Upload the document file.
Type them in Google Drive. Download as PDF. Re-upload that PDF to the portal.
Write them down. Take a picture. Upload the pic to the portal.
EMAIL YOUR COMMISSIONERS
Another way to submit public comment is to email the commissioners.
This method is much simpler. However, emailed comments are not filed as quickly as those submitted through the portal.
PUC Actions and Opportunities
CDPHE Ozone Rulemaking
The Colorado Department of Public Health (CDPHE) is currently in the process of creating rules for regulating ozone pollution in Colorado.
Ozone (O3) is a greenhouse gas and pollutant in our atmosphere. At higher points in the atmosphere, it is beneficial in blocking UV radiation. At lower points near the ground, it can worsen respiratory problems in folks. When too much ozone is at groundlevel, the CDPHE issues an ozone alerts and recommends people stay inside for their own health and safety. Last year, 52 days of the 90 day ozone season saw ozone alerts.
Most folks want to enjoy their summer outdoors and not have their own health harmed by the air they breathe. Stay tuned for opportunities to comment and participate in public hearings with the CDPHE. In the meantime, review this document with an overview of the ozone issue and talking points for commenting.