Oil and Gas Activities
Longmont's Oil and Gas Regulations
The City’s oil and gas regulations were originally adopted in 2000. In 2012, the Longmont City Council updated its rules and regulations on oil and gas activity that generally prohibit new oil and gas surface operations in residentially zoned areas, require disclosures of fracking chemicals to the City’s first responders, require groundwater monitoring, provide recommended setbacks for new oil and gas facilities from occupied structures, residential lots, parks, recreational areas, and water bodies, and mitigate visual and noise impacts, among other requirements. The regulations ask oil and gas operators to incorporate best management practices used throughout the state in their Longmont operations.
The City Council approved Ordinance 2012-25 regarding oil and gas regulations amendments on July 17, 2012. See the City Council Communication and ordinance.
See set back maps below (use the plus and minus symbols to zoom in and out of the map):
Lawsuit Filed Against the City Challenging the Adopted Regulations
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) filed a complaint for declaratory relief on July 30, 2012 in Boulder County District Court regarding certain aspects of the adopted amendments to the City’s oil and gas regulations. On October 7, 2014, Longmont successfully defended this case that upholds its oil and gas regulations. See stipulated dismissal and see news release.
Designation of Sandstone Ranch and Union Reservoir Area as Protected Areas
The COGCC has the authority to designate outside activity areas for protection from oil and gas activities. At the City’s request, the Sandstone Ranch baseball and softball fields were approved by the COGCC as designated outside activity areas in 1991. At the time the soccer/multi-use fields were not included in the COGCC’s designation because construction was not complete on the fields. The City applied to the COGCC to expand the Sandstone Ranch designated outside activity area and to have the Union Recreation Area approved as a designated outside activity area. The COGCC approved the designations on Aug. 20, 2012.
Contract with TOP Operating Company concerning Oil and Gas Well Production Facilities
The City negotiated a master contract and operator agreement with TOP Operating Company for oil and gas well and production facility locations, oil and gas leases, and property acquisition. The contract and agreement were approved by City Council on July 17, 2012.
Abandoned Wells and Locations
There are currently 17 plugged and abandoned wells, five dry/drilled and abandoned wells, and 21 abandoned locations (never drilled) within the City limits. The City retained Terracon Consultants, Inc. to assess abandoned wells within the City - see map below (use the plus and minus symbols to zoom in and out of the map):
Monitoring and Reports
Monitoring and reports that previously appeared on this page have been moved to a new Monitoring and Reports - Oil and Gas webpage.
This includes:
- Oil and Gas Historical Reviews and Site Investigations
- Union Reservoir Baseline Investigation
- Air Quality Monitoring Reports
- Ground Water Monitoring Reports
Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.
