The county’s oil‑and‑gas liaison briefed commissioners on recent rule‑making developments, local industry activity and the county’s Energy‑Environment Symposium.

Kirby Win said the 11th annual Energy‑Environment Symposium in April drew about 315 registrants, high satisfaction scores from attendees and increased sponsor revenue that he said allows the county to book higher‑profile speakers and underwrite event costs. Win credited interdepartmental county staff and a contract coordinator for executing the event and said presentation recordings are posted on YouTube for public viewing.

Win summarized current local oil‑and‑gas activity: two active drilling rigs in the area (Terrain Energy Partners in Garfield County; Laramie Oil and Gas in Rio Blanco County) with a third expected in July and ongoing permitting activity across operators. He said citizen complaints recently have been few and mainly concern private‑road maintenance and traffic.

Win outlined several state regulatory processes that the county is tracking: produced‑water rules (the current rule effectively bars new centralized produced‑water facilities in areas the state designates as disproportionally impacted communities, or DICs); a work group via the Colorado Produced Water Consortium is exploring fixes to that restriction because western Colorado counties rely on centralized water handling to reduce truck traffic and local impacts. He said the county is participating and presented local planning perspectives to the consortium.

He also highlighted the Air Quality Control Commission’s recent fee increase rule (intended to pay for additional FTEs to administer new regulations), the completed midstream electrification rule (which Win described as potentially cost‑prohibitive for midstream operators and is subject to ongoing litigation), and the produced‑water, geothermal and carbon‑sequestration rule discussions. Win said these rulemakings can substantially change operational costs and, in some cases, the economic feasibility of local operations.

Why it matters: State rulemakings for air quality, produced water, midstream electrification and carbon sequestration can materially alter the costs and feasibility of energy development in Garfield County and affect county tax revenues and emergency‑response needs.

What’s next: Garfield County will continue to participate in state and federal rulemaking processes and work groups. Win asked the board to continue to authorize county staff to represent the county in these processes and to keep a commissioner representative informed of filings and positions.