Adams County approves Remora oil gathering pipelines; county secures inspection-reporting commitments

Adams County commissioners approved conditional use permits and development agreements for the Remora oil gathering pipelines, a project that will connect the Remora well pad to the Watkins Compressor Station and place both a 12‑inch natural‑gas line and a 6‑inch crude‑oil line along a preferred route that affects two parcels near Manila Road.

Planning staff explained the preferred route crosses under I‑70 and affects two primarily agricultural parcels on the north side of the interstate; the land is currently zoned Agriculture‑3 and includes a restriction area that prevents habitable structures. Staff and the planning commission recommended approval, saying the preferred alignment was the shortest route with the fewest impacts to property owners and environment. The planning commission voted 7–0 to recommend approval.

Applicant representatives said private easements for the route have been secured and that the Arapahoe County filing is pending approval. "All of the private easements have been secured, and the Arapahoe County filing has been made and is pending approval," Joe Kidwell of Rocky Mountain Midstream told the board.

Commissioners focused on safety and oversight. Oil and gas administrator Greg Dean said federal and state agencies hold operational inspection authority: "Pipelines are not under our inspection jurisdiction," he said, noting that PHMSA (federal) and the state Public Utilities Commission oversee pipeline operation and inspection frequency. Dean also told the board that, as part of the negotiated development agreement, the county will require the applicant to simultaneously submit inspection and incident reports to the county at the same time they file them with state and federal agencies.

Applicant John Chapman described construction and integrity practices: weld‑scanning and pressure testing during construction; drone overflights for ongoing leak detection; pigging (pipeline cleaning) ‘‘once or twice a week’’; and inline intelligent‑tool inspections on a five‑year cycle unless circumstances require earlier checks. Chapman said the preferred route is the shortest and least‑impactful option and that crossing under I‑70 would be done by bore rather than open trenching.

Commissioner Lynn Baca moved to approve the conditional use permits and development agreements with eight findings of fact, two conditions and one note; a second was offered and the board voted by recorded voice roll call. The record shows each commissioner voting Yes. The motion passed.

The development agreements include conditions addressing construction‑period impacts and require submission of inspection and incident reports to the county; long‑term operational inspection authority resides with state and federal agencies. The county noted Bennett‑Watkins fire will provide emergency response and that referrals produced letters of no‑concern from several agencies, including Arapahoe County, Colorado Geological Survey, Denver International Airport and Xcel Energy.

The board adjourned at 11:04 a.m.