Planning Commission recommends approval of Remora Gathering pipeline in Arapahoe County

The Arapahoe County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the Remora Gathering pipeline project (case UASI25-003), a joint oil-and-gas gathering route that would run about two miles through Arapahoe County and terminate at the Watkins compressor station in Adams County.

Martin Lohman, Arapahoe County's energy program manager, summarized the proposal and the regulatory record, noting that the division of engineering services reviewed the route and “did not identify any conflicts,” and that the applicant agreed to address Division of Engineering Services comments and to execute required pipeline easements and license agreements before construction. John Chapman, representing Elevation Midstream, said the project includes a 6-inch crude oil gathering line and a 12-inch natural-gas pipeline and that “all private easements have been secured in Arapahoe County.”

During questioning commissioners pressed the applicant on the route and easements; Chapman said the chosen alignment is the shortest and therefore the least impactful, and that alternate routes considered were longer and would disturb more land. A county staff presentation noted Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommendations concerning habitat and crossing areas and identified coordination needs with the Bennett-Watkins Fire District about future water access at the pad.

One remote resident, Rebecca Tuca of Strasburg, asked that operators provide baseline water-quality testing for domestic wells within the project area and sought binding agreements to ensure remediation and compensation if well quality or access were later affected. Chapman described company integrity and leak-detection procedures — “We do biweekly, drone flights ... [to] see any leaks that could potentially be occurring,” he said — and county staff described pre-drilling sampling and monitoring that would be required for pad activity.

Commissioner Sava moved to recommend approval with enumerated conditions; Commissioner Lattice seconded. The roll call vote was 6 to 0 in favor, with one commissioner absent and excused. The motion recommends that required easements be in place prior to construction and that applicant submittals address the engineering and wildlife mitigation items in the staff report.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for the next steps in the county review process.