Conejos County discusses adding decommissioning plan requirement to 1041 utilities regulation

County Attorney Nick Sarmiento said the county could add language to require decommissioning plans to the 1041 public utilities regulations after public comment at a special meeting Dec. 18.

Martell Faatz, a participant during the public-hearing portion of the meeting, said she "was able to meat with Linda DeHerrera after the last meeting regarding the decommission that transmission and distribution and repurposing of these old lines." Faatz raised concern about the handling of older infrastructure and temporary reroutes described in the draft regulations.

Commissioner Mitchell Jarvies, identified in roll call as the board chair, pressed for clarity on temporary lines known in the discussion as "Shoo Fly Lines" and emphasized that a plan to remove temporary lines after work is completed should be included in any decommissioning requirement. County Attorney Nick Sarmiento stated he "can have that verbiage added to the 1041 regulation by tomorrow morning."

The discussion focused on ensuring that the 1041 regulatory language provides for decommissioning and repurposing of transmission and distribution infrastructure, and that temporary bypass lines be removed and accounted for in a formal plan. No formal amendment or vote on the regulation was recorded at the meeting; Sarmiento's statement set an expectation that staff or counsel would update the draft language promptly. The public-hearing segment ended and the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.