The Colorado Oil and Gas Commission ("COGCC") is considering the September 2013 Front Range Flood as a learning opportunity. Specifically, on March, 14, 2014, the COGCC published a staff report titled "Lessons Learned in the Front Range Flood of September 2013." The report has led to an upcoming rulemaking.
The report followed record-setting daily precipitation in September 10-15, 2013, what is being referred to as a " 1,000-year rainfall" for the Boulder, Colorado area, that caused historic flooding.
The report contains suggestions to improve Colorado's oil and gas program in light of flood considerations and COGCC staff recommendations for future actions in a flood response. During the September 2014 COGCC hearing, the COGCC Staff was directed to hold a rulemaking to address the recommendations in the report.
The First Stakeholder Meeting will be held on January 28, 2015 to consider additions and amendments to the COGCC's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 2 C.C.R. 404-1. The proposed rule recommendation is in the 600 Series – Series Safety Regulations, Rule 603(h), and addresses Statewide Floodplain Requirements.
The COGCC is wisely turning the valuable lessons operators and the agency learned during the September 2013 flood along the Front Range of Colorado into an opportunity for improvement in future emergency responses for the oil and gas industry.
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