Colo. oil, gas panel urged to consider health

By Judith Kohler The Associated Press DENVER — Some Coloradans are calling on regulators to make public health a priority as the state considers an overhaul of oil and gas rules amid a natural gas boom. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission was set to meet Tuesday to start considering proposals that would give more weight to environmental, wildlife and health issues. Democratic state Sen. Gail Schwartz of Snowmass Village joined environmentalists at a news conference Monday urging the commission to pass rules to protect drinking water, air quality and public health as Colorado's energy boom continues. Schwartz, vice chairwoman of a committee that oversees natural resource issues, said the laws mandating revamping the oil and gas rules had strong bipartisan support. "Unfortunately, the oil and gas industry has... [read full story]