GARFIELD COUNTY RESIDENTS SCRAMBLE TO COLLECT SIGNATURES TO GET LANDOWNERS INITIATIVE ON NOVEMBER’S BALLOT.
Glenwood Springs – This week Colorado Landowners for Fairness kicked off their petition drive to get an initiative on the ballot that would require oil and gas operators to compensate private property owners when oil and gas drilling occurs on their property or neighborhood. Landowners in Garfield County, who have seen increasing amount of drilling in their county over the past seven years, are spearheading the effort.
“This initiative is needed to protect private property owners who do not own the mineral rights under their home. Right now, citizens have little recourse when the mineral rights owner or lessee wants to drill on or near a surface owner’s property,” said John Gorman, a local realtor and spokesman for the group. “That’s true if you live in Parachute or live in Denver,” he added. “The “split estate” is more the rule than the exception.”
The Colorado Landowners for Fairness recognize that gathering 100,000 signatures over the next four weeks will be challenging. The Colorado Oil and Gas Association, The Colorado Petroleum Association, and the Colorado Mining Association