Regulation & Guiding Documents

                                                                     
Note: Broomfield is currently revising its oil and gas regulations. Find more information on the process of enhancing regulations. 
                                                
 
Ordinance No. 2178, adopted on April 12, 2022.
 
Ordinance No. 2067, adopted on July 10, 2018.
  
Current Oil and Gas Regulations: 

•  Municipal Code Chapter 17-54
  

Click here to view the June 12, 2018, City Council Memo: 

•  Proposed oil and gas regulations.

Feb. 13, 2020 - Update
View the COGCC Mission Change Rulemaking Documents.

 Nov. 15, 2019: In 2019, Broomfield is participating as a party in the following state rulemakings implementing SB19-181:

• Broomfield is taking the lead in this effort on behalf of the Affiliated Local Government (ALG) coalition with Boulder County, Lafayette, and Longmont.  Broomfield staff is working with an outside pipeline expert to recommend revisions to the COGCC 1100 series including strengthening the leak detection and integrity management provisions applicable to COGCC-regulated flowlines and crude-oil transfer lines.  View Broomfield's pre-hearing statement on behalf of the ALG.
• AQCC rulemaking on air emissions is scheduled for the AQCC December 17-19, 2019 hearing.  Broomfield is participating as a member of the Local Government Coalition (LGC) with Boulder County, Lafayette, and the City and County of Denver - and more than 20 other local governments.  The LGC supports revisions to the AQCC oil and gas rules that will minimize emissions of smog-forming volatile organic compounds and climate-altering methane from production and gathering and boosting facilities, as well as minimize methane emissions from transmission facilities.  Broomfield's air quality monitoring program was cited as support for the rule changes in the LGC pre-hearing statement, and view exhibits.
• Broomfield plans to participate in future COGCC rulemakings currently scheduled for 2020 including the mission change, cumulative impacts, and alternative site analysis rulemakings.  Broomfield will continue to actively participate in the COGCC led stakeholder meetings for these rulemakings.

1. The Governor has directed the COGCC to review its current financial assurance requirements.  Pursuant to that direction, the Director plans to convene a technical working group this fall to discuss potential rule revisions. A citizen and former member of Broomfield's Comprehensive Plan Task Force will be participating in this working group and will propose a suite of revisions to the COGCC rules related to bonding and general and environmental liability.  The Governor has directed the COGCC to report back on its findings at the end of this year.  We anticipate a rulemaking next year.
2. COGCC has initiated a revision to its procedural rules governing hearings before the Commission, as well as to implement a recent statutory change to pooling rules.  The rules revise a number of procedural requirements and implement changes that limit the liability of non-consenting mineral owners who are force pooled.   Broomfield is participating in this rulemaking along with a number of other local governments from the Front Range.  The hearing is scheduled for October 3.
3. COGCC has scheduled a hearing to consider proposed changes to its setback requirements for schools, pursuant to a citizen petition.  Specifically, COGCC will consider whether to change the point at which the current setback from schools to a new well site is measured.  The proposal would use the boundary of the school property rather than the location of the school itself to measure the setback distance to an oil and gas facility.  Broomfield will receive direction from Council on its participation in this hearing, scheduled for December, in support of the proposed revision to the measurement criteria.

In 2019, Broomfield is participating as a party in the following state rulemakings implementing SB 19181: 

• Broomfield is taking the lead in this effort on behalf of the Affiliated Local Government (ALG) coalition with Boulder County, Lafayette, and Longmont. Broomfield staff is working with an outside pipeline expert to recommend revisions to the COGCC 1100 Series including strengthening the leak detection and integrity management provisions applicable to COGCC-regulated flowlines and crude oil transfer lines. Read Broomfield's pre-hearing statement on behalf of the ALG.
• AQCC rulemaking on air emissions scheduled for AQCC December 17-19, 2019, hearing. Broomfield is participating as a member of the Local Government Coalition with Boulder County, Lafayette, and the City and County of Denver along with more than 20 other local governments. The LGC supports revisions to the AQCC oil and gas rules that will minimize emissions of smog-forming volatile organic compounds and climate-altering methane from production and gathering and boosting facilities as well as minimize methane emissions from transmission facilities. Broomfield's air quality program was cited as support for the rule changes in the LGC pre-hearing statement and exhibits.
• CCOB plans to participate in future COGCC rulemakings currently scheduled for 2020 including the mission change, cumulative impacts and alternative site analysis rulemakings. CCOB will actively participate in the COGCC led stakeholder meetings for these rulemakings scheduled to begin in October.