BOCC Candidate statements

The following four questions were sent to the seven candidates running for the two open seats for Larimer County commissioner to be elected fall 2020. The opposition of the two Republican commissioners over the past year, Tom Donnelly and Steve Johnson, who are both term-limited this year, and who have been in office since 2009, has been a major obstacle to the goals of the Larimer Alliance to protect our community and environment from the risks of the oil and gas industry. Accordingly, the Larimer Alliance is focused on helping to elect new candidates for these two open seats for county commissioner. The third seat is held by Democrat John Kefalas, who was elected in 2018, defeating Republican Sean Dougherty, winning 54% of the vote (see here).

Dear Candidate,

We are the Larimer Alliance for Health, Safety & the Environment and we seek to learn your ideas specific to our mission, as listed at the bottom of this letter. We ask that you please provide your responses by Saturday night, June 13, so that we may share them with our member list and other interested voters. We may or may not choose to endorse a candidate. Thank you for taking the time to address our query.

  1. Have you received or will you receive campaign contributions from companies whose primary business is in development of fossil fuels?
  2. SB19-181 substantially revised Colorado's law governing oil and gas development, including local government authority. Do you think that Larimer County's recently enacted oil and gas regulations provide sufficient or insufficient protection for public health, safety, the environment and wildlife resources? Please specify what you want changed in the County's oil and gas regulations, if anything.
  3. What role do you think Larimer County should strive for in facilitating the transition away from fossil fuels?
  4. A substantial body of peer-reviewed scientific research shows significant negative health impacts from close proximity to oil and gas operations. Do you support a 2000 or 2500 foot setback for homes, schools, hospitals, parks, playgrounds and water sources from new oil & gas operations? Please explain why or why not.

Whether or not you are elected to serve office, please accept our sincere offer to help answer your questions regarding protection of residents from potentially harmful effects of oil and gas development in Northern Colorado during the roll-out of new state laws.

Respectfully,

The Larimer Alliance

The 7 candidates running for Larimer County commissioner are, by district:

In District 2, which covers the central part of the county, including part of Fort Collins, Republicans Jeff Jensen and Bob McCluskey are opposing each other.

Democrat Kristin Stephens is unopposed in the Democratic primary in District 2.

In District 3, in the southern part of the county, Myles Baker and Jody Shadduck-McNally are competing in the Democratic primary, while Ben Aste and Aislinn Kottwitz are in the Republican primary.

The above information is from this 6/11/20 Coloradoan article: Colorado primary election: Crowded field set for Larimer County commissioner races

A map of the three voting districts for Larimer County can be seen here.

RESPONSE FROM KRISTEN STEPHENS:

1. Have you received or will you receive campaign contributions from companies whose primary business is in development of fossil fuels?

I have not received and would not accept campaign contributions from companies whose primary business is in development of fossil fuels.

2. SB19-181 substantially revised Colorado's law governing oil and gas development, including local government authority. Do you think that Larimer County's recently enacted oil and gas regulations provide sufficient or insufficient protection for public health, safety, the environment and wildlife resources? Please specify what you want changed in the County's oil and gas regulations, if anything.

I believe that the county’s recently enacted oil and gas regulations were inadequate, and did not provide enough protection for residents, natural resources, and wildlife. Before their ruling, I wrote to the Commissioners asking them to prioritize the health and safety of our community. The letter I wrote asked for 2000-foot setbacks from homes, schools, parks, and water sources, a transparent process so that residents can be involved in permitting, and rigorous monitoring of air quality to control emissions from these operations. I would still like to see all these changes enacted. In 2013 I worked with a group called Colorado Moms Know Best which worked to protect families from the harmful affects of oil and gas extraction. I learned that families that lived near wells suffered severe health effects including respiratory issues and asthma. We need to do better for our residents here in Larimer County.

3. What role do you think Larimer County should strive for in facilitating the transition away from fossil fuels?

I would like to see the county fund and prioritize the Climate Smart program and be a leader on Climate Change in our region. Larimer County can work to right size its fleet and start to use electrical vehicles. The county can also support transit and multi-modal projects instead of working solely on expanding roads. They can also make sure that new buildings require EV charging stations. I would certainly be open to other ways to transition away from fossil fuels.

4. A substantial body of peer-reviewed scientific research shows significant negative health impacts from close proximity to oil and gas operations. Do you support a 2000 or 2500 foot setback for homes, schools, hospitals, parks, playgrounds and water sources from new oil & gas operations? Please explain why or why not.

I do support a 2000 or 2500-foot setback for homes, schools, parks, water sources, hospitals, and nursing homes to protect the health of residents, particularly vulnerable residents of our community. While I have not done extensive research, I have seen reports from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment which show that people who live in closer proximity to wells can experience significant health effects. We already have serious air quality issues in Northern Colorado because of existing oil and gas operations in Weld County; we must work harder to protect the health and safety of our community.

RESPONSE FROM JODY SHADDUCK-McNALLY:

1. Have you received or will you receive campaign contributions from companies business is in development of fossil fuels?

I have not to my knowledge accepted contributions, and I will not accept campaign contributions from companies with primary interests in fossil fuels.

2. SB19-181 substantially revised Colorado's law governing oil and gas development, including local government authority. Do you think that Larimer County's recently enacted ​oil and gas regulations​ provide sufficient or insufficient protection for public health, safety, the environment and wildlife resources? Please specify what you want changed in the County's oil and gas regulations, if anything.

I am not comfortable with Larimer County’s recently enacted oil and gas regulations. These regulations I believe need another harder look because I am not confident that they provide sufficient protections for public health, safety, or for our environment or wildlife resources. The O&G industrial development is an unique activity in Larimer County/Colorado that brings risks and difficulties that are not adequately addressed in the current regulations.

Specifically I feel these need to be added or addressed:

I still think the Larimer County O&G Task Force membership was not fair, representative or balanced.

The County should have the authority to deny or condition a permit, require frequent County inspection and enforcement authority as well as have the authority to require the operator to cease and desist activities.

Provide for enhanced air quality regulations and monitoring above the state standards and provide for continuous monitoring with public access to the recordings 24/7.

Banning sites within the floodplain (remember the mess from the 2013 floods) Provide adequate and longer processing time for comprehensive drilling plans

Include adequate protective setbacks from homes, schools, medical facilities, high occupancy buildings, water resources, watersheds and wildlife corridors as well as prohibit the use of any hydrocarbon based drilling fluids within 2,500 feet of an occupied building.

Before operations are allowed, require bonding and fees to cover fully any and all costs of operations through reclamation

The regulations need a comprehensive prohibited hydraulic fracturing chemical list

All permits should be required to perform an enhanced baseline water testing and as well provide a detailed plan for the safe discharge of produced water. These reports should be public and readily accessible to the County and the public.

3. What role do you think Larimer County should strive for in facilitating the transition away from fossil fuels?

Larimer County should take a lead for the region as a model, but also a convener for stakeholder to come together for common ground solutions. Larimer County should take a stand and set high standards that make the health, safety and welfare of our citizens, environment, water, air, and wildlife come first and the priority. Larimer County should continue to work on its Climate Change Action plan and expedite its implementation. This current draft plan is almost complete and should have multiple stakeholders at the table to make sure it is comprehensive and actionable.

4. A substantial body of peer-reviewed scientific research shows significant negative health impacts from close proximity to oil and gas operations. Do you support a 2000 or 2500 foot setback for homes, schools, hospitals, parks, playgrounds and water sources from new oil & gas operations? Please explain why or why not.

I support a 2500 foot setback from homes, schools, hospitals, parks, playgrounds and water resources from new oil and gas operations. I would even want to explore new requirements for existing operations near these same “vulnerable” places. A 2019 study commissioned by the State of Colorado found that ​people who live as far as 2,000 feet from a well can be exposed to concentrations of toxic chemicals high enough to cause nose bleeds, headaches, nausea and respiratory problems; possibly more. I know the story of the mother in Erie whose young child had blood tests showing the cancer causing chemical benzene in dangerously high levels in their body and this family lived within 2000 feet of multiple wells. Since there are studies and documented cases of citizens with medical problems living close to operations I would advocate for the further setback.

RESPONSE FROM BEN ASTE:

Dear Larimer Alliance, It has been quite a fast pace on the Primary campaign trail. I realize you the members of the Alliance would like to know as much as possible about my future, if elected. I will answer what I'm able for now as I will not give you a half baked or partially contemplated answer.

1. Have you received or will you receive campaign contributions from companies business is in development of fossil fuels?

I have not nor do I plan to receive campaign contributions from companies whose primary business is development of fossil fuels.

2. SB19-181 substantially revised Colorado's law governing oil and gas development, including local government authority. Do you think that Larimer County's recently enacted ​oil and gas regulations​ provide sufficient or insufficient protection for public health, safety, the environment and wildlife resources? Please specify what you want changed in the County's oil and gas regulations, if anything.

I attended the first oil/gas task force meeting and read the drafts as Matt Lafferty sent them. I need to read the final adopted draft again to refresh. We as a County never had this before, it will probably be added to and reworked as we allow time to reveal more through practice and application. The last that I saw of LC regs was okay. Please give me some time to research as I get through this stage of politics. Thank you.

3. What role do you think Larimer County should strive for in facilitating the transition away from fossil fuels?

Over time we have made great strides in technical. I see us transitioning away from fossil fuel over time. I'm concerned of it happening to quickly and causing more of a shock to our economy then the COVID has. I'm a conservationist and will turn my old Pinzgauer off when sitting in traffic that's full stop. I was raised by a Swiss father who ingrained me not to ever waist time, energy or resources. This is like breathing to me, it comes naturally to me. I will listen and learn all I can to make the best choices for the majority.

4. A substantial body of peer-reviewed scientific research shows significant negative health impacts from close proximity to oil and gas operations. Do you support a 2000 or 2500 foot setback for homes, schools, hospitals, parks, playgrounds and water sources from new oil & gas operations? Please explain why or why not.

I would like to read the regs again. I also would walk each proposed site and pad as they are presented.

Sincerely Ben Aste


RESPONSE FROM MYLES BAKER:

1. Have you received or will you receive campaign contributions from companies whose primary business is in development of fossil fuels?

No, I have not received any money from fossil fuel businesses, nor will I take any money from them in the future. I am working a grassroots campaign.

2. SB19-181 substantially revised Colorado's law governing oil and gas development, including local government authority. Do you think that Larimer County's recently enacted oil and gas regulations provide sufficient or insufficient protection for public health, safety, the environment and wildlife resources? Please specify what you want changed in the County's oil and gas regulations, if anything.

I think the new regulations address some important issues such as lighting, noise, and site access. While important, I see these things as nuisance issues and don’t find them sufficient. After the passage of SB19-181, I pushed for three things on the Windsor Town Board: 1) NO drilling is residential zoned property even if they met the setback requirement 2) Continuous air monitoring and 3) Bond / escrow account to pay for reclamation of finished wells should the driller go bankrupt. These three would have helped our neighborhoods and kept families safer. While unsuccessful in Windsor, I would like to see them included in the county regulations. I also don’t believe there should be drilling on county open space that has been purchased through the open space tax.

3. What role do you think Larimer County should strive for in facilitating the transition away from fossil fuels?

I think Larimer County has an important role. While not a utility provider, the county has a large voice and should use it.

a) I would like the county to look into offering property tax credits for residents that install solar at their homes.

b) I would also like to see the county help with the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.

c) The county should also begin the transition to electric vehicles for their fleet.

d) In addition, we need more transit opportunities. Currently, the existing bus services operate in silos, rarely leaving their own city (except for FLEX). I would like to see the county engage in partnerships with the municipalities throughout Larimer County to expand the bus network beyond Loveland and Fort Collins. I think the county can assist with capital investment and let existing operators manage the routes. Windsor partnered with Fort Collins and Greeley on the Poudre Express bus that runs from CSU to UNC. Each entity pays a portion of the cost and Greeley operates the route. Imagine a bus from Wellington (where 90% plus people commute out for work every day) to Fort Collins or from Loveland to Estes Park or Berthoud. The county could help facilitate these types of partnerships. These partnerships could work throughout the county and would take vehicles off the roads.

e) The county should use its voice to oppose and potential drilling in the Rocky Mountain National Park.

4. A substantial body of peer-reviewed scientific research shows significant negative health impacts from close proximity to oil and gas operations. Do you support a 2000 or 2500 foot setback for homes, schools, hospitals, parks, playgrounds and water sources from new oil & gas operations? Please explain why or why not.

I would support further setbacks. I would reiterate my answer above that these industrial operations have no place in residential zones regardless of meeting setback requirements. Cities have zoning laws for a reason … to keep incompatible uses separate. I also don’t think they should drill in county open space.