Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department to assist Evans with 1041 process – Greeley Tribune

The Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department will assist the city of Evans in implementing its own 1041 regulations of oil and gas development in city limits.

The Weld County Board of Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement with Evans to better conduct the permitting process for energy development between oil and gas operators, the city and the state, according to a news release from the board.

“This partnership allows us to provide our expertise on oil and gas permitting to the city of Evans,” Oil and Gas Energy Director Jason Maxey said in the release. “The Intergovernmental Agreement strengthens the overall process for oil and gas permitting in our county because we will work closely with Evans to provide them with a similar permitting process to ours. This uniformity will hopefully provide a more consistent process for oil and gas operators seeking permits within Evans while better streamlining the process at the state level as well. ”

Oil and Gas Energy staff will facilitate the city’s 1041 permitting process by processing oil and gas drilling applications and conducting 1041 hearings on the city’s behalf, the release said. Additionally, Evans officials can ask the county’s Oil and Gas Energy hearing officer to assist with inspections, rehear applications or conduct suspension or revocation hearings.

The city will maintain the responsibility to ensure regulations, codes and ordinances are followed, as well as the final determination on permits.

In 2019, When Weld County created the Oil and Gas Energy Department, officials believed the department could serve as a resource to assist municipalities in the permitting process, according to the release. Though Evans is the first to receive assistance, the board hopes others will follow.

“When the Oil and Gas Energy Department was established, we envisioned this kind of partnership,” Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine said. “Creating similar standards for permitting can only hasten the overall process, take some of the burden off municipalities and help eliminate the need for oil and gas operators to meet different standards. This Intergovernmental Agreement speaks to our expertise in permitting along with our ability to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public and the environment. We’re excited to partner with Evans, and we hope that we can be a resource to other municipalities in the future. ”

The agreement will last until Aug. 30, 2023, and then renew on a yearly basis unless Evans or the county terminates the agreement. A county news release says there is no cost to the county for the agreement.

To learn more about the Oil and Gas Energy Department, go to www.weldgov.com.