Erie Protectors

08/25/2026

This November, Colorado has the chance to choose a new Governor—one who must be ready from day one to tackle both our state’s long-standing pollution and climate issues and the current lack of federal oversight. Fracking remains at the center of this conversation, and the facts are hard to ignore.

It’s time to demand that our next governor stands up for our health, our environment, and our future. You can Urge your future governor to sign Safe and Healthy Colorado’s Open Letter of Support to Stop the Expansion of Fracking, and stand with Coloradans who believe that a managed economic transition away from oil and gas production is both necessary and feasible for Colorado, by sending them the one-click letter in our bio.

Link: https://secure.ngpvan.com/MFFKy6KueEOPcW2mOqSmpQ2

08/13/2026

Remediation efforts are underway for the produced water spill/leak at KP Kauffman's SRC Pratt #41-29D site just south of the Erie Single Track.

07/29/2026

"A citizen-led referendum challenging Erie’s controversial mineral rights agreement cleared its first major hurdle Tuesday after the Town Clerk determined the petition contains enough valid signatures to continue through the referendum process.

The petition required 1,399 valid signatures from registered Erie voters. In an initial statement of petition sufficiency, Town Clerk Debbie Stamp determined the petition contains more than 1,533 valid signatures, triggering the next phase of the process—a statutory protest period before the Town issues a final determination."

A citizen-led referendum challenging Erie's controversial mineral rights agreement cleared its first major hurdle Tuesday after the Town Clerk determined

07/28/2026

"Walker Graf, who previously served as DNR’s Assistant Director for Energy Innovation brings a specialized background in subsurface science, regulatory strategy, and transitional energy deployment to the post. Her appointment comes as the ECMC continues to implement expanded regulatory oversight over transitional energy sectors, including deep geothermal energy and underground carbon sequestration, alongside its traditional oversight of oil and natural gas development."

(Denver) — The Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the selection of Jennifer Walker Graf as the next Director of the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC).

07/09/2026

Some more coverage of the ECMC settlement with operators over the data integrity scandal.

"After a nearly two-year inquiry, Colorado’s Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) approved deals allowing firms owned by its largest oil and gas companies to avoid the majority of assessed penalties for falsified data submitted by their contractors. Collectively, the oil firms stand to pay roughly $2 million, less than 15 percent of the original millions in proposed penalties. ECMC’s lone dissenting commissioner called the fraudulent data a “deep violation of the public trust.”"

Residents, activists, and a state commissioner critiqued the deals, approved under the top oil regulator, who is stepping down following a DeSmog investigation.

07/04/2026

"New Mexico’s Oil Conservation Commission voted on Wednesday, July 1 to adopt the strongest standards in the country for making oil companies pay to clean up after themselves. This win was years in the making and it belongs to every New Mexican who spoke up, showed up, or signed on."

This Hilcorp oil and gas well site is less than 900 feet from the Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Community School serving K-8 Navajo students. New Mexico's Oil

06/25/2026

"The Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced that Julie Murphy is stepping down as Director of the Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) and an Acting Director will be appointed. Julie’s last day at ECMC is July 23, 2026. Jennifer Walker Graf, current Colorado Department of Natural Resources Assistant Director for Energy Innovation, will serve as Acting Director."

(Denver) — The Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced that Julie Murphy is stepping down as Director of the Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) and an Acting Director will be appointed. Julie’s last day at ECMC is July 23, 2026. Jennifer Walker Graf, current Colorado Depar...

06/19/2026

Colorado's oil & gas data falsification scandal finally has a price tag, and it's not nearly enough.

The ECMC assessed $11.6 million in penalties against five operators who oversaw over 400 falsified lab reports at spill sites across Weld and Larimer Counties. Then, they suspended 59% of the fines, when the historical average for suspended penalties is 35%.

All five cases go before the Commission on June 24, 2026. You can make your voice heard.

Register to give public comment → bit.ly/June24ECMC

🔖 Save and share with someone who lives near oil & gas.

05/28/2026

Have you ever used the Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission’s Complaint tool? It’s the primary mechanism for impacted residents to raise concerns about oil & gas operations in Colorado, but it’s a bit of a black hole. We're shining a light on the process with a real life example of how the process works, in the best case scenario.

Use the image slider to compare before vs after: An Erie resident filed a complaint with the ECMC about excessive weeds at KP Kauffman’s SRC Pratt #24-29D site just north of Vista Ridge on th…

05/06/2026

"The collision split the semi-tanker open, spilling an estimated 6,000 gallons of oil onto the ground. While the driver of the semi was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, there have been no reports of injured train passengers at this time."

The derailment of a luxury passenger train prompted the closure of U.S. 6 in both directions in the area of Rifle, Colorado on Tuesday morning. Per a report from Colorado State Patrol, the derailment occurred around 9:40 a.m. on May 6 when the passenger train reportedly struck a semi-tanker truck th...