[photo of San Juan basin wells by A.Panoka]
The state wants oil and gas companies to have the least effect possible on wildlife in the areas where they work. BP now wants to drill nearly 70 new coal bed methane wells in southwest Colorado. The company just reached an agreement with the state to preserve land so wildlife won’t be so disrupted by the drilling. BP has agreed to do things like piping water to wells instead of trucking it back and forth, and will help set aside land for eagles and migrating deer and elk. In exchange, it will be easier for BP to get approval for those wells. The Nature Conservancy has endorsed the plan.
Colorado Public Radio's Anna Panoka spoke with Jon Holst, the Division of Wildlife's energy liaison in southwest Colorado.
