Dear Health and Climate Allies,

Please take action now to prevent Gov. Polis' administrative agency, the Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) from granting initial approval for 150+ new oil and gas wells in and near Aurora by the end of July.

The Lowry Ranch Comprehensive Area Plan (CAP) would more than double the number of wells recently approved in the east metro area Box Elder CAP (see map), further harming the health of disproportionately impacted (DI) communities living nearby and worsening air quality for everyone living in the nine-county severe ozone nonattainment area designated by the EPA : Arapahoe, Adams, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties.

Hundreds of Aurora residents living near the proposed project have spoken out against the Lowry Ranch CAP at public hearings and submitted comments highlighting the deficits in the operators application, but it's extremely rare for the ECMC to deny a permit.

Please also submit your written comments to the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) by July 23 and try to attend the final online hearings on July 30 and August 2, when the ECMC is scheduled to make its decision.

According to the EPA, oil and gas production is the  "largest industrial source of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a group of chemicals that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone (smog). Exposure to ozone is linked to a wide range of health effects, including aggravated asthma, increased emergency room visits and hospital admissions, and premature death. In addition to helping form ozone, VOC emissions from the oil and gas industry include air toxics such as benzene, ethylbenzene, and n-hexane… Air toxics are pollutants known, or suspected of causing cancer and other serious health effects."

Studies conducted in Colorado and Pennsylvania found that increased proximity to and density of wells is correlated with increased risk of childhood leukemia, congenital birth defects, high risk pregnancy, preterm birth, worsening asthma symptoms, and in adults, increased cardiac and neurological problems. Increases in negative health outcomes were noted in areas more than a mile from fracking activities. 

Thank you for your commitment to protecting people and the planet from fossil fuel extraction in Colorado.   

Lauren Swain, Coordinator
PSR Colorado