Residents near Denver’s Lowry Landfill Superfund Site are fighting a plan to drill 156 oil and gas wells under the reservoir supplying their drinking water.
Jennifer Oldham reports for Capital & Main.
In short:
- Suburban Denver residents hired an attorney to argue against Civitas Resources Inc.’s drilling plan, requesting equal time to present their case to state regulators.
- Federal regulators worry drilling could jeopardize efforts to prevent carcinogenic chemicals from leaking into groundwater from the Superfund site.
- Civitas claims the drilling poses no health risks, but residents remain unconvinced and have enlisted various experts to argue for further studies.
Key quote:
"I searched everywhere and asthma wasn’t mentioned once … That’s among the parade of horribles and they didn’t talk about any of it in their application."
— Conrad Huygen, Aurora resident
Why this matters:
Environmental advocates warn that the drilling could disturb the toxic remnants still lurking underground, posing a significant threat to the ecosystem and public health. Supporters of the drilling project argue that modern techniques and stringent regulations make the operation safe. They tout the economic benefits, pointing to job creation and local revenue. Yet for many residents these assurances ring hollow against the backdrop of potential ecological disaster.
