Oil and Gas Development in Colorado: Exploring the Political Fractures and Seams

Transcription

1 Oil and Gas Development in Colorado: Exploring the Political Fractures and Seams Tanya Heikkila & Chris Weible Associate Professors School of Public Affairs University of Colorado Denver

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5 Source: Colorado Geological Survey

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7 Colorado Newspaper Coverage of Hydraulic Fracturing, Fracking, or Fracing Denver Post Article Count Boulder Daily Camera Colorado Springs, The Gazette

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10 Study Population: Policy Actors (Govt., NGOs, Industry, Consultants, Academics, etc.) Study Locations: Colorado, New York, Texas Methods: Interviews, Surveys, Media/Document analyses, Hyperlink analyses Key Questions: General positions, problem perceptions, preferences for who addresses problems, evaluation of recent regulation

11 2014 Hyperlink Network in Colorado KEY Federal Government State Government Local Government Nonprofit/advocacy Industry Other

12 What Are Policy Actors Positions on Hydraulic Fracturing in Colorado, New York, and Texas?

13 35% Positions on Hydraulic Fracturing in Colorado 30% Percent of Respondents 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Stop Limit Continue at Current Rate Expand Moderately Expand Extensively

14 35% Positions on Hydraulic Fracturing in New York 30% Percent of Respondents 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Stop Limit Continue at Current Rate Expand Moderately Expand Extensively

15 35% Positions on Hydraulic Fracturing in Texas 30% Percent of Respondents 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Stop Limit Continue at Current Rate Expand Moderately Expand Extensively

16 Who Are These Policy Actors?

17 35% Position on Hydraulic Fracturing in Colorado 30% Percent of Respondents 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Stop Limit Continue at Current Rate Expand Moderately Expand Extensively

18 Stop/Limit Environmental groups, local governments, organized citizens Continue at Current Rate Local governments, oil and gas operators, federal & state government Expand Oil and gas operators, some local governments, industry associations

19 What Are Policy Actors Perceptions of Potential Problems with Hydraulic Fracturing?

20 Average Problem Perceptions Severe Serious Moderate Minor Not at all Air pollution from methane Ineffective monitoring by regulators Public nuisance nuissance impacts from wellsites Contamination of ground and surface water

21 Average Problem Perceptions Severe Serious Moderate Minor Not at all Incomplete Inadequate communication by industry by industry about about effects effects Public distrust of industry Boom-and-bust economic cycle Distribution of biased information against hydraulic fracturing

22 What Are Policy Actors Perceptions of the Appropriate Level of Government for Responding to these Problems?

23 100% 75% 50% 25% Preferred Level of Government for Mitigating Public Nuisances Federal Government State Government Local Government 0% Stop Continue Expand No Regulation

24 00% 75% 50% 25% Preferred Level of Government for Monitoring Water Quality Federal Government State Government Local Government 0% Stop Continue Expand No Regulation

25 How Do Policy Actors Evaluate Recent COGCC Regulations as Resolving Problems?

26 The new oil and gas setback buffer will not please the industry. Colorado Energy News (Feb. 11, 2013) Colorado Fracking Chemicals Subject to Mandatory Disclosure Rule; Potential Trade Secrets Loophole Still Exists Huffington Post (Dec. 13, 2011)

27 2011 Disclosure Rule Resolving Problems Strongly agree Agree Neither agree or disagree Disagree Strongly disagree What chemical information must be disclosed Protection of trade secrets Disclosure of chemical information in an emergency Public distrust of hydraulic fracturing

28 2013 Setback Rule Resolving Problems Strongly agree Agree Neither agree or disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Public nuisance impacts Priorities of mineral rights owners Priorities of surface owners Public distrust of hydraulic fracturing

29 Summarizing the Political Fractures and Seams on Hydraulic Fracturing in Colorado

30 Political Fractures Seams Some with extreme positions on stopping or expanding hydraulic fracturing Majority have moderate views Colorado is not as polarized as New York

31 Political Fractures Different perceptions of the severity of impacts on natural resources & public health Different perceptions of the political influence of industry Agreement about public distrust of industry Seams Common concerns about local government issues (boom-bust economies and public nuisance)

32 Political Fractures Disagreements about the appropriate level of government for regulating Seams Agreement that regulation is necessary More support for public nuisance regulation by local governments

33 Political Fractures Different perceptions about the effectiveness of disclosure and setback rules to resolve problems Seams Similar perceptions that disclosure and setback rules did not improve public trust

34 Strategies for Moving Forward Better technical and scientific information is necessary but not sufficient for better decision-making Conflict is value-based Embrace federal system of government and tailor solutions to government capacity Industry & regulators need to build public trust But building trust takes time Need for face-to-face negotiations and collaboration

35 Thank You Tanya Heikkila & Chris Weible Associate Professors School of Public Affairs University of Colorado Denver