To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Bryan Weimer, Director, Public Works & Development
Prepared By:
prepared
Jason Reynolds, Planning Division Manager, Public Works & Development
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Subject:
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Resolution Adopting Energy Program Fees
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
Arapahoe County's Phase 2B oil and gas regulations authorized a pad site inspections program and the Board of County Commissioners approved a 2025 budget, which included funding for an oil and gas inspector position. The proposed fees would cover the reasonable and necessary costs to support the energy program, including equipment and staffing. Staff recommends adoption of the proposed fee schedule.
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Background and Discussion: In October 2024, the Board directed PWD to establish an energy program, with 1.0 FTE for an oil and gas inspector (new position), 1.0 FTE for an energy program manager (existing vacant position), and 0.5 FTE of administrative support (using existing administrative resources). The program's goal is to inspect each Arapahoe County oil and gas well twice per year, with an estimate of 506 inspections to be completed in the first year of the program. Based on pending development in the Lowry Ranch Comprehensive Area Plan and proposed oil and gas sites elsewhere in the county, we anticipate inspections growing by 100 each year from 2026-2030. Based on those estimates, we anticipate submitting formal budget requests for an additional plan reviewer FTE and an inspector FTE for 2026.
We posted the proposed fees for public comment in early June; the comments and staff responses are attached. The proposed fees were $3,000 per pad, plus $1,500 per well on the pad, charged annually. Many comments expressed concern that the fees were not adequate to cover the program costs, that the program would require taxpayer subsidies, and that the inspection fees did not consider all impacts of development. The proposed fees are designed to cover program cost...
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