I am writing to express my opposition to the Lowry Ranch CAP application and urge the ECMC to reject this development proposal. The ECMC’s mission is to regulate the development and production of the natural resources of oil and gas… “in a manner that protects public health, safety, and welfare, including protection of the environment and wildlife resources.” The Lowry Ranch CAP application proposes over 160 new oil and gas fracking wells that will add to and exacerbate serious risks and impacts to our public health and safety. 

First, scientific studies have found multiple serious health impacts from oil and gas fracking, even when studies are carefully designed to eliminate any cumulative impacts from industry, road traffic, construction, and other impacts. For example, studies have found:

Fracking well density was associated with increased rates of hospitalization for cardiac, neurological, urological, cancer-related and skin-related problems. 
Proximity to natural gas fracking operations was associated with progressively worsening asthma symptoms. 
Mothers giving birth to babies with congenital heart defects and neural tube defects were more likely to live near the highest density drilling. 
Mothers living in most active fracking areas are at increased risk of premature birth. 
Children and young adults diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia were up to four and a half times more likely to live in areas with the highest density/proximity to wells as compared to those outside of 16 km radius. 

Second, residents living in the vicinity of the proposed wells in the Lowry Ranch CAP proposal are already at higher risk of respiratory disease and challenges including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, congestion, bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma because of the “severe” levels of ground level ozone air pollution in the Denver Metro/North Front Range nonattainment area. Since oil and gas operations are the largest source in Colorado of ozone air pollution precursors, adding over 160 new oil and gas wells in the nonattainment area is certain to increase impacts to our health and safety. 

Finally, increased risk of wildfire is another serious impact to public health and safety posed by the Lowry Ranch CAP. As we all learned from the Marshall Fire that killed 2 people and burned 6,026 acres and 1,084 structures in one day, housing developments like those in and around the Lowry Ranch CAP can be extremely vulnerable to wildfire when the conditions are right. Oil and gas truck traffic and activity at well pads and pipelines are all potential ignition sources. The CAP proposes putting many dozens of wells just over 3000 feet from densely populated neighborhoods that are separated from the wells only by fields of Piedmont tall-grass (aka “flash fuel”), creating the perfect conditions to replicate the Marshall Fire disaster. The proposal does not include sufficient mitigation of wildfire risk nor adequate fire protection. The closest pads must be moved further away to much safer locations to mitigate the risk of wildland fire. 

In conclusion, approval of the Lowry Ranch CAP as proposed does not protect public health, safety, and welfare. The risks to my community are unacceptable. The state is responsible to its citizens per SB 19-181, not to the industry. Please keep this in mind as you consider this proposal. I appreciate your time and consideration