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A Warrior's Prayer
  [This struggle is truly epic as it relates to a human being in the face of such intense and heavy industrial development. 
  Because I believe we are gifted immeasurable access to spiritual guidance and influence, this is an ethereal
  endeavor as much as it is physical. Learn more about Blackcloud here, and how he plays a vital role in the development
  of this issue.]
 



Updates
  [find out what is happening on a weekly basis (when I can keep up with it), and sign up to get e-mail reminders. For     quick summaries of the weeks happenings, visit the Updates page]

    Week 1 - The rig goes up as the first new well gets underway
    Week 2
    Week 3
    Week 4 - Deer near industry operations  /  Divide Creek seep backgrounder - new bubbling noted
    Week 5 - Fracing conversation yields concerns  /  Walkabout
    Week 6
    Week 7
    Week 8
    Week 9
    Week 10 - Our position on recent sampling results
    Week 11
    Week 12 - Elk move in from high country  /  Spill
    Week 13 - Spill
    Week 14
    Week 15
    Week 16 - Stakeholder meetings in Denver on proposed rule changes
    Week 17 - Rule changes, round two
    Week 18
    Week 19 - Lawmakers oppose new rules
    Week 20 - Walkabout
    Week 21 - Garfield Creek Wildlife area goes on the BLM chipping block - DOW defends wildlife
    Week 22 - Elk shut out of historic calving grounds
    Week 23 - Letter to the editor revealing the truth about industry's rule ratings
    Week 24 - EnCana sets up a man camp
    Week 25 - County takes on man camp / private property debate
    Week 26
    Week 27
    Week 28 - Here's what happens to deer, who are often more comfortable around industrial operations than elk
                      Walkabout  /  8-minutes of streaming gas in the pond  /  EnCana wants us to sign a mineral lease
    Week 29 - Garfield County approves man camps on private property
    Week 30 - Elk leave for the high country - no calves....  /  We sign a lease - EnCana keeps their grubby mitts off the  
                      land.  /  Discovery of gas venting holes and biofilm  /  We raise questions about man camp decision
    Week 31
    Week 32 - Pipeline "issue"
    Week 33
    Week 34 - Garfield County Commissioners slam wildlife  /  Take a fly-over the gas patch
    Week 35 - More slamming of wildlife
    Week 36 - Focus on brown cloud health effects and "Gunky Eye"
    Week 37 - EnCana's 15-month plan  /  Funky emissions
    Week 38 - Demotions
    Week 39 - More demotions and a promotion  /  standing up for wildlife
    Week 40 - Newly discovered Divide Creek Seep  /  Walkabout
    Week 41 - COGCC visits site - COGCC defends prior sampling efforts  /  News item: man drinks benzene
    Week 42 - DOW fish count  /  EnCana expose from up in the territory
    Week 43 - "What the hell is wrong with this industry? 101"  /  COGCC volley as I try to find answers.

 



Timeline of Events 01-07-04 forward
  [view a photo chronology of events which have led up to and include the latest drilling activities in our area. Included are reference maps of the West Divide Creek Seep area, and a map depicting proposed drilling activities; as well as a link to referenced documents relative to the seep maintained by the COGCC and available on their website, which includes: maps, photos, reports, letters and articles.]
  Map - Dipicting West Divide Creek Seep area
  Map - Drilling Area for 40 proposed wells
  East Mamm Creek Notice to area Operators [including map]
    [this Notice became active February 09, 2007 and refers to stipulations for new drilling activity in the East Mamm Creek area.]
  List of 817 (as of 11-30-07) documents maintained on-line by the COGCC relative to the West Divide Creek Seep

 



Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Main Page  /  Page 2
  [A comprehensive update page dedicated to tracking the progress of a new seep discovered on June 28, 2008. Visit this page for photos, video and other links relative to this event]
  COGCC Order and Exhibit
  [COGCC Order from 2004 Divide Creek Seep event / and important graphic exhibit showing fault structures and predictions of pressurized fluid flow]
  Larger image of Exhibit
  Larger image of Exhibit - including additional information not readily discernable depicting certain critical sites relative to  seep.
  Zoomable image of orange gunky seep
  Zoomable image of black seep

Divide Creek Then
  [2004 seep event]
Divide creek Now
  [at the beginning of the blog and prior to the 2008 seep event]

Why we're nervous
  [as if we needed any more reasons - this demonstrates some of the air emissions in recent years....]

Division of Wildlife 'Fish Count' - July 10, 2008
  [Division of Wildlife conducts a fish and invertebrate count near the new seep area and extending for some distance downstream. View photos and details of the event here.]
 



Canary Watch
  [My mother's eyes are periodically troubled by what we've long attributed to drilling operations. We have, thus-far been unable to isolate what type of drilling activity is involved, however. Health effects of drilling operations so near residential areas is unknown, but finally - after citizen complaints, recorded and alleged maladies related to this industry, and recent congressional testimony, finally - nearly five years after intense operations moved into the region, a study is apparently being undertaken. We are tracking her reaction to drilling activities through "Canary Watch" and reporting them to the COGCC when they occur, so that we may better define a pattern and isolate the offending cause. Canary Watch began since resumed drilling the area, with the first 3-day event occurring on 11-17-07.]

 


 

Stand Tall

Citizen-Generated Complaint/Report Form - Put it in writing.... (for your benefit and theirs too)
  [Fed up with the tedious process of calling every Tom Dick and Harry to complaint about an industry 'event'? Well, you can make your life simpler by copying this form. Submit a complaint/report to COGCC, Garfield County Oil and Gas Liaison, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - whomever. This is a form I created to standardize the process of a citizen-generated complaint, since different divisions may have different data collection protocol - and some have no form at all. This way, you can copy or print the form, pop it into you re-mail or enter the appropriate information and send it as an attachment saving you and perhaps those who review it time and effort. It's what I use, and you're welcome to use it too.]


  [get vital information on citizen concerns regarding oil and gas development. From books and documentary films to emergency call numbers and citizen advocacy groups, this page has everything you need to stand tall.]
     "Citizen's Resource Guide to Oil and Gas Development in Western Colorado and the Greater Rocky Mountain Region"

 
[visual aid to understanding federal units]
     Federal Unit - Visual Aid

  [view letters to officials]
     Letter Asking Division of Wildlife and EnCana for Intervening Aid for Migrating Elk Herd

  [worried who to call if you have a spill on your property? Find contact information on agencies here]
     Emergency Contact Numbers

  [a couple of excerpts from COGCC's rules regarding spills and flares. Also, find instructions for how to find the full set on the COGCC website]
    COGCC Rule Excerpts

  [Colorado's Governor won a rare opportunity to review and comment on the BLM's Roan Plateau drilling plan. I sent a letter to Gov. Ritter, asking that he support best practices and the preservation of this unique habitat.]
    Letter sent to Governor Bill Ritter regarding drilling on the Roan Plateau

 


 

2007 - 2008 COGCC RULE-MAKING PROCESS


  [through the summer of 2008, citizens and other stakeholders have an opportunity to comment on proposed rule changes in accordance with House Bill 1298 and House Bill 1341. We submitted  comments outlining many of our primary concerns.]
   Comments sent to Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Regarding Rule-Making Proposal
 

  [After the COGCC Draft Rules were shared, stakeholders had an opportunity to submit any additional comments relative tot he proposed draft rules. Here is our 16 page "Good / Bad and the Ugly"]
  Additional Comments sent to Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Regarding Rule-Making Proposal

 



LETTERS TO EDITORS


Following are various letters to the editor in response to on-going issues of conflict surrounding this industry and its impacts on people and the environment we are depend on.
 

Man Camps and use by right on private property


   Letter to Editor re: Garfield County Commissioner's proposed allowance-by-right of man-camps on private property

   Additional E-mailed comments to Garfield County Commissioners regarding man-camps

   Letter to Editor re: Garfield County Commissioners decision to move forward with man camp allowance by right
(This issue has since been pitched to county attorney, Don DeFord, where I suspect it will fall away and be forgotten. What was once a good attempt by the county has apparently gotten too hot to handle and my guess is that folks will forget about it and it will continue to be one of those things that industry pushes for an gets by default. We'll see if the issue resurfaces.)
 

Wildlife Protections and COGCC proposed rules


   Letter to Editor re: Garfield County Commissioners egregious stance on proposed wildlife protections

   Letter to Editor re: Mesa County Commissioner Craig Meis' opinion that natural gas pads are beneficial to wildlife

 


Address given to attendees of 2008 Water Workshop and Impacts of Industry

  [address to Western State College - Water Workshop: "Mining Energy and Water in the West", 2008 attendees / please scroll about 1/3 down the page on the link below to locate the address]

  Address based on my review of film "Rural Impacts!" and our experiences with the natural gas industry



Beacons and Triumphs
  [Find out who has been the most active in making a positive difference in creating a truly balanced approach to energy  
  development and learn about changes in legislation which help protect your interests. Find demotions here too.]
 



Image Gallery
  [Divide Creek Then - 2004]
  [Divide Creek Now - 2007] [but, prior to June 28, 2008 seep event]
  [photos of past emission 'events']
  [Summerhawk in the Colors of Autumn]
  [view a panorama of Summerhawk Valley and learn a little about our belonging to it]
  [Want to send a Salute to America's Military? Click here, copy the image and send it on!]
  [Bald Eagle Surrounded by Black Emissions]
  [Summerhawk in Winter's Rest]
  [Summerhawk Awakens in Spring]
  [Gunnison Road Trip - May 2008]
  [May, 2008 Summerhawk Walkabout]
  [Summerhawk in Summer Splendor 2008 - Part One (Divide Creek) / Part Two (Forest)]
  [Newly Discovered Seep - June 28, 2008]  [Page 2]
         [Full-on high resolution orange gunky grossness]
         [Full-on high resolution black gunky grossnesss]
  [July 03 Walkabout Suprise!]                        
  [July 4th American Flag image to share - Earth Flag and Prayer Feathers]  Scroll toward the bottom - oh, and there's a goofy caveman picture there too!

 



Video Clips
  [Watch pipeline emissions spew hundreds of feet into the air]
  [Divide Creek during one of the most intense spring run-offs in year]
  [Funky emissions from a frac tank battery - and bright lights from the same site at night]
 



Poems and Tributes

  [Poem] A Thanksgiving Prayer for Peace - "Promise"

   
         
         

 

 

 

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All contents of this site, unless otherwise noted are copyrighted by Lisa Bracken, 2007. All rights are reserved.
 Visit links outside the scope of this website at your own risk. Information is subject to change without notice.