HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.07 Neighborhood Meeting SummaryCPX Piceance Holdings, LLC
34 S. Wynden Drive, Suite 240
Limited Impact Review
Garfield County, Colorado
Houston, TX 77056
TPR Well Pad 36A
Article 9 Oil and Gas Permit Application
Appendix H: Neighborhood Meeting
Summary
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING SUMMARY
Well Pad 36A February 2023
1.0 Introduction
CPX Piceance Holdings, LLC (CPX) proposes the continued development of existing Well Pad 36A on Tepee Park
Ranch (TPR) in Garfield County, Colorado. TPR is privately owned by CPX, predominantly for exploration and
development of natural gas. CPX submitted an application to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
(COGCC) for approval of 32 new directional wells on Well Pad 36A for production of natural gas. The location also
requires an Oil and Gas Permit from Garfield County under Article 9 of the county Land Use and Development
Code. CPX held two pre-application meetings with Garfield County. During the second pre-application meeting, on
November 28, 2022, Garfield County instructed CPX that a neighborhood meeting under LUDC § 9-203.D is not
required for Well Pad 36A. Specifically, the only neighboring property owner is the U.S. Forest Service, which has
already been consulted extensively regarding the proposed development. CPX’s Operations Manager also utilizes
the ranch, with CPX’s permission, to graze cattle as a grazing licensee. CPX’s Operations Manager is integrally
involved in the permit process. Consultation with the Forest Service and grazing licensee is described below.
2.0 Consultation with the Forest Service
CPX accesses TPR from County Road 317 using Forest Service Road 824 (FS 824). CPX's commercial use of FS
824 is authorized by a perpetual Forest Road Easement granted to CPX. CPX made significant improvements to
FS 824 in 2018 on behalf of the Forest Service. CPX conducts road maintenance on FS 824 consistent with the
requirements in a detailed operation and maintenance agreement between CPX and the Forest Service and an
annual operating plan.
CPX meets annually with the Forest Service to update its proposed development plans as part of finalizing the
annual operating plan. During the annual operating plan meeting on March 15, 2022, CPX provided the Forest
Service with initial details about its proposed development plans for 2023, including development on Well Pad 36A.
Following the March 15 meeting, CPX hosted a multi-agency site visit on TPR on July 19, 2022. Participants from
the Forest Service included the following personnel from the Rifle Ranger District: District Ranger, Realty Specialist,
Natural Resource Specialist, and Recreation Ranger.
Additional participants were:
BLM - Supervisory Natural Resource Specialist, Natural Resource Specialist, Geologist
Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission - Oil and Gas Location Assessment Western Specialist
Colorado Parks & Wildlife – Northwest Region Energy Liaison
Garfield County – Oil and Gas Liaison
The purpose of the meeting was to review CPX’s planned natural gas well development on TPR, including CPX’s
proposed development on Well Pad 36A. Points of discussion during the site visit included traffic counts on FS 824,
High Priority Habitat, and the Alternative Location Analysis conducted for COGCC.
Following the site visit, CPX representatives met with the Forest Service at the Rifle Ranger District Office on
October 13, 2022. Participants were the District Ranger and Recreation Ranger. CPX discussed with the Forest
Service the anticipated schedule for the Well Pad 36A Oil and Gas Development Plan and Form 2A permit
application submittal to COGCC and other planned operations on TPR.
CPX Piceance Holdings, LLC Neighborhood Meeting Summary
Well Pad 36A 2 February 2023
3.0 Consultation with the Grazing Licensee
CPX has a single grazing licensee. The grazing licensee is also CPX’s Operations Manager. As such, the grazing
licensee is integrally involved in CPX operations, development plans, and permitting.
The grazing licensee historically has received a Trailing Permit from the Forest Service, which allows the licensee
to cross Forest Service land to move cows from private ranchland to TPR each year. The licensee annually grazes
approximately 125 head on TPR from approximately July 1 to September 30. Summer grasses on TPR provide
high protein feed, while grazing cows provide fire mitigation by reducing fuels. Grazing is typically concentrated on
the west side of the TPR property, away from oil and gas operations.
Grazing is expected to continue on TPR according to the terms of the licensee’s agreement with CPX. Grazing is
not expected to be affected by new oil and gas development, according to the licensee, because cows will favor
grassy slopes with a north-facing aspect to provide shade. Those areas are at higher elevations west of the well
pads on TPR. The grazing licensee, as Operations Manager, or CPX’s well pad operator are on TPR daily to monitor
well operations. Currently, cows that may wander in the vicinity of the well pads are redirected to grazing areas.
The grazing licensee stated that this practice will continue, and there are no concerns for grazing from continued
natural gas well development on TPR.