Drill, Drill, Drill

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is slated to approve another record number of drilling permits this year.

Unlike most records though, this certainly isn't one to tout. Record drilling has already led to record levels of air pollution, both in the Denver metro area and in western Colorado. More record drilling means Colorado is likely to endure yet another year of record air pollution, especially in western Colorado.

According to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Garfield County, the epicenter of the latest oil and gas boom here in Colorado, is slated to take the brunt of most of this drilling. Brian Macke, the Director of the Commission, even calls western Colorado a "world-class gas play."

Western Colorado is known to be world class in a lot of ways; its ski areas, its wilderness, its rivers, its scenery, its people. But, with rising air pollution and declining health, a world class gas play seems the last thing western Colorado should be known for.

While Brian Macke may be proud of western Colorado's "world-class gas play," for those hoping for a safe and healthy future, this is nothing to be proud about. Until the oil and gas industry takes significant steps to keep people safe and air pollution in check, the "world-class gas play" will only be a black mark for western Colorado.