Autopsies and Kinder Morgan construction issues were dealt with at Monday's Montezuma County commission meeting.

Coroner George Deavers presented a proposal to make Montezuma County a central hub for regional autopsy needs. A shortage of forensic pathologists means one from Grand Junction has to travel to southwest Colorado once a month to conduct autopsies.

Instead of performing them in Durango and Pagosa Springs, Deavers suggested converting an old evidence room at the county court building into an autopsy suite.

"We could save revenue by not sending autopsies to La Plata or Archuleta County," Deavers said. "They would send their autopsies cases here, and we collect a fee."

Using available space at the county armory building was also a suggestion. A remodel was estimated at under $40,000. The county requires 50 to 75 autopsies or forensic-death investigations per year.

Deavers asked if there was a county policy against "green burials," and the commission didn't think there was. It was thought that a family could bury a body on their land once a death certificate is obtained and there are no infection issues or medical-examiner investigations.

Commissioner Keenan Ertel said green burials have to avoid leach fields and water sources such as a well to avoid contamination.

"People also need to understand that if they don't separate and deed a family cemetery separate from their land it could be sold with the property and they would lose access," he said.

Hearing focuses on Kinder Morgan wells

During a public hearing on a new CO2 well, landowner Allan Blake commented that his water well was affected after seismic work was done near his Pleasant View home.

"It used to draw 15 gallons per minute, and now I'm lucking to get 4 gallons per minute," he said.

Blake's home is ¼ mile from a new well. He said he's concerned about truck traffic, dust and road damage.

Pete Dronkers, of Earthworks, commented that oil-and-gas companies need to take a more active role in testing water wells near their operations for contaminates.

"Drilling is literally happening in people's backyards. Water testing on wells should be done even though it is not required," he said. "It shows the company is committed to being a good neighbor."

Another Kinder Morgan project drew the ire of a Pleasant View farmer, but a partial solution was worked out.

Using existing easements, Kinder Morgan will install a 5-mile pipeline to deliver brine water, produced from CO2 wells, to a specialized injection well that returns it deep underground.

However, the new pipeline will run through Judith Rohwer's commercial fruit and vegetable farm. She wants the pipe to be buried, and said construction timing presents problems for her planting plans.

"This farm is my livelihood, and I have a customer base depending on me," she said.

The commissioners approved the permit for the discharge line, contingent that it be installed by March 15 to accommodate Rohwer's farming schedule.

"We will do our best to expedite that section," said Jamie Conway, a Kinder Morgan representative. A portion of the line will be buried as well.

A community meeting is being planned on oil-and-gas operations in Montezuma and Dolores counties. It will be held at the County Annex in Cortez, but a date hasn't been confirmed.

Presentations will be given by industry representatives and regulatory agencies, including the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission, and Colorado Department of Health and Environment.

jmimiaga@cortezjournal.com