The Montezuma County Commission Monday afternoon declined to take away the two high-impact permits from the Bill Barrett Corp. after a Lewis resident claimed an explosion occurred under her house.
The commission held a public hearing after Kathleen Majka filed a complaint, claiming the explosion was the result of the work that the energy company Bill Barrett Corp. was doing near her home.
The purpose of the hearing was to look at the performance standards and other conditions of a high-impact permit for the purpose of operating and maintaining an existing natural gas well and another permit for operating a temporary natural gas processing facility at 24028 Road X.
Majka claimed the underground explosion occurred June 19, but did not report the explosion to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission for close to a month.
When she finally contacted this state commission, its investigators could find no evidence there were any materials being used that would have caused an explosion.
Even Majkas neighbors commented that there were little if any impacts to their residences near McPhee Reservoir with the oil and gas exploration process.
Montezuma County Planning Director Susan Carver gave the commission an update on the complaint in which all the landowners were notified of the hearing. She read into the record one email that stated the complainant only wanted money from the operator.
Previously, Majka had asked the county and the Bill Barrett Corp. to purchase her home and even hung a sign at home asking for energy companies to buy her out.
Majka showed pictures to the commission of cracked beams, which she claimed occurred after the Bill Barrett Corp. began drilling near her home.
I am the only one affected. Lucky me, she said, before talking about the alleged underground explosion that caused her home to move.
Majka also said she was forced to leave her home three times due to the high amounts of carbon monoxide, and added the heat from the plant melted plastic chairs she left outside her home.
I couldnt make this stuff up, Majka said. I am not feeling real safe. The explosion blew up my home.
She said she attempted to sell her home and had a buyer who backed out after she read about the conditions of her home in a newspaper article.
I think you put the cart before the horse when you allowed this (permit), she told the commission. I am not trying to get money from them. I am trying to get accountability.
Jim Felton of the Bill Barrett Corp. said there have been no records or reports of any explosion that Majka claimed occurred.
Felton said there were three people working at the site on the day in question who said they did not hear or see any explosions, and added there was no accident report filed either.
If there was an explosion, someone (else) would have been impacted, he said.
Felton also said the heat from the flaring would not have melted plastic chairs and explained the heat goes straight up into the atmosphere.
He also said the fracking operation was finished a week before June 19, when the alleged explosion occurred.
Marc Morton, government liaison for the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission out of Denver, attended the meeting via telephone. He said that he was aware of the situation but believes it is a land use issue.
He said Majka waited a month to call the Denver office to report the explosion, and in July 2012 it was looked into and nothing was found that would have caused an explosion.
Several residents who live near the well operation commented that they have few complaints about the work. Besides minor problems with traffic, noise and lights, the residents said they are not opposed to the operation and never felt any discomfort or suffered any damage from the nearby drilling process.
One resident, Marianne Koskie, said she doesnt believe there was an explosion.
It seems to me there would have been some effect to our house too, she said. There was nothing and no sign of any explosion.
Commissioner Larrie Rule said he saw no reason to remove the high-impact permits partially because only one resident complained and she waited a month to lodge one.
Commissioner Steve Chappell said this operation has been a way to help the countys economy, and added there is no evidence to support Majkas claims about an explosion occurring.
He also said the comments from the neighbors were another component on why the complaint should be denied.
Commissioner Gerald Koppenhafer did not attend the hearing.
After the vote, Majka told the commission she was not through pursuing this matter.
I guess we will go over this in court, she said.
michaelm@cortezjournal.com
