Energy commission approves Laramie Energy’s 1707 OGDP with operator-proposed BMPs attached to permit

The Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission on June 17 approved an oil-and-gas development plan from Laramie Energy LLC for a Mesa County site known as the 1707 pad, resolving a contested matter after the surface owners withdrew their petition.

Kelsey Wisalinki, counsel for Laramie Energy, told the commission that “the Ecklund withdrew their petition yesterday, June 16th, and therefore the hearing before you today is uncontested.” The applicant asked the commission to incorporate five jointly proposed conditions of approval (COAs) addressing baseline testing, water-quality monitoring, spill response, wetland evaluation and spill notification into the form 2A for the OGDP.

The commission’s deliberations focused on whether to label the measures as COAs or as operator‑proposed best management practices (BMPs). AG Budro advised the commissioners that “either way, they’re enforceable conditions of the permit,” and staff would retain authority to administer and enforce the permit under ECMC rules. Following that legal guidance, Commissioner Mesner moved to approve the application with the director’s recommended condition of approval and to attach the five jointly proposed COAs as operator‑proposed BMPs to the form 2A. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The approved OGDP requests establishment of an approximate 520‑acre plan area to develop 27 directional wells targeting the Williams Fork and Isles formations. Laramie described a proposed disturbance footprint of about 10.5 acres (3.4 acres working pad; 8.3 acres total during construction) with 7.9 acres to be reclaimed and 2.6 acres to remain as long‑term disturbance.

Applicant testimony and materials presented engineering and environmental controls intended to limit surface and water impacts. Laramie committed to use the SWIKA baseline report and independent third‑party testing under ECMC rule 615, and proposed an enhanced water sampling program at five locations (ponds 1–4 and a pump house) that the company said would produce roughly 165 water samples over project life — a level the applicant characterized as substantially exceeding minimum rule 615 requirements.

Laramie also said use of existing infrastructure and proposed pipeline takeaway would cut truck traffic compared with truck‑delivered water: the company estimated the plan would eliminate about 18,900 truck trips for the 27 wells and that about 75% of pre‑production water use would be recycled produced water. The company presented engineering controls including perimeter berms, sediment traps, a stormwater retention basin, waddles, silt fencing and other measures stamped by a professional engineer.

The applicant noted consultations with federal and state agencies and local governments: the Bureau of Land Management finalized an environmental assessment decision record with a finding of no significant impact on April 15, 2026, and approved related federal APDs on April 27, 2026; Colorado Parks and Wildlife approved a waiver under ECMC rule 12283; and the Mesa County Board of County Commissioners submitted a letter of support describing the project as providing local workforce opportunities.

Commissioners acknowledged the project sits within an area designated a disproportionately impacted community and that three residential building units were identified within one mile of the working pad surface. Commissioners pressed the applicant and staff on enforceability and on how third‑party testing and reporting would be administered; AG Budro’s advice that operator‑proposed BMPs would be enforceable as permit conditions addressed the commission’s procedural concern.

The commission’s action directs staff to issue the form 2A incorporating the director’s recommended condition of approval and the operator‑proposed BMPs as attached permit conditions. The motion passed by voice vote and the chair declared the motion carried. No roll‑call tally of individual commissioner votes was recorded in the transcript; five commissioners were present for the vote.