Speakers cite epidemiological studies and childhood health risks near proposed Sunlight Long pad

A number of public commenters at the Arapahoe County meeting focused on public-health research and its implications for permitting near populated areas. Speakers referenced a 2025 Colorado study (cited in testimony as by Dr. Lisa McKenzie) and other epidemiological work and argued those findings indicate increased risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and other health harms for families living near oil-and-gas development.

"The body of evidence is consistent and continues to grow," said a speaker who cited the McKenzie 2025 study and epidemiologists explaining that children breathe more air per body weight and are therefore more vulnerable. Rachel Lehman of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR Colorado) told commissioners that the Denver region and surrounding counties are in ozone nonattainment and that expanding oil-and-gas operations would worsen public-health conditions already linked to extreme heat and poor air quality.

Speakers said the county's approval process relied on older emission limits and computational models and, they argued, did not consider newer epidemiological evidence. Several requested a full health-impact or alternative-location analysis and asked the county to reopen Sunlight Long to deliberate publicly and allow elected officials to vote.

No county health department analysis or staff rebuttal to these scientific claims was recorded on the dais during the meeting; the board closed public comment without issuing a directive to commission an additional health-impact review during this session.