Media Contact:
Justin Wasser, 202.753.7016, jwasser@earthworks.org
Background: On Tuesday, Larimer County and the City of Fort Collins announced an agreement with Prospect Energy to permanently shutdown all operations in their jurisdiction. The move was the result of a collaborative effort among community members and Earthworks who documented numerous severe harmful pollution events at facilities owned by Prospect Energy since January 2021, including filing 14 separate complaints with state regulators.
This action is the direct result of oil and gas reforms that started with the passage of SB19-181 and subsequent rulemakings, in addition to continued legislative efforts to improve community-driven enforcement policies. Along with state and local officials, nearby residents deserve significant credit for this action as well for working with officials to catalog violations at these facilities.
Quote from Earthworks State Policy Manager Andrew Forkes-Gudmundson:
“Larimer County’s action, and subsequent move to strip the license to operate from a dangerous and chronic polluter should serve as the new benchmark for the protection of public health and safety and the environment. Residents in Fort Collins are now safer thanks to the tireless advocacy of hundreds of Colorado residents, fighting for Colorado to prioritize people over polluters and hold oil and gas companies accountable for the harms they cause.”
Quote from Earthworks’ Colorado Field Advocate Andrew Klooster:
“Ten years ago, Earthworks developed a model to work alongside frontline communities and use pollution finding technology designed for the oil and gas industry to expose polluters like Prospect Energy and call for greater accountability. Real victories like this have been hard to come by, but every community that succeeds in winning the fight for clean air lays the groundwork for the next, greater success.”
Quote from Von Bortz, Impacted Resident:
“First and foremost I am overjoyed and relieved that we are able to breathe clean air and huge thank-yous to everyone involved.
“This took over 5 years of us breathing in toxins and carcinogens and the environment being poisoned for our state county and city representatives to listen and act, which is 100% unacceptable. I hope others look at this example and act swiftly because this is happening all over the country where oil and gas operations are located. We all should have the right to breathe clean air and the laws that are currently in place do not allow that and that is wrong. Oil and gas operators need to be held accountable for their blatant disregard for public and environmental safety. Rules need to be enforced from our regulatory agencies. Action needs to be taken immediately so we can breathe clean air and feel safe leaving our windows open.”
For more information:
- Press Release from Larimer County & City of Fort Collins (7/23/24)
- Earthworks blog on Prospect Energy pollution (9/4/2022)