The Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) approved the Draco Pad, a 26-well fracking site that will extend for five miles beneath Erie, with a 4-1 vote during its March 26 hearing.
The decision on the proposal site, which is located in Weld County just outside Erie’s city limits but would extend underground into Boulder County, was postponed in November last year after ECMC commissioners asked Civitas Resources to explore alternative locations because of these jurisdictional issues.
After exploring an alternative location within Erie, Civitas found that it was not viable, and the commission approved the original site plan.
“While the Town of Erie is disappointed with the Commission’s decision, the Town is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of its residents,” the town said in a March 26 release, “and will continue to do so irrespective of this ruling.”
The Draco site, which has received significant pushback from Erie residents, sits near a 1,400-home planned development that would place 72 homes within the 2,000-foot state mandated setback.
At the request of the town, pre-production at the site — which includes drilling the wells — will be completed no later than May 13, 2028, with a reasonable attempt to finish by October 2027, to limit the impacts to nearby residents. According to the press release, lots within 2,000 feet of the site won’t be occupied until May 2027.
Civitas also agreed to plug and abandon 22 wells along with 18 oil and gas facilities, many of which are located in western Erie.