BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

                                                             OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

IN THE MATTER OF CHANGES TO THE                                       )                    CAUSE NO. 1

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE OIL                                     )

AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION                                  )                    ORDER NO. 1R-75

OF THE STATE OF COLORADO                                                    )

 

                                                             REPORT OF THE COMMISSION

 

                        Pursuant to a hearing before the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on May 19, 1997, in Suite 801, The Chancery Building, 1120 Lincoln Street, Denver, Colorado, after giving Notice of Hearing, as required by law, the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission revised its Rules and Regulations to amend Rule 1002.b. to read as follows:

 

1002.  SITE PREPARATION

b.                Soil removal and segregation.

 

                (1)           Soil removal and segregation on crop land.  As to all excavation operations undertaken after June 1, 1996 on crop land, , the operator shall separate and store the various A, B, and C soil horizons separately from one another and mark or document stockpile locations to facilitate subsequent reclamation.  When separating soil horizons, the operator shall segregate horizons based upon noted changes in physical characteristics such as color, texture, density or consistency.  On crop land below the C horizon, the soil horizons shall also be segregated based on the above noted physical characteristics.  Segregation will be performed to the extent practicable to a depth of six (6) feet or bedrock, whichever is shallower.

 

                (2)           Soil removal and segregation on non crop land.  As to all excavation operations undertaken after July 1, 1997 on non crop land, the operator shall separate and store the A soil horizon or the top six (6) inches, whichever is deeper, and mark or document stockpile locations to facilitate subsequent reclamation.  When separating the A soil horizon, the operator shall segregate the horizon based upon noted changes in physical characteristics such as color, texture, density or consistency.

 

                (3)           Horizons too rocky or too thin. When the soil horizons are too rocky or too thin for the operator to practicably segregate, then the topsoil shall be segregated to the extent possible and stored.  Too rocky shall mean that the soil horizon consists of greater than thirty five percent (35%) by volume rock fragments larger than ten (10) inches in diameter.  Too thin shall mean soil horizons that are less than six (6) inches in thickness.  The operator shall segregate remaining soils on crop land to the extent practicable to a depth of three (3) feet below the ground surface or bedrock, whichever is shallower, based upon noted changes in physical characteristics such as color, texture, density or consistency and such soils shall be stockpiled to avoid loss and mixing with other soils.

 

                        Attached, as Exhibit A, is a statement giving the basis and purpose of the revisions and additions, and such statements are incorporated herein by reference.

 

                        DONE AND PERFORMED by the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission of the State of Colorado this      21st     day of     May    , 1997.

 

                                                                        OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

                                                                              OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

 

 

                                                                        By                                                                           

                                                                                    Patricia C. Beaver, Secretary

 

Dated at Suite 801

1120 Lincoln Street

Denver, Colorado 80203

May 21, 1997