The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Facility proposed near Paonia Reservoir
The Gunnison Valley Planning Commission held a meeting last Friday, February 20 to discuss the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) pits proposed for development near Sheep Creek, about 2.5 miles from Paonia Reservoir. The decision whether or not to develop the pits has yet to be made, but the proposal from Gunnison Energy Corporation has raised concerns of local conservationists.
Gunnison County’s assistant director of community development, Neal Starkebaum, says no action was taken at the meeting last Friday but the Planning Commission “gave staff direction to prepare a decision document for approval of the water storage facility.” That document will include specific conditions that will need to be agreed upon before the proposal can be approved.
When asked which types of conditions will go into the document, Russell Forrest, director of community development told the News that, “Conditions would require communication between the Gunnison County Planning Commission and Gunnison Energy on an annual basis to describe activity and any issues associated with the pits in the previous year and proposed activity for the foreseeable future.”
Public comments regarding the proposal were accepted until February 13; if you didn’t find time to express your opinion, forever hold your peace. Starkebaum and Forrest both agree action will probably be taken at the next meeting, scheduled for March 6.
