Christi Zeller, executive director of the La Plata County Energy Council, appeared before La Plata County Commissioners during their regular meeting to voice concerns about the county exerting its influence to try to push for regulations that she said would be harmful to gas development.
"Have you given direction to your staff to impede natural-gas development and insert roadblocks that affect our ability to do business in La Plata County?" Zeller asked commissioners during the portion of the meeting reserved for public comment.
She accused some county officials of listening to environmentalists while ignoring industry interests.
"It appears as though our county government has not been transparent," she said.
Commissioner Wally White defended the county's actions.
"We have conducted what is in my opinion a very transparent process," he said.
Her concerns focused on a meeting Feb. 19 in Denver between state officials, including the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, the state's main regulatory entity, and officials from La Plata and other counties. White and County Attorney Jeff Robbins attended.
She said the county floated a proposal during the meeting to broaden its regulatory authority but did so without ever giving the public an opportunity to see or comment on the proposal.
White told Zeller she should review the meeting testimony because it would show that the county is not against the industry.
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"I think you're grasping at straws. The testimony that was given is very much in support of our working relationship with industry," he said, adding, "I tend to take a little bit of personal offense with this."
White said industry representatives at the Feb. 19 meeting responded positively to the proposal.
Commissioner Joelle Riddle, who did not attend the Denver meeting, did not comment. Commissioner Kellie Hotter was absent from Tuesday's meeting.
Afterward, Zeller said she wasn't concerned about White's public testimony in Denver.
"What I'm most concerned about is what is going on in hallways and behind closed doors outside of the purview of the public," she said.
The county has long made clear its desire to retain some regulatory control over gas and oil production, which it currently shares with the state.
Earlier this year, the county sent the oil and gas commission a letter stating that "La Plata County is gravely concerned that, as written, the proposed implementing regulations could be construed to pre-empt the local regulations."
