NHS environmental club puts pressure on county commissioners in light of proposed fracking site

In 2017, Crestone Peak Resources, a Denver-based producer of oil and natural gas, requested permits from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) for three large drilling sites in Boulder County along Highway 52. However, the Bounder County Commissioners have held the Crestone Peak applications due to an update to permitting requirements (Senate Bill 19-181). At the county level, Crestone has not submitted any applications.

"It surprised me how little people in the community knew about this [proposed fracking site]," said Jamie Williamson, a freshman at Niwot High School. "The most exciting part, however, is seeing that we really can, with the power of the people, start working for a cleaner future and seeing how change is already happening."

Niwot High School's Environmental Club has been appealing to the County Commissioners, and the public, for stricter regulations.

"We, the youth of Colorado, simply ask our elected officials to do their job, to protect us by using their power and the opportunity presented by SB 19-181 to protect Colorado's future. Ban Fracking," said Maya Beauvineau, a senior at Niwot High School, in a press release.

If Crestone is granted a permit, 140 proposed wells as described in the final draft of their application (see p. 2) could go online. These wells are concerning to the NHS Environmental Club as well as other Niwot residents as the fracking site is only three miles away from the high school. According to Beauvineau and the club's research, typical sites are only about three to five wells, "So 140 is really enormous when you put it in that context."

Niwot sophomore Stephanie Mow said, "For the sake of our community we've been really involved to try to stop this, because we're worried about our community's health and how our future's going to be in Niwot."

For the past year, club members have been attending public hearings and recently released a video asking the commissioners to "take greater action to protect our future." The video, which consists of testimonials from 15 students aged 10 to 18, is approximately three-and-a-half minutes long and relies on a number of emotional, factual and anecdotal appeals to the commissioners.

"Especially during the pandemic, if anything were to happen to the outdoors, it would be a disaster for my mental health as well as that of my friends," said junior Mercer Stauch. Another student pointed out that fracking not only is harmful to the natural environment, but also the health of the community.

Club members said that methane is released at various points throughout the fracking process, and that while methane does produce more heat and light energy by mass than other oil and gas alternatives, methane is also potentially very dangerous.

The students said that unlike other greenhouse gases, methane is more efficient at trapping heat within the atmosphere, which therefore contributes to climate change. The club also learned about, and wants to spread awareness around the carcinogenic chemical Benzene, which is one of the most common chemicals released during the process, with the possibility to cause cancer.

"There's often the line 'our future,''' said junior Victor Gerber. "But it's not just the future. Our present is also affected, that [climate change] could affect us and future students after us. We have to make sure that both our present and future is protected."

The environmental club isn't the only group opposed to Crestone's proposition. Gabi Boerkircher, communications specialist in the Commissioners' office said that a number of Boulder County residents have spoken up.

"The County always appreciates public comments and they will be very useful in designing the amendments to Article 12 and in keeping track of public sentiment," Boerkircher said. "The Dec. 1 public hearing was well-attended and included many helpful comments that County staff and the Commissioners will take into account as the new regulations are finalized."

According to Beauvineau, at the Dec. 1 hearing, the environmental club and other participants who oppose fracking outnumbered oil and gas representatives 40:1. "It's been really encouraging to see the number of people [who come out in opposition to the site] grow," she said.

However, a number of Niwot's students expressed concern and frustration over other community members dismissing their activism because of their age. "[We] need people to notice we are humans and notice what the commissioners are trying to do," said freshman Daniela Garcia. "At some point they will have to listen to us."

Mow also expressed frustration. She said that in addition to speaking at the commissioner meetings and putting out their video, the club has put out information on social media sites including Nextdoor. "For me, it was kind of hurtful, a lot of the responses were kind of like 'you're just a high schooler, you don't know anything.' It doesn't give the right message about youth activism that we want. It kind of puts us down because it makes it seem like we don't really have a voice."

Sophomore Lilian McLellan agreed that it's difficult to go up against a powerful industry, like oil and gas, but said, "The youth have to live the longest with consequences of current events....It's important that we have a say in what is going to happen."

The Environmental Club members remain optimistic and focused. In fact, they are planning a follow-up video, this one more targeted toward community members. They want to inform other residents about the potential repercussions of this site if approved, and hope that with enough support, it will influence the regulations that the commissioners are set to finalize this month.

"Although this whole process has been very encouraging and empowering," said Beauvineau, "as youth, ultimately what we need is to see the people in power take our testimony and pleas and put this into law, more stringent regulations in law."

To stay up to date and learn more from Niwot's Environmental Club, you can follow them on Instagram at @gogreengoniwot.

For those interested in learning more about oil and gas development in Boulder County, information can be found here; and written comments can be submitted to oilgascomment@bouldercounty.org.