Denver— The Colorado Supreme Court will consider a dispute over how much weight should be given to public health and the environment in decisions over oil and gas drilling. The court announced today that it would hear an appeal of the case. It stems from a 2013 request by six young people who wanted the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commision to require energy companies to show they would not harm human health or the environment before drilling. The COGCC refused, saying it didn’t have the authority. A lower court sided with the commission but the state appeals court sided with the young people. Attorney General Cynthia Coffman asked the state Supreme Court to review the decision in May over the objections of Governor John Hickenlooper.
