News
34 Colorado Environmental Groups Call on Governor Jared Polis to Oppose Large-Scale Aurora-area Oil & Gas Proposal
Colorado Environmental Groups Submit Letter to Governor Polis Asking Him to Publicly Oppose the Large-Scale Aurora-area Lowry Ranch Oil & Gas Proposal
–The letter details the groups’ many concerns with the controversial oil & gas drilling and fracking plan–
(July 29, 2024) — 30 Colorado environmental groups signed on to an open letter to Gov. Jared Polis delivered today, asking him to publicly oppose the Lowry Ranch Comprehensive Area Plan, Civitas Resources’ proposal to drill up to 166 oil and gas wells on State Land Board property near disproportionately impacted Aurora communities in the EPA designated severe ozone nonattainment area. The CAP is under final review by the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) at public hearings being held tomorrow, July 30 and Friday, August 2
Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Health for Health Professionals - by Eugenia Miller, MD
Many Americans are aware that air pollution is a problem for persons with underlying lung disease and may be associated with cancer risk. Few are aware of the negative impacts air pollution has on the cardiovascular health of the entire population.
Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Health - by Eugenia Miller, MD (Non-Academic Version)
Many Americans are aware that air pollution is a problem for persons with underlying lung disease and may be associated with cancer risk. Few are aware of the negative impacts air pollution has on the cardiovascular health of the entire population.
Board Member David Mintzer, MD quoted in Denver Post
PSR Colorado Board Member, Dr. David Mintzer, is quoted in the Denver Post report on Pena Boulevard regarding Denver’s conflicting, health, climate, and transportation policies and practices. “I think the city has for years been very clear in its goals of reducing vehicle use, reducing climate emissions, reducing ozone from traffic — and trying to encourage transit and bicycling,” said David Mintzer, a Denver physician who’s become a vocal advocate on transportation issues. “But when it comes to its actual investment, it plays a different game.” Read more at https://tinyurl.com/4p3uhwr9.
"Clean” Hydrogen: Carbon Capture or Carbon Con?
The UN recently warned we must immediately transition away from fossil fuels, including methane (CH4, aka “natural” gas). Instead, the Oil and Gas Industry (O/G) green-washes its products as “clean” or clean “firm” energy. Foremost among this category of derived-from-fossil fuels is “clean” hydrogen. And it appears that Colorado legislators, regulators, and utilities are buying in at our expense.
PSR CO Joins Advocacy Groups in Petitioning COGCC for a Rulemaking to Regulate Cumulative Impacts of O&G Development
PSR Colorado is proud to join other health and environmental advocacy organizations in formally petitioning the COGCC to initiate a rulemaking to protect the public, disproportionately impacted communities, the environment and wildlife from harmful cumulative impacts of O&G development in Colorado.
Colorado’s Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) issues Cease and Desist order for Prospect Energy O&G site near Fort Collins
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Air Pollution Control Division is ordering Prospect Energy to immediately cease operations at its Krause site north of Fort Collins because of repeated violations that endanger public welfare.
Daily Camera Guest Opinion by Board Members Sasha Stiles, Harv Teitelbaum: Marshall Fire rebuilding should be forward-thinking
The Boulder Daily Camera published a guest opinion from PSR CO Board Members Sasha Stiles and Harv Teitelbaum. Sasha and Harv discuss how Marshall Fire Victims who are in the process of rebuilding can benefit from healthy electric homes by building back with all-electric appliances and without fossil fuels.
Following PSR’s Report, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signs House Bill 22-1348, the “Oversight of Chemicals Used in Oil and Gas Production” bill.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed House Bill 22-1348, the “Oversight of Chemicals Used in Oil and Gas Production” bill. This pivotal legislation was borne out of PSR’s year-long investigation that demonstrated how Oil and Gas companies routinely withhold the identities of chemicals used in drilling and fracking operations by dubiously claiming trade secret protections.
WEBINAR #2 ON NoCo’s POOR AIR QUALITY, PRESENTED BY LARIMER ALLIANCE AND COLORADO RISING
After a successful and informative first webinar on the topic of severe air quality in Northern Colorado, The Larimer Alliance for Health, Safety and the Environment and Colorado Rising will host a second webinar on June 15, 2022 at 6:00 pm to answer the question, “Why is it, in a state celebrated for its clean mountain air, that counties in Northern Colorado have received a failing grade for their air quality in updated surveys from the American Lung Association?”
Colors of Hydrogen: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (i.e. green, gray, and blue)
Hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe, as well as a source of great energy, can be used to produce electricity, power fuel cells, for heat, cooking fuel, and transportation. No wonder we’ll all be hearing a lot more about this energy source in the coming years.
But there’s a problem: the vast majority of the world’s manufactured hydrogen today comes from fracked methane gas (aka “natural gas”).
Webinar: “Northern Colorado Air Quality”
Former PSR CO Chair Cory Carroll, MD, Atmospheric Scientist Detlev Helmig, PhD, and Andrew Klooster Optical Gas Imaging Thermographer with EarthWorks, will present a webinar to answer the question, "Why is it, in a state celebrated for its clean mountain air, that counties in Northern Colorado have received a failing grade for their air quality in updated surveys from the American Lung Association?”
The webinar will take place on March 16 at 6:00 pm, and is sponsored by The Larimer Alliance for Health, Safety and the Environment and Colorado Rising.
The Sierra Club: “Oil and Gas Companies Routinely Frack With ‘Trade Secret’ Chemicals, Including PFAS”
In the magazine “Sierra”, the Sierra Club covers PSR’s shocking investigative report about the use of toxic PFAS and other unknown chemicals protected as “trade secrets” that are widely used in fracking in Colorado.
NEW PSR REPORT: Oil and Gas Companies Withheld Fracking Chemical Identities from Public in More than 12,000 Colorado Wells over Past Decade; Interactive Map Shows Locations
A new report from Physicians for Social Responsibility shows previously unpublicized use of PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”) in fracking in Colorado between 2011 – 2021, but gaps in chemical disclosure rules limit the public’s ability to know full extent of use.
Colorado law currently allows oil and gas companies to withhold fracking chemical identities from the public and from regulators by claiming them as “trade secrets.” As the report documents, companies have utilized that provision thousands of times to avoid disclosing exactly what chemicals they use. This secrecy prevents the public from knowing how widely PFAS – or other toxic chemicals – have been used in oil and gas wells, raising concerns that Coloradans are unknowingly exposed to dangerous hazardous substances.
Tracy Koller, PSR CO Board Member: “Marshall Fire should not have happened”
This poignant and moving opinion piece was penned by our own Tracy Koller, a current PSR CO Board member who resides in Superior, and whose neighborhood was directly impacted and damaged by the Marshall Fire. Tracy’s opinion piece appeared in the Boulder Daily Camera on January 11, 2022.
PSR CO Press Release: Superior, Colorado Health Professionals point to climate causes of fires
PSR Colorado (Physicians for Social Responsibility), an organization of health professionals and other public health-concerned citizens, is deeply saddened by the horrific fires that devastated the Superior, Louisville, and Boulder County communities. Indeed, two members of our PSR Colorado Board of Directors were directly impacted by the firestorm.
Tracy Koller, FNP and Sasha Stiles, MD, MPH, have the joint distinction of being board members of PSR (Physicians for Social Responsibilty) Colorado, health professionals, impacted residents of Superior, Colorado, and climate activists.
Please read our press release in response to the tragic Marshall Fire.
Also Check out PSR Colorado in the Media on PSR National
