KSFR Local
(2008-07-29)
SANTA FE
(KSFR) -
-- The oil company that is hoping to drill in a watershed area of Rio Arriba County has dropped its lawsuit against the county. Approach Resources filed the suit in June in response to the county's four-month moratorium on drilling.
They said at the time that a county does not have the right to issue a moratorium because regulation of wells is a state responsibility.
Since that time, the state Oil Conservation Division has revoked a permit it had previously given to the company because the site of the well was too close to surface water.
The agency is also making another review of a number of other permit applications filed by the company. And they are drafting special rules to govern drilling in Rio Arriba County, especially in the Rio Chama Watershed.
In an email statement, Approach Resources said they expect "the state rulemaking to fully and finally resolve the conditions for prudent oil and gas development in Rio Arriba County." © Copyright 2013, KSFR
