The rapid expansion of hydraulic fracturing in the arid west has led to significant political upheaval, with multiple policy solutions proposed by different stakeholders. One prominent solution in Colorado is the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which proposes a set of Best Management Practices (BMPs) that a company must adhere to in exchange for expedited regulatory treatment. Ideally, these agreements foster better company-community relations by protecting the community while saving the well operator time and money. Arapahoe County and the town of Erie have both adopted MOUs to address growing community concern about the safety and environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing; this study examines the impacts of the MOUs on public perceptions of hydraulic fracturing by comparing community opinions in both Erie and Arapahoe County with opinions in communities without an MOU. Focus groups and interviews with government officials and key stakeholders are employed to assess public perceptions of hydraulic fracturing and the effectiveness of MOUs.  The opinions gathered are paired with GIS well data to examine the correlation of opinions with proximity and density of drilling and fracturing operations, as well as with local adoption of BMPs. This research provides an initial analysis of the impact of hydraulic fracturing on Colorado communities and the effectiveness of MOUs as a policy solution.

Examining memorandums of understanding as a policy solution for hydraulic fracturing in Colorado

249th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.