DENVER — Colorado Republicans used a late-night filibuster Monday to block a first-of-its-kind requirement that oil and gas producers provide the locations of all their gas lines.
Democrats who rule the House were planning to pass the bill before midnight, their deadline to get it to the governor’s desk before the Legislature concludes work for the year.
But the chamber’s 28 Republicans successfully extended debate, saying the mapping requirement isn’t needed and wouldn’t improve public safety.
Democrats called for a searchable statewide map of gas lines. Some states have searchable statewide well maps, though none has come up with the maps by requiring oil and gas producers to disclose well sites.
“The reason this is coming up is that two people are dead in our community,” Democratic Rep. Matt Gray said.
But Republicans pointed out that oil and gas regulators have already ordered safety reviews of the state’s 54,000 or so wells.
They also argued that homeowners can find out about wells now using technology called the geographic information system, or GIS. Though no state keeps a central database of those lines, they’re not hidden, either.
“You’d have to go back to the ’50s to find lines that aren’t mapped out,” said Republican Rep. Phil Covarrubias. “It’s ridiculous to say we don’t know where lines are.”
The measure was inspired by an April 17 home explosion that killed two people last month in Firestone, a small town in northern Colorado. Investigator concluded that the explosion was caused by a gas escaping from a nearby flow line.
Dennis Herrera, Special to The Denver Post
A home explosion in Firestone Monday, April 17, 2017 killed two and sent two people to the hospital.
Dennis Herrera, Special to The Denver Post
A home explosion in Firestone Monday, April 17, 2017 killed two and sent two people to the hospital.
Dennis Herrera, Special to The Denver Post
A home explosion in Firestone on April 17, 2017 killed two men. On Monday, the COGCC levied an $18.25 million on Kerr McGee, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum, for its role in the incident.
Dennis Herrera, Special to The Denver Post
A home explosion in Firestone Monday, April 17, 2017 killed two and sent two people to the hospital. Dennis Herrera/ Special to The Denver Post
John Leyba, The Denver Post
A couple watch the house next door to them get extinguished by Frederick-Firestone FD after a report of a house explosion on Twilight Ave on April 17, 2017 in Firestone. There was some damage to their home during the incident. There was a report of on person taken to the hospital.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Frederick-Firestone FD extinguish whats left of a house after a report of a house explosion on Twilight Ave on April 17, 2017 in Firestone. There was a report of on person taken to the hospital.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Frederick-Firestone FD extinguish whats left of a house after a report of a house explosion on Twilight Ave on April 17, 2017 in Firestone. There was a report of on person taken to the hospital.
RJ Sangosti, Denver Post file
A home at 6312 Twilight Ave. in Firestone was destroyed April 17, 2017, by an explosion that was linked to gas seeping into the home from a cut-off underground pipeline.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Crews investigate a fatal house explosion on April 27, 2017 in Firestone. Anadarko Petroleum plans to shut down 3,000 wells in northeastern Colorado after the fatal explosion.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Heather Sawlidi, with her son Sebastian, 1, stands outside her home five houses down from a fatal house explosion on April 27, 2017 in Firestone. Sawlidi is still scared and upset over the explosion. "It is hard to make my kids feel safe after something like this happens" said, Sawlidi. Anadarko Petroleum plans to shut down 3,000 wells in northeastern Colorado after the fatal explosion.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Crews investigate a fatal house explosion on April 27, 2017 in Firestone. Anadarko Petroleum plans to shut down 3,000 wells in northeastern Colorado after the fatal explosion.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A man working for Colorado Oil and Gas Commission runs test outside a fatal house explosion on April 27, 2017 in Firestone. Anadarko Petroleum plans to shut down 3,000 wells in northeastern Colorado after the fatal explosion.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Crews investigate the site of the house explosion that killed two men and severely injured a woman in Firestone on April 27, 2017.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A gas well is covered by tan fencing is less than 200 feet from a home where crews continue to investigate a fatal house explosion on April 27, 2017 in Firestone. Anadarko Petroleum plans to shut down 3,000 wells in northeastern Colorado after the fatal explosion.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Several gas wells are near homes in the Oak Meadows subdivision where there was a recent fatal house explosion on April 27, 2017 in Firestone.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 27: Matt Lepore, executive director of Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, left, addresses members of the media during a press conference at their headquarters on April 27, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. Lepore was addressing the recent house explosion in Firestone that killed 2 people and severely injured a third. There is an ongoing investigation as to the cause of the explosion that completely leveled the house. Next to Lepore is Bob Randall, executive director of Colorado Department of Natural Resources at right. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
Fire Chief Ted Poszywak speaking during a press conference addressing the results of investigation into the origin and cause of April 17th home explosion in firestone at the Frederick-Firestone F.P.D Business and Education Center May 2, 2017.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
Flowers grace a fence near the site of the April 17 home explosion in Firestone May 2, 2017.
The well was drilled in 1993. State records show it was shut down all of last year and resumed production in January, although the records do not show the reasons.
The statewide mapping bill stood little chance from the beginning. For one, the state Senate is controlled by Republicans who oppose the map requirement.
Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, a former geologist, said after the explosion that improved well maps are important but may be better kept by county and local authorities, not state regulators.
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable to want to know where those lines are. I’m not compelled that it’s got to be the state that controls that,” Hickenlooper said.
