Published in the Denver Post on October 12th, 2018

It is more than sad that The Denver Post has been fooled by the oil and gas industry scare tactics on Proposition 112 — safe setbacks for fracking operations.

There is no way that Prop 112 can be a ban on oil and gas development when Colorado already has over 50,000 wells and these will be unaffected. Moreover, the lateral lines used in fracking can go many thousands of feet, so a 2,500 foot setback is in no way a “ban” on the industry.

It is also more than sad that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Safety seems determined to protect the oil and gas industry over the public health. It is undisputed that fracking often leads to elevated concentrations of benzene in the air. Benzene is a known human carcinogen.

Vote “Yes on Prop 112” for safer setbacks for fracking. Keep oil and gas jobs, but provide safer separation between the jobs and our families, neighborhoods and sensitive environments.

Leslie Glustrom, Boulder