BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

IN THE MATTER OF CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE OF THE OIL & GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

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CAUSE NO. 1R DOCKET NO. 1307-RM-01 ORDER NO. 1R-118

REPORT OF THE COMMISISON

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES AND TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Pursuant to a hearing before the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission of the State of Colorado (“COGCC”) on September 17, 2013, at COGCC offices, 1120 Lincoln Street, Denver, the Commission promulgated amendments to its Rules and Regulations as described in Appendix A (100 series rules for Sensitive Wildlife Habitat), Appendix VII (Restricted Surface Occupancy Area Maps) , Appendix VIII (Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Maps), and Statement of Basis and Purpose, attached and made part of.

ENTERED THIS 7^th day of October, 2013, as of September 17, 2013.

OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

By _______________________

Robert J. Frick, Secretary

Appendix A

(Changes to COGCC 100-series rules for Sensitive Wildlife Habitat)

SENSITIVE WILDLIFE HABITAT shall mean:

• mule deer critical winter range (being both mule deer winter concentration areas (that part of the winter range where densities are at least 200% of the surrounding winter range density during the same period used to define winter range in 5 out of 10 winters), and mule deer severe winter range (that part of the winter range where 90% of the individuals are located during the average 5 winters out of 10 from the first heavy snowfall to spring green-up) in Data Analysis Units with > 7 deer per square kilometer) (west of Interstate 25 and excluding Las Animas County);

• elk winter concentration areas (west of Interstate 25 and excluding Las Animas County);

• pronghorn antelope winter concentration areas (west of Interstate 25);

• bighorn sheep winter range;

• elk production areas (being that part of the overall range occupied by the females for calving) (west of Interstate 25 and excluding Las Animas County);

• Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and plains sharp-tailed grouse production areas (being an area that contains 80% of nesting and brood rearing habitat for any identified population);

• greater sage-grouse production areas (being an area that contains 80% of nesting and brood rearing habitat for any population identified in the Colorado Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan (CDOW, 2008);

• Gunnison sage-grouse production areas (being an area that includes a 4 mile buffer on active lek sites),

• lesser prairie-chicken focal areas (being an area that includes core populations and habitat necessary for a viable population);

• black-footed ferret release areas;

• Bald Eagle nest sites and winter night roost sites; and

• Golden Eagle nest sites.

Maps showing and spatial data identifying the individual and combined extents of the above habitat areas shall be maintained by the Commission and made available on the Commission website, and copies of the maps shall be attached as Appendix VIII. The extent of sensitive wildlife habitat is subject to update on a periodic but no more frequent than biennial basis and may be modified only through the Commission’s rulemaking procedures, as provided in Rule 529. Any modifications to sensitive wildlife habitat shall not affect Form 2As or Comprehensive Drilling Plans approved prior to the effective date of such changes.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rules of Practice & Procedure

Appendix VII:

Restricted Surface Occupancy Area Maps

See Specific Rules/Appendix for actual maps.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rules of Practice & Procedure

Appendix VIII:

Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Maps

See Specific Rules/Appendix for actual maps.

Final Statement of Basis, Specific Statutory Authority, and Purpose

New Rules and Amendments to Current Rules of the Colorado Oil and Gas

Conservation Commission, 2 CCR 404-1

Cause No. 1R, Docket No. 1307-RM-01

Updates to Restricted Surface Occupancy Area and Sensitive Wildlife Habitat maps

Please use Hearing Files link for Statement of Basis and Purpose.