Hydraulic fracturing (aka “fracing”) has been used by the natural gas and oil industry since the 1940s.  In Colorado by the 1970’s fracing became a routine completion technique for most wells.  When properly conducted, modern fracing is a safe, sophisticated, highly engineered and controlled procedure.   Because of the public’s interest in and concern about the potential impacts of fracing on public health and the environment, including surface and ground water resources, the COGCC has compiled the documents and links listed below.  We hope that you find this information useful in helping to understand more about fracing: what it is, why it is done, how it is regulated, and how the public and environment are protected.