Colorado’s Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) has unveiled further details regarding the alleged manipulation of contamination data at numerous oil and gas sites. On Friday, the commission released a map pinpointing 344 sites across Weld County where environmental consulting firms Eagle Environmental Consulting and Tasman Geosciences reportedly falsified lab results for soil and groundwater contamination data.
This issue was brought to light last month, revealing that the data in question was submitted between 2021 and the summer of 2024 as part of mandatory spill cleanup and site remediation efforts. ECMC Director Julie Murphy, speaking at a commission hearing on Friday, emphasized that while the falsification is a serious matter, it does not introduce new public health risks.
“The investigation is vital, and the falsification of data is deeply troubling,” Murphy stated. “However, we do not see this as an environmental emergency based on current assessments.”
The implicated firms, hired by industry giants Chevron and Occidental Petroleum respectively, could face significant regulatory repercussions, including fines and criminal investigations. This follows a thorough update to the state’s oil and gas regulations post a 2019 reform law aimed at enhancing health, safety, and environmental standards.
According to Murphy, the pattern of data manipulation appears “erratic and somewhat patternless,” complicating the investigation. Of the affected locations, about half are still undergoing active remediation, while the rest were previously closed, potentially requiring further scrutiny to ensure no residual contamination was overlooked due to the falsified data.
A map from the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission showing the 344 locations where falsified contamination data was submitted by contractors. (ECMC)
The ECMC has prioritized reassessing these sites to determine if there’s a need for additional cleanup actions. A statement from the ECMC highlighted, “ECMC is focused on understanding how these falsifications influenced decisions to declare remediation complete.”
Geographically, the majority of these sites are scattered across unincorporated parts of Weld County, central to the oil-rich Denver-Julesburg Basin, with some within city limits like Greeley, Windsor, Firestone, and Erie.
Local officials in Weld County have voiced discontent over the timing and transparency of the ECMC’s disclosures, especially since the issue surfaced just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Weld County Commissioners criticized the ECMC for not providing earlier warnings, with Weld County’s oil and gas director, Jason Maxey, highlighted for criticism.
In response, ECMC Board Chair Jeff Robbins noted, “We acknowledge the frustration regarding the communication timeline. We were expediting the release of this information to the public.”
Murphy added that alongside site-specific reviews, a broader investigation into the implications of the falsified data is underway, spearheaded by a newly formed quality assurance team. The public can expect the next update on this investigation by March 2025 at the latest.
This incident underscores ongoing challenges in ensuring integrity and accuracy in environmental assessments within Colorado’s significant oil and gas sector, spotlighting the need for robust oversight and accountability in environmental consulting practices.
