How Aurora neighborhoods are fighting back against proposed fracking

More than 200 people showed up to ECMC’s Sept. 11 public hearing on the State Sunlight/Long pad. The event hall wasn’t big enough to fit everyone. Many attendees sat outside on the lawn, where large speakers relayed the conversation happening inside.

For almost three hours, community members took the stage and delivered remarks about the proposed fracking — all of them were against it. 

In their allotted 90 seconds, residents brought up issues like the risk of spills into the environment, contamination of water, the usage of water and potential health risks that come with fracking

“If there are reasons [for fracking] and the [ECMC] says they’re doing this because of x, y, z and that it was safe, we’d hear them out,” Christina Dayton said. “But they’re not doing that.” 

Rocky Mountain PBS reached out to Civitas for comment but did not hear back. 

Because the event was the first public hearing for the pad, ECMC commissioners didn’t speak, but appeared to take notes. 

A separate online forum allowed residents to comment on the development plan. During the 45-day period when people could comment, the forum received more than 1,500 posts. Just four comments communicated support for the project. 

Randy Willard, who has lived in Tollgate Crossing — one of the neighborhoods in Southeast Aurora — for 11 years, was at the meeting in a bright blue shirt that read, “SAVE THE AURORA RESEVOIR”. 

He was sitting with more than two dozen attendees all dressed in the same shirts. 

Formed in 2022 when residents first heard about this plan, Save the Aurora Reservoir, or STAR, is a nonprofit that advocates against industrial development near the reservoir, which serves as the city’s primary drinking water source. 

 

Willard showed support for STAR because he worries about the potential environmental impacts and the safety of people who live near fracking sites. 

“There are risks [operators] are willing to take that we aren’t. What is the impact of 80,000 gallons of frack fluid hitting this reservoir?” Willard said. “It can be devastating.” 

Members of STAR hired scientists and experts for analysis and reports. The group also leads protests and distributes flyers in the neighborhoods to spread awareness of the fracking project.

“From an environmental justice standpoint, a lot of fracking has been done in disparately impacted communities,” Willard said. “Our neighborhoods are not, which is one of the many reasons why STAR has been able to be more effective. We have people who have the luxury to step away from their work and educate themselves.” 

Willard spends his time advocating against fracking and prioritizing the potentially affected community first. It’s almost become a full-time job for him. 

Two years ago, Willard knew the basics about fracking but didn’t know the government processes, potential impacts and scientific studies related to the process. He says it’s one of the biggest challenges for STAR: to share information with the community without it being confusing. 

“I’m hoping we can get a win here, and it can become a win for other communities when they can leverage what we’ve done — that’s my focus over the last few years,” Willard said.