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Colorado Produced Water Consortium

Overview

The Colorado Produced Water Consortium, established by HB23-1242 in the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, consists of individuals with expertise in produced water related to oil and gas operations, environmental impacts, environmental justice concerns, and community perspectives. The primary goal of the Consortium is to reduce the use of fresh water and increase the recycling of produced water in oil and gas operations.

Primary Duties

The Consortium is made up of 31 members representing state and federal agencies, research institutions, environmental groups, industry, local governments, environmental justice groups, and disproportionately impacted communities. The Consortium aims to encourage the reuse and recycling of produced water and address barriers associated with the utilization of produced water. The CPWC will provide an informed path for the utilization of this water resource inside, and potentially outside, of the oilfield in Colorado. The Consortium will identify and address critical scientific, legislative, and regulatory knowledge gaps needed to develop policies that are protective of public health, welfare, safety, the environment, and wildlife resources in Colorado.

2024 Legislative Reports

The Colorado Produced Water Consortium is responsible for submitting reports to the Colorado General Assembly per HB23-1242 Water Conservation in Oil and Gas Operations. Completed reports are posted on the website. Draft reports are listed in the meeting materials.  Pending legislative deliverables are discussed in the Colorado Produced Water Consortium Strategic Plan 2023-2030.

2024 Colorado Produced Water Consortium Annual Update (Submitted April 1, 2024)

Initial Guidance Documents and Case Studies to Promote Best Practices for In-field Recycling and Reuse of Produced Water Report (Submitted March 1, 2024)

Initial Produced Water Regulatory Policy Coordination Report (Submitted May 1, 2024)

Current State of Produced Water Infrastructure, Storage, and Treatment Facilities Across the State with Emphasis on the Denver-Julesburg Basin Report (Submitted July 1, 2024)

Initial Availability of Produced Water for Reuse and Recycling Analysis Report (Submitted August 1, 2024)

Strategic Priorities on Topics Related to Produced Water (Submitted August 16, 2024)

Initial Report on Infrastructure Storage, and Treatment Facilities Necessary to Achieve Different Levels of Recycling & Reuse of Produced Water (Submitted August 30, 2024)

Identifying Barriers to the Safe Recycling and Reuse of Produced Water Report (Submitted October 30, 2024)

Colorado Produced Water Consortium Recommendations for 2024 ECMC Produced Water Rulemaking (Submitted to ECMC September 17, 2024)

Produced Water Reuse and Recycling Goals and Contemporaneous Decreases in Fresh Water Use Report (Submitted December 2, 2024)

Meeting Materials

April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025 - Agenda Pending

Meeting Recording Pending

Presentations: Pending

Documents: Pending 

 

March 14, 2025

March 14, 2025 - Agenda

Meeting Recording

Presentations: 

First Draft: Analytical and Toxicological Methods and Evaluation Tools for Produced Water Treatment and Potential Use Outside of the Oil Field Evaluation Report (Slide Presentation)

Policy Handbook for Boards & Commission (Slide Presentation)

2025 Consortium Orientation by Attorney Generals Office (Slide Presentation)

Documents:

First Draft: Analytical and Toxicological Methods and Evaluation Tools for Produced Water Treatment and Potential Use Outside of the Oil Field Evaluation Report

Policy Handbook for Boards & Commissions

Health Effects Institute (HEI) Event Announcement: Measuring and Modeling Air Pollution and Noise Exposure Near Unconventional Oil and Gas Development in Colorado

Public Comments: No written public comments received

February 14, 2025

February 14, 2025 - Agenda

Meeting Recording

Presentations: 

Reusing Oil and Gas Produced Water for Agricultural Irrigation and Stream Augmentation, Thomas Borch, Professor at Colorado State University

Proposed Approach to Analytical and Toxicological Methods and Evaluation Tools for Produced Water Treatment and Potential Use Outside of the Oil Field Evaluation Report 

Colorado Produced Water Consortium 2024 Achievements

ECMC Form 47 and Form 7W Data Summary

Documents:

Executive Summaries for HB23-1242 Reports

Public Comments:

Toxicology Considerations: Researched Concerns and Mycoremediation and Bioremediations Positive Potentials Submitted by Angelique Rodriguez

Toxicology considerations in Bioremediation and Mycoremediation within Oil and Gas Industry Submitted by Angelique Rodriguez

No Meeting in December 2024

For Review by November 15, 2024

Draft: Produced Water Reuse and Recycling Goals and Contemporaneous Decreases in Fresh Water Use Report

October 11, 2024

October 11, 2024 - Agenda

Meeting Recording

Meeting Recording Transcript - Pending

Legislative Reports for Review:

DRAFT: Identifying Barriers to the Safe Recycling and Reuse of Produced Water Report

Slide Presentation: Identifying Barriers to the Safe Recycling and Reuse of Produced Water Report

September 13, 2024

September 13, 2024 - Agenda

Meeting Recording

Meeting Recording Transcript

Legislative Reports for Review:

FINAL DRAFT: Colorado Produced Water Consortium Recommendations for 2024 ECMC Produced Water Rulemaking

Presentation: FINAL DRAFT: Colorado Produced Water Consortium Recommendations for 2024 ECMC Produced Water Rulemaking

Presentation: Approach to Addendum to Infrastructure, Storage, and Treatment Facilities Necessary to Achieve Different Levels of Recycling & Reuse of Produced Water

Public Comments: City of Aurora re Consortium's Recommendations for ECMC Produced Water Rulemaking from Jeffrey Moore

City of Aurora re Consortium's Recommendations for ECMC Produced Water Rulemaking from Susan Sherman

QB Energy re Consortium's Recommendations for ECMC Produced Water Rulemaking

Adams County Redlines of ECMC Produced Water Draft Rules

Angelique Rodriguez re Consortium's Recommendations for ECMC Produced Water Rulemaking

August 22, 2024 Special Meeting

August 22, 2024 - Agenda

Meeting Recording

Meeting Recording Transcript

Legislative Reports for Review:

FINAL DRAFT:  Initial Report on Infrastructure Storage, and Treatment Facilities Necessary to Achieve Different Levels of Recycling & Reuse of Produced Water 

Slide Presentations: ECMC Data Used in FINAL DRAFT of Initial Report on Infrastructure Storage, and Treatment Facilities Necessary to Achieve Different Levels of Recycling & Reuse of Produced Water

Public Comments: Ember Michel re San Juan Basin Comments for Special Session Infrastructure

QB Energy re Strategic Priorities Draft Report

August 9, 2024

August 9, 2024 - Agenda

Meeting Recording

Meeting Recording Transcript

Legislative Reports for Review:

FIRST DRAFT: Colorado Produced Water Consortium Recommendations for 2024 ECMC Produced Water Rulemaking

Proposed Approach to Initial Requirements, Resources, Considerations and Recommendations for the Safe Recycling and Reuse of Produced Water Report

Slide Presentations: FIRST DRAFT of Recommendations

Public Comment: Caerus Piceance LLC re Draft Documents

July 12, 2024

July 12, 2024 - Agenda

Meeting Recording

Meeting Recording Transcript

Legislative Reports for Review:

FINAL DRAFT: Initial Availability of Produced Water for Reuse and Recycling Analysis

FIRST DRAFT:  Initial Report on Infrastructure Storage, and Treatment Facilities Necessary to Achieve Different Levels of Recycling & Reuse of Produced Water

FIRST DRAFT: Strategic Priorities on Topics Related to Produced Water

Presentations: Pending

June 7, 2024

June 7, 2024 - Agenda

Meeting Recording Part 1

Meeting Recording Part 2

Meeting Recording Full Transcript for Parts 1 and 2

Legislative Reports for Review:

FINAL DRAFT: Current State of Produced Water Infrastructure, Storage, and Treatment Facilities Across the State with Emphasis on the Denver-Julesburg Basin Report

FIRST DRAFT: Initial Availability of Produced Water for Reuse and Recycling Analysis

Proposed Approach to Initial Report on Infrastructure Storage, and Treatment Facilities Necessary to Achieve Different Levels of Recycling & Reuse of Produced Water 

Proposed Approach to Strategic Priorities on Topics Related to Produced Water

Public Comment: Caerus Piceance LLC Talking Points for Public Comment

May 10, 2024

May 10, 2024 - Agenda

Meeting Recording

Meeting Recording Transcript

Legislative Reports for Review:

FIRST DRAFT: Current State of Produced Water Infrastructure, Storage, and Treatment Facilities Across the State with Emphasis on the Denver-Julesburg Basin Report 

Presentation: Proposed Approach to Initial Availability of Produced Water for Reuse and Recycling Analysis

Public Comment: Caerus Piceance LLC re Current Infrastructure Draft Report and Approach to Produced Water Availability Report

April 5, 2024

April 5, 2024 - Agenda

Meeting Recording

Meeting Recording Transcript

Legislative Reports for Review:

FINAL DRAFT: Initial Produced Water Regulatory Policy Coordination Recommendation Report

Presentations:

For Discussion Recommendations and Special Considerations from FINAL DRAFT: Initial Produced Water Regulatory Policy Coordination Recommendation Report - Presented by Hope Dalton, Director

Methods to identify hazards in produced water - Presented by Chris Corton, PhD, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, EPA

Geologic History of Colorado - Presented by Cat Campbell, Science Advisor: Data Innovation, ECMC

Public Comment: IX Power Clean Water re Draft Regulatory Policy Coordination Draft Report

March 8, 2024

March 8, 2024 - Agenda

Meeting Recording

Meeting Recording Transcript

Legislative Reports for Review:

FIRST DRAFT Initial Produced Water Regulatory Policy Coordination Recommendation Report

Presentations:

Produced Water Management - Projects in Oil-field Produced Water (OPW) Treatment, Recycle and ReUse - Presented by Clay Terry, Managing Partner Natural Resource Advisors, LLC

A Method to Identify and Prioritize Produced Water Chemicals for Research - Presented by Dr. Cloelle Danforth, Senior Staff Scientist Health Effects Institute

Water Quality of Produced Water - Presented by Dr. James Rosenblum, Managing Director Colorado School of Mines WE2ST Water Technology Hub

Public Comment:  Caerus Piceance LLC re Regulatory Policy Coordination Draft Report

February 9, 2024

February 9, 2024 - Agenda 

Meeting Recording

Meeting Recording Transcript

Legislative Reports for Review:

DRAFT Guidance Documents and Case Studies to Promote Best Practices for In-field Recycling and Reuse of Produced Water (Version 1)

Presentations:

Water Treatment and Reuse Opportunities & Considerations - Presented by Erik Anglund, PE, Oxy Water

Lonestar Recycling Facility - Presented by Grant Tupper, Select Water

January 12, 2024

January 12, 2024 Agenda

Meeting Recording

Meeting Recording Transcript

Presentations:

HB23-1242 Data Update - Presented by Greg Deranleau, ECMC

Upcoming Meeting Topics and Timeline - Presented by Hope Dalton, CPWC

ECMC Produced Water Analytical Data - Presented by Arthur Koepsell, ECMC

Legal Water Background - Presented by Tracy Kosloff, DWR

December 1, 2023

December 1, 2023 Agenda

Meeting Recording

Meeting Recording Transcript

Written Reports:

DRAFT Strategic Plan

Presentations:

Produced Water: Water Reuse Program and Regulatory Landscape - Presented by Tricia Pfeiffer, EPA

Produced Water Road Map - Presented by Tessa Sorensen, CDPHE

ECMC Produced Water Rules and Regulations - Presented by John Heil, ECMC

Draft Strategic Plan and Legislative Deliverable 1 - Presented by Hope Dalton, CPWC

Public Comment: No Written Public Comment Received

November 9, 2023

November 9, 2023 Agenda

Meeting Recording

Meeting Recording Transcript

Video: COGCC Commission Hearing - October 5, 2021 (Water Presentations)

Pre-Meeting Presentations: Water Educational Presentations

Presentation: Planning for Results Strategic Planning - November 9, 2023

Public Comment: 

Sandy Borthick Citizens for Huerfano County

Kristine Mize Spansky provided oral public comment, see meeting recording and meeting transcript

October 6, 2023

10/6/2023 Strategic Planning Meeting Agenda

Meeting Recording - Part 1 Introductions and Logistics (17min 44sec)

Meeting Recording Transcript - Part 1 Introductions and Logistics 

Meeting Recording - Part 2 Developing Strategic Priorities (2 hr 59 min)

Meeting Recording Transcript - Part 2 Developing Strategic Priorities 

Meeting Recording - Part 3 Strategic Results for Legislation and Education (1hr 30 min)

Meeting Recording Transcript - Part 3 Strategic Results for Legislation and Education

Presentation: Planning for Results - Strategic Planning - October 6, 2023

Public Comment: No Written Public Comment Received

September 15, 2023

9/15/2023 First Meeting of Consortium Agenda

Meeting Recording - Initial Meeting of the Consortium (2hr 37min)

Meeting Recording Transcript - Initial Meeting of the Consortium

Presentation: Colorado Attorney General's Office Consortium Training 2023

Presentation: Information on Produced Water Consortiums

Public Comment: No Written Public Comment Received

 

Notices/Calendar

Zoom Meeting Info Link
Phone: +1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 819 7115 9925

2025 Meeting Schedule:

January 2025 - No meeting scheduled
February 14, 2025, 9 AM to 12 PM - CSU Spur, 4777 National Western Dr, Denver, CO 80216
March 14, 2025, 9 AM to 11:30AM - Virtual
April 4, 2025 - To be determined; In-Person Denver
June 6, 2025 - To be determined; In-Person Western Slope
July/August/September 2025 - To be determined
October/November/December 2025 - To be determined

Public Comment for 4/4/2025 Meeting Open

Public Comment is Open for the Consortium's Meeting on April 4, 2025.

The Colorado Produced Water Consortium will seek written and oral public comment on the following:

  • 2025/2026 Work Priorities

All members of the public are encouraged to provide public comment.

Submit Written Comment

Sign Up to be Added to Notification List

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Governing Body

John Messner, CPWC Chair, Commissioner, Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission 
Tracy Kosloff, Deputy State Engineer, Colorado Division of Water Resources
Tessa Sorensen, Energy Liaison, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Members

Representatives from state or federal agencies:

John Heil, Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission
Tricia Pfeiffer, United States Environmental Protection Agency
Carmia Woolley, Bureau of Land Management
Brandi Honeycutt, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Representatives from research institutions or institutions of higher education:

James Rosenblum, Colorado School of Mines
Thomas Borch, Colorado State University
Joseph Ryan, University of Colorado-Boulder
Tzahi Cath, Colorado School of Mines

Representatives from environmental non-governmental organizations:

Cloelle Danforth, Health Effects Institute
Harmony Cummings, Colorado Rising
Barbara Vasquez, Western Colorado Alliance
Michael Freeman, Earthjustice

Representatives from the oil and gas industry:

Mark Hefta, Chevron
Jeffrey Kirtland, Terra Energy Partners
Michelina Paulek, The Energy Council
John Lipka, Evergreen Natural Resources

Representatives from local government:

Emma Pinter, Adams County Commissioner
Doug Overton, Rio Blanco County Commissioner

Representatives with experience and expertise in produced water:

Doug White, NGL Energy Partners
Rick McCurdy, Select Energy Services
Erik Anglund, Occidental Petroleum
Clay Terry, Natural Resource Advisors

Legislatively Appointed Members

The Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives appointments:

Kevin Chan, member of a nongovernmental organization in the state that works with and advocates for disproportionately impacted communities and communities of color or who resides in a disproportionately impacted community.
Irene Andress, nongovernmental organization in the state that works on and advocates for policies related to environmental justice and conservation.
Nikie Wells, member of a nongovernmental organization in the state that works with and advocates for disproportionately impacted communities and communities of color or who reside in a disproportionately impacted community.

The President of the Colorado Senate appointments:

Jolie Brawner, member of a nongovernmental organization in the state that works on and advocates for policies related to environmental justice and conservation.
Jacob Smith, member of a nongovernmental organization in the state that works on and advocates for policies related to environmental justice and conservation.
Ember Michel, a member from a nongovernmental organization in the state that works with and advocates for disproportionately impacted communities and communities of color or who resides in a disproportionately impacted community. Ember Michel is the Director of Environmental, Health and Safety for Red Willow Production Company, an affiliate of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.

General Consortium Info:

Hope Dalton, Director for Colorado Produced Water Consortium, hope.dalton@state.co.us

Media Inquiries & CORA requests:

Chris Arend, Communications Director, chris.arend@state.co.us, 303-264-8615