Boulder, Weld differ greatly with intents for respective mineral ownerships

Both Boulder and Weld counties own a substantial amount of mineral rights, but how they are viewed and used by the respective local governments couldn’t be more different.

Boulder County sees its mineral rights — and the initiative to acquire more with new land purchases — as protective measures against new oil and gas drilling projects by private companies, despite receiving more than $1.7 million over the past five years in royalties from drilling operators harvesting the county’s hydrocarbons.

That revenue, which doesn’t include taxes on oil and gas production and sales, is used by Boulder County’s Parks and Open Space Department to manage its agricultural properties. It isn’t the money, however, the county is after when looking to add to its mineral ownership.

But the strategy of gaining mineral rights with land can be ineffective at safeguarding against new drilling.

Read more: https://www.denverpost.com/2018/11/17/boulder-weld-mineral-rights-oil-gas/