Definition(s)

Restricted Surface Occupancy Area

RESTRICTED SURFACE OCCUPANCY AREA shall mean the following:

  1. rocky mountain bighorn sheep production areas;
  2. desert bighorn sheep production areas;
  3. areas within 0.6 miles of any greater sage-grouse, Gunnison sage-grouse, and lesser prairie chicken leks (strutting and booming grounds);
  4. areas within 0.4 miles of any Columbian sharp-tailed grouse or plains sharp-tailed grouse leks (strutting grounds);
  5. areas within 1/4 mile of active Bald Eagle nest sites, Golden Eagle nest sites, or Osprey nest sites;
  6. areas within 1/2 mile of active Ferruginous Hawk nest sites, Northern Goshawk nest sites, Peregrine Falcon nest sites, or Prairie Falcon nest sites;
  7. areas located within 300 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of any stream segment located within designated Cutthroat Trout habitat; and
  8. areas within 300 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of a stream or lake designated by the Colorado Division of Wildlife as “Gold Medal.”

Maps showing and spatial data identifying the individual and combined extents of the above habitat areas shall be maintained by the Commission and made available on the Commission website, and copies of the maps shall be attached as Appendix VII. The extent of restricted surface occupancy areas is subject to update on a periodic but no more frequent than annual basis and may be modified only through the Commission’s rulemaking process, as provided in Rule 529. Any changes to restricted surface occupancy areas shall not affect Form 2As or Comprehensive Drilling Plans approved prior to the effective date of such changes.

Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. Regulations

 

 

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