Our view: Governor’s oil and gas panel must be transparent

Gov. John Hickenlooper has an unprecedented opportunity to determine the future of oil and gas extraction in Colorado.

And the best way he can lead is by throwing open long-closed doors and displaying transparency on the process that is expected to inform new laws on fracking regulations.

The first place he must start is with a “blue-ribbon” panel he is creating to address burgeoning issues related to fracking, such as the role of local control, public health and the environment.

Here is what we know:

The committee will be made up of six Colorado politicians and residents, six industry representatives, and six “respected Coloradans,” according to Hickenlooper.

But here is what we don’t know, and it’s a far longer list:

What is both the scope and the timeline for this group?

How is the governor defining “respected Coloradan?”

Where and when will meetings be held, and will they be public, as they should?

How will feedback be collected?

So far, the governor has selected two people to the panel: La Plata County Commissioner Gwen Lachelt and XTO Energy President Randy Cleveland. Why them?

The governor must tread lightly here with such a process. The formation of a blue-ribbon panel could be an inclusive and transparent boost to this process. But Hickenlooper also surely recognizes that this commission does not necessarily ensure that the will of the people of Colorado are represented. Nor is an appointed commission necessarily accountable to the public.

Here’s another challenge for the governor: Thursday, a judge struck down a moratorium on fracking in Fort Collins, where many residents are concerned about fracking’s impacts on their homes, schools, water quality and health. A similar ruling occurred in Longmont. Meantime, Weld County is the most active county with fracking. Northern Colorado demands representation for its residents on this commission, as does the Western Slope. This cannot be a Denver-based commission.

Hickenlooper successfully convinced representatives of four ballot issues and those vowing legal action to stand down. They won’t hold off long if this commission is not transparent and representative.