oil and gas

Greeley oil and gas driller backs down after parents’ fury

An oil and gas industry proposal to drill 19 wells within 900 feet of an elementary school in Greeley ignited such parent fury that company officials on Monday backed down. Mineral Resources Inc. officials said withdrawing their application to drill by the Frontier Academy school is an example of listening to community concerns. They made their decision as state regulators are investigating recent fires and explosions at industry storage tanks northeast of Denver — including one last week near a different elementary school. “We’re grateful. Now our children are safe,” said Trisha Golding, head of the Frontier Parents’ Group, who pressed their case Thursday with Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission director Matt Lepore. “And we’re not going to res...