NORTH AND CITY COUNCIL WILL TAKE UP THE COMPLAINT IN A SPECIAL MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT.
>> SHANNON OGDEN: COLORADO LAWMAKERS WILL SPEND THE FINAL DAYS OF THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> CONSIDERING A MAJOR CLIMATE DEAL, DENVER SEVEN'S BRANDON RICHARD SHOWS THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY GROUPS WHO ARE OFTEN AT ODDS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT'S BEST FOR COLORADO, OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE OFTEN WORLDS APART. PEOPLE THAT DON'T ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE. IN FACT, SELDOM SEE EYE
TO EYE. BUT COLORADO GOVERNOR JARED POLIS SAYS BOTH GROUPS PUT THEIR DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND REACHED A MAJOR AGREEMENT.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IS BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND THAT'S REALLY THE COLORADO WAY UNDER THE AGREEMENT, THE STATE WILL GET MORE PERMITTING AND ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY TO
REDUCE EMISSIONS AND IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND OIL AND GAS PRODUCERS WILL HAVE TO PAY A NEW FEE.
>> THE FEE WILL RESULT IN ABOUT 138 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
>> SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE FENBERG SAYS THAT MONEY WILL HELP PAY FOR TRANSIT PROJECTS AND RESTORE PUBLIC LANDS.
>> WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE THINK IS A REASONABLE APPROACH. FUNDING WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED TO PLUG ABANDONED IN LOW PRODUCING WELLS THAT HARMFUL POLLUTANTS. I REALLY
BELIEVE THESE ARE OUR MONUMENTAL NEXT STEPS IN DEALING WITH OZONE AND AIR QUALITY IN THE STATE.
>> ANOTHER KEY PART OF THE DEAL, LEGISLATION CALLING FOR TOUGHER OIL AND GAS REGULATIONS WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD THIS YEAR. AND BOTH SIDES HAVE AGREED TO SCRAP
THEIR BALLOT INITIATIVES.
>> WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT A SERIOUS ABOUT MEASURES THAT ARE PROPOSED BY OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY THAT WE SAW AS ROLLING BACK NEARLY A DECADE OF CLIMATE PROGRESS HERE IN
COLORADO.
>> JESSICA GOAD WITH CONSERVATION. COLORADO SAYS THAT ALONE MADE THE DEAL TOO HARD TO PASS UP.
>> WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR COLORADO. NOW TO BE CLEAR, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS SAY THEY'RE STILL A LOT THAT THEY
WANT TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH TO HOLD OIL AND GAS COMPANIES.
>> ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. BUT THEY SAY THIS DEAL IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> IT'S REALLY A LOT OF TIME AND HARD WORK AND TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFER.
STAK