A sprawling new oil and gas pad could be headed to unincorporated Arapahoe County, and neighbors are on the clock if they want a say.
The county is asking residents to weigh in on a proposed facility known as the Buffalo pad, planned for unincorporated Arapahoe County northwest of the intersection of South Manila Road and East Arizona Avenue. The application, filed by Crestone Peak Resources Operating LLC (doing business as Civitas), would place roughly 19 acres of pad surface and supporting infrastructure in the Lowry Ranch drilling area and could support about 26 wells. County staff set a public-comment deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8.
What's Proposed And How To Comment
According to Arapahoe County, the Buffalo pad application identifies a 19.17-acre well pad and a total proposed disturbance of about 21.02 acres, including roughly 1.85 acres for new or upgraded road work. The operator expects to shrink the active pad to about 7.37 acres during interim reclamation, and the site would support 26 wells.
Final application documents are available on Arapahoe County, and the county is accepting comments through its online form or by email to [email protected] through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8.
Regulatory Context
The Buffalo pad sits inside the Lowry Ranch planning area, a project tied to a Comprehensive Area Plan that the state Energy and Carbon Management Commission approved in August 2024, according to grants' conditional approval, as per Hoodline. Local coverage and advocacy groups have documented community concerns about prior Civitas/Crestone projects, including air, water, and proximity impacts, as reported by Colorado Newsline.
What’s Next
Residents who live near the Lowry Ranch area are being urged to review the final application materials and submit comments through the county portal before the April 8 deadline; county staff will consider submissions as part of a formal review and then issue a decision. Questions about the application can be directed to the Public Works and Development office via the county portal or the energy email address above.
