For the “no evidence of off-site contamination” argument to be true, we would have to believe that a half-century’s worth of windblown contamination was stopped dead in its tracks by chain-link and barbed wire fences. As we found during our investigation, “no evidence” of contamination actually means no testing for contamination.

If the and Open Space, told Boulder Weekly that his department is advising the Boulder County commissioners follow the recommendations of their own staff, the planting of additional genetically modified organisms (GMOs) will be allowed on publicly funded open space.

Critics of new state rules that would require oil and gas companies to disclose the chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” say the proposed regulations contain a massive loophole that will allow corporations to keep their ingredients secret.

While a lot of emphasis is placed on buying local and keeping our hard-earned dollars in Boulder County this holiday season, there is another way to give a meaningful gift without pouring money into the coffers of giant corporations.

At about 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, a liquid began shooting 40 to 50 feet into the air at a natural gas pipeline in Windsor. Neighbors concerned about recent reports of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in the area took photos of the spill at 32744 Weld County Road 13. The pictures show the liquid pouring into the street and down a roadside ditch that leads to the Cache La Poudre River only two-tenths of a mile away, just past the Frank State Wildlife Area.

Rob Alexander, agricultural resource specialist for Boulder County Parks and Open Space, says the real problem with oil and gas companies on open space is not so much spills as it is other impacts from drilling operations.

The county commissioners are expected to decide whether genetically modified organisms (GMOs) will continue to be grown on county open space as early as the week of Dec. 12.

It’s official. Boulder Creek Events (BCE) will be running the Boulder Creek Festival again next spring. City and BCE officials issued a joint press release on Friday announcing that the organization had won the bid to operate the festival through 2014.

Boulder County’s northeast shoulder is about to get fracked. Again. Hydraulic fracturing, also called “fracking,” has become nationally known due to environmental concerns about the chemicals that mining companies use when shooting their high-powered liquids deep into the earth to extract oil and gas. The practice has attracted scrutiny because of the possible effects those chemicals can have on groundwater.

Xcel officials are challenging the authenticity of a document reportedly sent to a Boulder City Council member outlining the company’s anti-municipalization campaign strategy, dating back to last spring.