Chesapeake to discuss Converse County oil plans with community

Chesapeake Energy is hosting a community meeting tomorrow about its future energy development plans in Converse County.

Chesapeake has drilled several oil wells around a residential subdivision just outside of Douglas, and one well blew out in the spring, spewing gas into the air.

Some residents, like Kristi Mogen, are concerned that the new rigs could cause health and environmental problems. Mogen wants to know what chemicals were released during the April blowout, and she wants state regulators to monitor oil rigs more closely. She’s also worried about new wells that are slated to go in, next to her community’s sole access road.

“If those wells blow up  – and we’ve had one, so don’t say it’s not going to happen; it’s happened – if there’s a problem, they’re so close to the road, we can’t get emergency services to and from here unless they go … 45 minutes out of the way,” Mogen said.

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Credit Willow Belden

Chesapeake declined to comment. The meeting is Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Clarion Inn in Douglas.