Regarding protecting royalty owners from those who would restrict our rights on bringing minerals to market, in the December Roar, Rockies report , Neil Ray stated that he 'would rather rely on his elected County Commissioners to do this.' Really? Is that because Neil has not, as a surface/mineral owner, dealt with the local BOCC? I certainly do not trust the BOCC to take care of my minerals or my property. In Garfield County, these same "watchdogs" attempted to bypass our lease provisions & negotiations by giving the producer permission to put their pipeline through our property in part on the county road our family had deeded for a school bus route. In the process the road was damaged and had to be closed, as well as damage to our property. In addition to subverting our negotiations, the end result could have very well been that all the federal gas would be in the pipeline while ours sat on the back burner. Government officials, those with overrides and some producers do not care about protecting your royalties or your property. They care about their slice of the pie, which is constantly being enlarged. That is why other groups are seeking a standing with the COGCC.
