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The Colorado House has given its approval to the update of oil and gas drilling regulations.  
The rules also include new wildlife habitat protections, pit lining requirements, odor controls, chemical reporting regulations and numerous other provisions. They are scheduled to take effect this spring, pending legislative approval. The regulations are subject to a third reading in the House before being considered by the Senate.

The House vote this afternoon came after it rejected several amendments by Republican lawmakers, including one that would have postponed implementation of the rules until July 1, 2010.

The last-minute amendments were no surprise. Colorado Republicans have made cause to parrot every claim by industry lobbyists, and raised all manner of fear-based and hyperbolic arguments against the rules.