Grass Mesa HOA still locked in dispute with Encana by John Colson, January 18, 2013, Glenwood Springs Post Independent
RIFLE, Colo. — The Grass Mesa Homeowners Association wants Encana Oil and Gas (USA) to pay $3 million to fix 10 miles of dirt roads through the subdivision, which the company uses for its natural gas drilling activities.
Encana, one of several energy companies drilling for gas in western Garfield County, has been drilling in and around the subdivision since 2002, according to Rebecca Brock, a 13-year homeowner and member of the HOA. HOA member Michael Meskin said the HOA sent a letter to Encana in late December 2012 containing an engineering company’s estimate of $300,000 per mile, or $3 million total, to carry out the needed repairs. Encana has not responded to letter outlining the HOA’s proposal, Meskin said. Encana spokesman Doug Hock, in an email to the Post Independent on Thursday, wrote that a response will be forthcoming “in the next few weeks.” After contacting a company attorney, Hock wrote, “We, like the HOA, would like to see this long-running dispute resolved.” The dispute, according to the homeowners, started in 2003, following the first year of drilling. Brock said Encana originally was using the same access road to the mesa that was used by homeowners.
“They ruined that road,” she said. [Emphasis added]