Colorado lawmakers get firsthand look at energy boom

An aerial photo of a 10-square-mile area of La Plata County showed natural gas wells but looked more like a bombing had scarred the landscape. Lawmakers gasped when they saw a photo of a house that exploded because of methane seepage. Another photo showed a road used for drilling rigs that looked like someone used a rototiller on it.

These and other problems were addressed by Western Slope officials during a tour and hearing by a legislative committee studying oil and gas drilling and the distribution of severance taxes to help communities deal with Colorado
Counties directly affected by the drilling say they need more money to cope with crowded schools, clogged roads and labor shortages. State officials say there aren