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April 11, 2014 Arapahoe County, Colorado | Volume 13, Issue 20 A publication of
centennialcitizen.net
Oil, gas impact study clears panel The bill and its price tag expand during committee talks By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com The potential health impacts of oil and gas operations among Front Range residents will be studied, under a bill that is making its way through the Legislature. But increased costs to the legislation that were added during a recent House committee hearing left the bill sponsor worried that the effort might not get funded. House Bill 1297 would require the state to study the impacts that oil and gas operations may have on a person’s health and quality of life. The three-year study would
focus on residents living in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer and Weld Counties. Those counties include cities that have placed limits on fracking — the mixing of water, sand and chemicals that are blasted deep into the surface to crack porous rock to free up blocked oil and gas. So far, five Colorado cities and more than 100 municipalities across the nation have either placed bans or other limits on the practice. The bill would require the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to review scientific literature regarding the health impacts of oil and gas operations, and would then conduct a health survey of randomly selected Front Range residents. If the findings warrant further research,
a second-tiered part of the study would kick in, which could involve the review of medical records. The final reports would then be presented to Legislators and would be made available through the CDPHE’s website. Rep. Joann Ginal, DFort Collins, told the House Health, Insurance, and Environment Committee on April 1 that she is not “targeting” oil and gas compa- Swalm nies. Ginal acknowledged that those companies provide economic benefits to the state. “But health is a quality of life issue, as is jobs, as is our energy jobs and education,” she said. “And fear is driving communities
to enact bans and moratoriums and fear should not be the motivation in this case.” The committee’s vote to move forward with the study fell on party lines. Rep. Spencer Swalm, R-Centennial, said that communities are already working together to deal with fracking without the state’s involvement. Swalm cited an agreement between Arapahoe County and the oil and gas industry, which would allow companies to expedite fracking applications if they exceed state standards. “Arapahoe County has come to a good understanding of how to address this approach,” Swalm said. “The elected officials out there worked hard to come to that.”
Oil continues on Page 10
South metro CU campus creates buzz University to offer classes at Wildlife Experience starting this fall By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ coloradocommunitymedia.com Anticipation is building for the fall opening of a University of Colorado campus at The Wildlife Experience. A well-attended welcoming reception at the Parker museum April 3 kicked off the beginning of what’s being billed as a symbiotic partnership. Business professionals will have a place close to home to continue their education, and employers will gain easier access to resources and a growing pool of highly-educated workers. Dave Liniger, founder of the wildlife art and natural history museum, said he never imagined The Wildlife Experience would host university-level classes. “This is a tremendous opportunity to fully utilize the facility,” said Liniger, who Campus continues on Page 7
Among other improvements, Centennial resident John Bauer’s dexterity improved after his surgery, enhancing his playing ability. Photo by Jane Reuter
Surgery changing lives Area doctor among handful performing technique By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ coloradocommunitymedia.com
Bruce Benson, president of the University of Colorado, speaks to those who gathered for a reception celebrating CU’s arrival at The Wildlife Experience. The satellite campus will open this fall and offer six areas of study. Photo by Chris Michlewicz
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Centennial resident John Bauer describes the surgery that eased his Parkinson’s disease symptoms as a small miracle. “I have an increase in energy and just feel overall better,” said the 66-year-old, diagnosed with the disease 10 years ago. “Now I only take one Parkinson’s medication, and that’s 50 percent of what it was. I used to take three (medications).” Bauer underwent a surgical procedure called deep brain stimulation at Littleton Adventist Hospital. Dr. David VanSickle, who also performs the procedure at Lone Tree’s Sky Ridge Medical Center, inserts electrodes into the brains of those suffering from Parkin-
son’s disease. The electrical stimulation blocks abnormal nerve signals that cause many of Parkinson’s most troublesome symptoms. “If not the most, it’s one of the most effective treatments,” VanSickle said. “Quality of life will improve 25 to 30 percent.” About 60,000 people are diagnosed with the disease annually. VanSickle is among a handful of doctors nationally who perform the procedure while patients are asleep. That not only reduces patients’ stress, it cuts down on the time required for surgery and allows VanSickle greater accuracy in placing the electrodes. The surgical treatment is most effective for treating the motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s, including tremors, rigidity and limited facial expression. That final symptom “hurts their relationships with their family members,” VanSickle said, because loved ones are
unable to read facial expressions. “People do it for the tremor,” he said. “But the number one result they like is the facial expressions. I hear people say, ‘Thank you for giving me my wife or husband back. This is the person I married.’” After years of living with the disease, Bauer’s symptoms worsened significantly in 2013, prompting him to move forward with the surgery. “The biggest thing I’ve noticed is when I’m driving,” he said. “Before, I was really afraid to drive; it was just the way my nervous system was reacting.” Bauer now drives with ease and confidence. Because he’s caring for his ailing wife, that’s vital for them both. “I trained as a neurosurgeon, but I fell in love with this patient population,” VanSickle said. “You make half as much as you would as a spine surgeon. But they are really nice people. And they get quite a bit better. I believe in it.”