As coalbed methane development continues with closer well spacing, La Plata County officials are anticipating requests to drill within 1.5 miles of the Fruitland formation outcrop where methane seeps and even underground coal fires have been an issue. County Emergency Management Director Butch Knowlton said the outcrop is now recognized as a 25-mile-long geological hazard area, most of it privately owned. This is separate from the part of the outcrop on Southern Ute land in the southwest part of the county. That’s where coal fires have happened. The fires have been in very remote areas, but the concern is that they could happen in populated areas. The outcrop crosses the Pine River just south of Bear Creek Canyon. It crosses the Animas River just north of WalMart.

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