The Durango Herald: La Plata County government in July terminated its natural resources planner tasked with implementing the county’s year-old gas and oil regulations.

When The Durango Herald asked to inspect the termination letter in the course of investigating the slow implementation of chapter 90, the county incorrectly denied the request, citing a frequently misused exemption to the open records law.

County staff released the letter Sept. 10 following an exchange between an assistant county attorney and an attorney working on behalf of the Herald and the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition.

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