Colorado’s oil and natural gas industry is planning rallies in Rifle and Loveland before the state’s Air Quality Control Commission considers new rules next month.

The regulatory board is expected to take up the two rules during meetings Dec. 17-19 in Denver, after public comment sessions around the state.

Industry supporters will rally on Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. at the Ute Theater, 132 E. Fourth St. in Rifle, ahead of the public comment session at 6 p.m.

On Dec. 16 at 3:30 p.m. in Loveland, oil and gas industry supporters will rally at a location that hasn’t yet been picked, according to a Wednesday afternoon media advisory.

The comment session will be at McKee Hall in the Loveland Complex at 200 Peridot Ave. at 4:30 p.m.

Opposition to strict rules that could hamper the major industry in the state is being led by the Colorado Oil and Gas Association and the state office of the American Petroleum Institute, the Colorado Petroleum Council.

“Protecting the air we breath is a top priority, but the draft rules proposed by the AQCC exceed what is reasonable,” the organizations said in the joint advisory. “COGA and API Colorado have aligned and submitted a joint rebuttal statement urging changes to the proposal. You can view that statement here.

The industry’s joint statement to the AQCC is available by clicking here.