The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is preparing for potential oil drilling at a state park and state wildlife area.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife owns mineral rights on 439 acres of St. Vrain Park, which sits on the highly productive Wattenberg oil field, in Longmont.

At its monthly meeting Thursday, the 14-member commission could authorize Colorado Parks and Wildlife director Rick Cables to negotiate a surface rights agreement to allow for energy development from a 10-acre well pad in a rural section of the park, with stipulations to protect the environment and visitors' experiences. Any drilling likely wouldn't occur until 2013.

St. Vrain has nesting sites for herons and great egrets. It also provides winter habitat for bald eagles and summer habitat for American white pelicans.

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