DENVER (AP) — Sponsors of a contentious proposal to strictly limit new oil and gas drilling in Colorado said Friday they've recovered thousands of voter petitions supporting the measure that had been taken to Oregon by a signature gathering firm in a dispute over payments for its services.

Boulder-based Colorado Rising said it hopes its contract dispute with Direct Action Partners , Inc. of Portland doesn't jeopardize its efforts to get the measure on November's ballot. The proposal would eliminate 85 percent of non-federal land in Colorado to new oil and gas drilling and related development,...