'Seismic shift' seen on oil, gas commission

Governor appoints conservationists, industry critic to panel

Todd Hartman And Gargi Chakrabarty, Rocky Mountain News

Friday, July 13, 2007

Gov. Bill Ritter fundamentally reshaped oversight of Colorado's oil and gas industry Thursday, adding conservationists and an industry critic to the nine-member Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

The five appointments herald a less predictable era for an industry that enjoyed eight years under Gov. Bill Owens - a former oil and gas lobbyist - and a commission dominated by members with ties to industry.

The new appointments follow passage in the legislature of House Bill 1341, a measure that dramatically altered the commission by raising the number of members from seven to nine and cutting the number of members with ties to oil and gas from five to three.

Ritter's five appointments join one current commissioner and the executive directors of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, two members added to the commission as part of HB 1341. One vacancy remains to be filled.

"With these new commissioners operating under a new set of goals and priorities, I'm confident we can ensure responsible and reasonable development of our vast oil and gas resources, and protect Colorado's land, water, public health, wildlife and communities," Ritter said in a statement.

Ritter said his aerial tour last week of oil and gas development on the Roan Plateau and the Vermillion Basin in northwestern Colorado - when he noted the stark contrast between developed areas and those still untouched - "crystallized for me just how important striking this balance will be."

But a Republican lawmaker, Greg Brophy, of Wray, called the appointments "a seismic shift in the makeup of the commission."

"It looks to me like we're going away from folks who have an inherent knowledge of the industry and moving toward people who have overt political agendas," he said.

The appointment of Garfield County Commissioner Tresi Houpt rattled industry more than any other. Houpt, a Democrat, has often criticized the oil and gas industry's development in Garfield County.

She testified this year before a House Committee that oil and gas operations are affecting residents' health.

Brophy called her an "ultra-liberal" who was "likely coming into this with a big ax to grind."

Houpt called her appointment a "surprise and an honor," and said she wanted to bring "a better understanding about the importance of having a local official involved in discussions when it comes to permitting and rule making. Before, I don't know if (the commission) saw a real need to have that input."

Elise Jones, of the Colorado Environmental Coalition, called the appointments "a fair and balanced slate of nominees and it shows that Gov. Bill Ritter is being true to his commitment to bring diversity to the (commission)."

Stan Dempsey, a lobbyist for the Colorado Petroleum Industry, struck a diplomatic - if wary - tone about the appointments.

"We look forward to working with this new commission," Dempsey said. "We hope (it) will honor the law and private property rights and science in (its) deliberations. I hope there's no hidden agenda by any of the new members."

Oil and gas commission

Gov. Bill Ritter appointed five new members to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. They join three existing commissioners. One seat remains vacant. Terms are four years, and Ritter's nominees must be confirmed by the Senate.

• Joshua B. Epel, Greenwood Village, assistant general counsel for DCP Midstream, an oil and gas company; expert in air pollution law

• Tresi B. Houpt, Glenwood Springs, Garfield County Commissioner; chairs Colorado Counties Inc.'s Land Use and Natural Resources Committee

• Michael P. Dowling, Denver, founder and principal of Western Ranchland Investors; chairman of Colorado Conservation Trust

• Richard D. Alward, Grand Junction, ecologist and owner of Aridlands Natural Resources Consulting; adjunct professor of environmental science at Mesa State College

• Thomas L. Compton, Hesperus, owner and manager of Compton Cattle Co. commercial beef cattle enterprise; vice present of Colorado Rural Electric Association board

EXISTING MEMBERS:

• Jim Martin, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

• Harris Sherman, executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources

• Kimberlee Gerhardt, Durango, geological consultant following a decade with Exxon; remains on commission since appointment by then-Gov. Bill Owens in 2004

hartmant@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5048

• June 12, 2008

  5:48 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  bill_v writes:

  While I respect Commissioner Houpt’s defense of protecting certain drill spots, it is my belief that she should not be in any position that "affects a 23-billion dollar" industry.

  Given her behavior as a Garfield County Commissioner she has dealt unfair and unjust blows to business owners in the county effectively closing their doors because a real estate agent moved in after the fact and complained about a 25 year old business. The worst part, is she ignored a district court judge, first-hand testimony from five people, and mounts of evidence. Larry McCown, another Garfield County Commissioner, called the evidence presented to the overwhelming. Yet given this overwhelming evidence they refused to listen to it and shut down a 25 year old excavation company in Carbondale, Colorado.

  A grass roots petition website has been created with a petition of over 150 people and growing. Over 50 people have left comments on how outrageous their behavior was along with all of the transcripts and documents in the case.

  If this is an indicator to her behavior, it would not surprise me if after she gets comfortable and "makes a name for herself" she will be susceptible to bending to special interest groups.

  Tresi Houpt does not have the best wishes of Garfield County in mind, nor its economy. She is up for reelection this November in the Garfield County Board of Commissioners and already petition drives are being created as well as full campaigns to make sure she no longer represents Garfield County.

  For more information, visit http://www.stopGARCOinjustice.com to read more of her atrocities in Garfield County, Colorado. Efforts are underway to collect letters from their supporters and email-blast them off to a media database of over 4,000 names that include national, state, and local news papers, radio stations, governors offices, mayors offices, and corruption investigation groups.