Press Release- Jul 12, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2007
Contact:
Evan Dreyer (Governor's Office), 720.350.8370
Deb Frazier, (Department of Natural Resources), 303.866.5887
GOV. RITTER NAMES FIVE NEW MEMBERS TO COLORADO OIL AND GAS COMMISSION
Gov. Bill Ritter today named five new members to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, part of a reform effort that increases the number of commissioners, provides a greater diversity of expertise and broadens the panel's mission.
The Commission, which grows from seven members to nine as outlined in House Bill 07-1341, is scheduled to next meet July 23-24. The reconstituted Commission is now tasked with considering impacts to the environment, public health and wildlife when making decisions about the exploration and development of Colorado's oil and gas resources.
'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,' Gov. Ritter said. 'We can create an energy future for our state and our nation that is built on the best available technology and does not come at the expense of our environmental future.
'Last week I toured the Roan Plateau and stood on the precipice of the Vermillion Basin in northwest Colorado,' the Governor added. 'This crystallized for me just how important striking this balance will be for generations to come.'
The five new appointees are:
Joshua B. Epel of Greenwood Village, assistant general counsel for DCP Midstream. He helped author the Colorado Voluntary Cleanup Act and the Colorado Air Pollution Prevention and Control Act. He has served on the Regional Air Quality Council and the Steering Committee for the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission.
Tresi B. Houpt of Glenwood Springs, Garfield County commissioner. She was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. She chairs Colorado Counties Inc.'s Land Use and Natural Resources Committee and is a member of the National Association of Counties Environment, Energy and Land Use Committee.
Michael P. Dowling of Denver, founder and principal of Western Ranchland Investors, and founder and president of the Dowling Foundation. Prior to that, he held in-house and management consulting positions with General Atlantic Resources Inc. of Denver and McKinsey & Co. of New York. He is a founding member and current chairman of the Colorado Conservation Trust.
Richard D. Alward of Grand Junction, an ecologist and owner of Aridlands Natural Resources Consulting. As an independent environmental consultant, he provides information to federal land agencies so they can assess the potential impacts of gas, coal, and uranium development on western Colorado ecosystems.
He is an adjunct instructor of environmental science at Mesa State College and previously has worked as an ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.
Thomas L. Compton of Hesperus, owner and manager of the Compton Cattle Co. commercial beef cattle enterprise. He is vice president of the Colorado Rural Electric Association board of directors and served on the Governor's Task Force on Colorado Roadless Areas.
Their terms are for four years and their nominations require Senate confirmation.
Additional members of the Commission include current Commissioner Kimberlee Gerhardt of Durango, Colorado Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Harris Sherman and Department of Public Health and Environment Executive Director Jim Martin. HB 1341 adds the DNR and CDPHE executive directors to the Commission.
The one remaining vacancy on the Commission is expected to be filled within the next two weeks.
Click here for additional information about the Commission.