SB 19-181 directs COGCC to transition to a full-time professional commission
Denver, CO (Jan. 29, 2020) - The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) today announced that applications are being accepted for its first professional commission, which will replace the current all-volunteer commission. As directed by SB 19-181, the COGCC will seat a five member professional commission by July 1, 2020.
“We are excited to announce that applications for COGCC’s first full-time professional commission are being accepted,” said COGCC Director Jeff Robbins. “These five full-time members will help in the continued implementation of SB 19-181 with rulemaking, setting policy and working with our communities and industry to ensure Colorado’s oil and gas operations are protective of public health, safety, welfare, wildlife and the environment.”
Last year’s bill, SB 19-181, immediately seated an interim board on May 17, with members having agricultural, environmental, oil and gas industry, local government, public health, wildlife and technical expertise. The new COGCC professional board will be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate.
The Professional Commission will include the Executive Directors of both the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Public Health and Environment to serve as ex officio non voting members. The other five Commissioners will include:
- One appointed member must be an individual with substantial experience in the oil and gas industry;
- One appointed member must have substantial expertise in planning or land use;
- One appointed member must have formal training or substantial experience in environmental protection, wildlife protection, or reclamation;
- One appointed member must have professional experience demonstrating an ability to contribute to the commission's body of expertise that will aid the commission in making sound, balanced decisions;
- One appointed member must have formal training or substantial experience in public health.
Each appointed commissioner must be a qualified elector of this state. Excluding the department’s executive directors, no more than three members may be members of the same political party and to the extent possible, the Commissioners will have geographical representation of areas of the state with high levels of current or anticipated oil and gas activity or employment. The Commissioners will devote their entire time to the duties of their offices to the exclusion of any other employment and are entitled to receive compensation as designated by law.
For more information:
To learn more about COGCC’s Professional Commission, visit SB 19-181:
https://cogcc.state.co.us/documents/sb19181/Overview/SB_19_181_Final.pdf.
To apply for the COGCC Professional Commission, complete an application with the Governor’s Office of Boards & Commissions:
https://www.colorado.gov/governor/boards-commissions-application
To learn more about the ECMC website.