BOEMRE Names Senior Managers

- BOEMRE Names Senior Managers

Monday, September 12, 2011
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Director Michael R. Bromwich on Monday announced several key appointments to high-level positions in the two new, independent agencies that will carry out the offshore energy management and enforcement functions currently under the jurisdiction of BOEMRE. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) will begin operating on October 1, 2011.

"I am pleased to announce my selection of a group of exceptionally qualified individuals," said Director Bromwich. "Throughout the recruitment process, we have looked for leaders who are technically skilled and experienced, and who can lead our ongoing efforts to enhance the safety of offshore exploration and production. The new leadership represents a combination of talented people from inside the agency with an exceptionally well-qualified group of people recruited from outside the agency."

BOEM will be responsible for managing development of the nation's offshore resources in an environmentally and economically responsible way. Functions will include: Leasing, Plan Administration, Environmental Studies, National Environmental Policy Act Analysis, Resource Evaluation, Economic Analysis and the Renewable Energy Program.

Some of the key leaders for BOEM will include:

• Dr. Walter D. Cruickshank, who will serve as the BOEM Deputy Director. Dr. Cruickshank has more than 25 years of experience at the Department of Interior. He most recently served as the BOEMRE Deputy Director. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Geological Sciences from Cornell University and Doctorate in Mineral Economics from the Pennsylvania State University.
• Renee Orr, who will serve as BOEM's Strategic Resources Chief in BOEM. She has more than 23 years of experience with the Department of the Interior. Ms. Orr has overseen the staff implementation teams that have been at the core of the bureau's reorganization effort, and previously served as Chief of Leasing where she was responsible for the development and completion of several 5-Year Oil and Gas Leasing Programs. She earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and History from Metropolitan State College in Denver.
• Maureen Bornholdt, who will serve as the BOEM Renewables Chief. Ms. Bornholdt has more than 27 years of experience with the Department of the Interior. She most recently served as the Project Manager for BOEMRE's Offshore Renewable Energy Program. Ms. Bornholdt earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from George Mason University.
• Ellen G. Aronson, who will serve as the BOEM Pacific Region Director. Ms. Aronson has over 33 years of experience with the Department of the Interior. She most recently served as the BOEMRE Pacific Region Director. Ms. Aronson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from Sara Lawrence College and a Master's of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Southern California.
• Dr. James Kendall, who will serve as the BOEM Alaska Region Director. Dr. Kendall has over 27 years of experience with the Department of the Interior. He most recently served as the BOEMRE Alaska Region Director. Dr. Kendall earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Old Dominion University, Ph.D. in oceanography from Texas A&M University, and a Post-doctoral Fellowship in Marine Biology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. He is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Virginia, and the Senior Executive Fellows Program of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
• John Rodi, who has been the Deputy Regional Director of BOEMRE's Gulf of Mexico Region since November 2007 and will serve as the BOEM Gulf of Mexico Acting Regional Director until a permanent Regional Director is selected. Mr. Rodi has more than 40 years of federal service with five different agencies. Mr. Rodi has both Bachelor and Master Degrees in Economics from Tulane University and the University of New Orleans, respectively.

BSEE will enforce safety and environmental regulations. Functions will include: All field operations including Permitting and Research, Inspections, Offshore Regulatory Programs, Oil Spill Response, and newly formed Training and Environmental Compliance functions.

Some of the key leaders for BSEE will include:

• Charles Barbee, who will serve as the BSEE Chief of the Environmental Enforcement Division. Mr. Barbee has more than 20 years of experience with the U.S. Coast Guard. Most recently, he was the Coast Guard's program manager for both marine investigations and environmental crime. During his career, Mr. Barbee has specialized in oil spill contingency planning, pollution investigation and response, marine inspections and marine casualty investigations. He graduated and received his commission from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and earned a Master's Degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.
• Chris Barry, who will serve as the BSEE Director of the National Offshore Training Center. Mr. Barry currently serves as Chief of National Training and Leadership for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the National Preparedness Directorate. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (dual) degree in Art History and Special Education and a Master of Instructional Systems Design.
• David Moore, who will serve as the BSEE Oil Spill Response Supervisor. Mr. Moore has more than 14 years of experience with the Department of the Interior. He most recently served as the Coordinator of BOEMRE's Oil Spill Program. He earned a Master of Engineering degree from Tulane University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of New Orleans.
• Bob Brown, who will serve as the BSEE Associate Director for Administration. Mr. Brown has more than 30 years of experience at the Department of the Interior, Small Business Administration and U.S. Navy. He most recently served as the BOEMRE Associate Director for Administration and Budget and Chief Information Officer. Mr. Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Seton Hall University and pursued post-graduate studies in History at Georgetown University.
• Lars Herbst, who will serve as the BSEE Gulf of Mexico Regional Director. Mr. Herbst has over 27 years of experience with the Department of the Interior. He most recently served as the Gulf of Mexico Regional Director for BOEMRE. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Louisiana and earned a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University.
• Jaron E. Ming, who will serve as the BSEE Pacific Region Director. Mr. Ming most recently served as the Pacific Region's Lead Leasing Specialist. He previously served as the Senior Policy Advisor to the Regional Director. He started his career in the federal government as a Presidential Management Fellow. Mr. Ming earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University, a Master of Arts degree in Marine Affairs and Policy from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Miami School of Law.
• Mark Fesmire, who will serve as the BSEE Alaska Region Director. Mr. Fesmire most recently served in the New Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department, where he has was the Director of the state oil and gas regulatory agency and Chairman of the Oil and Gas Commission for the past seven years. Prior to attending New Mexico State University where he received bachelor's degrees in Geological and Civil Engineering, Mr. Fesmire worked in the offshore oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico. After 12 years as a petroleum engineer, he completed Law School at the Texas Tech University School of Law. He is a Registered Professional Petroleum Engineer and Licensed Attorney.

BSEE is currently accepting applications for the Deputy Director position.

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Guv Fills Up O&G Commission

- Guv Fills Up O&G Commission

Monday, August 01, 2011
The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
by Patrick Malone

Gov. John Hickenlooper announced eight appointments Friday to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Two are reappointments.

Republicans criticized the omission of representation from the Eastern Plains, but expressed optimism that Hickenlooper's appointees will be more friendly to the oil and gas industry than the commission was under former Gov. Bill Ritter.

"There is no representation on there from Eastern Colorado," said Rep. Jon Becker, R-Fort Morgan, whose district includes parts of Southeastern Colorado. "Without representation from Eastern Colorado, we leave out a whole region of the state that is very important to oil and gas. The governor overlooked that. He should have made at least one appointment from the Eastern Plains. There are plenty of qualified people there to serve on this commission," Becker said.

Hickenlooper has often said he supports common-sense changes to regulation of the oil and gas industry in Colorado. A favorite example of the governor's is the water-treatment rule that many ranchers and gas companies agree creates unnecessary expense for drilling operations in the Raton Basin near Trinidad.

Becker said he is optimistic the new commission will tackle regulations with an eye on spurring business and be more mindful of the economic impact of its decisions than the commission was under Ritter.

Environmental groups said they will keep a watchful eye on the new commission.

"Gov. Hickenlooper has repeatedly said he would 'strike the right balance' in overseeing the oil and gas industry," said Elise Jones, executive director of the Colorado Environmental Coalition. "The jury is still very much out as to whether this set of appointments meets that important standard or whether instead the balance has shifted away from protecting Colorado's air, water, wildlife and communities from the impact of drilling."

Hickenlooper said he feels assured that his mix of appointees will address the competing interests of business and the environment.

"Different voices and a united spirit of collaboration are key to the success of the commission," the governor said. "We are confident this group will serve the industry, land owners and the environment well as it navigates through issues that are important to both the state's economy and the protection of Colorado's beautiful landscapes."

Hickenlooper appointed eight new commissions to replace those whose terms expired July 1. The appointees are subject to Senate confirmation. Their four-year terms expire July 1, 2015.

Copyright (c) 2011, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.

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Stark County Commission Denies Tax Exemption to Oil Company

- Stark County Commission Denies Tax Exemption to Oil Company

Thursday, June 09, 2011
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
by Sean M. Soehren, The Dickinson Press, N.D.

Stark County Commission members denied the first-ever oil-related company request for a property tax exemption during a meeting at the Stark County Courthouse Tuesday.

Stark County Tax Director Diane Brines said after the meeting that the exemption would have allowed for more than $250,000 each year for the next five years.

Commissioners said they did not want to set a standard of giving exemptions to oil companies.

"We have not issued exemptions in the oilfield at this point, but I guess no one has come forward to us before either," Brines said during the meeting.

The request from EDOG Logistics, LLC, of Wichita, Kansas, was for a 100 percent five-year property tax exemption eligible under the new construction and expansion clause of the North Dakota Century Code.

"This is a difficult one for us to allow for exemption when the industry is doing so well," Commissioner Jay Elkin said during the meeting, adding that oil production has been very profitable and that other companies have not asked for exemptions.

EDOG plans on adding to the facilities where oil is transferred from storage tanks to transport railcars located northwest of Dickinson, representative John C. Wadsworth said. The plant plans to construct three oil storage tanks, truck unloading bays, pipeline receiving connections and railway loading for 12 railcars. Wadsworth said the estimated value of the improvements would create a $20 million asset.

"The plant will be a benefit to Stark County and the city of Dickinson," Wadsworth said, adding that it will create about 75 contractor jobs during construction and 15 full-time positions during operation, with growth estimated up to 35 direct positions in the next two years.

Commission Chairman Ken Zander said the county wants to be a "good neighbor" and support development, but he didn't want to set a precedent and the exemption would mean lost funding for other entities.

"We don't want to start allowing or giving a company or private developer an exemption that affects other taxing entities, such as the school district or city of Dickinson, without input from them and how they would be affected," Zander said.

Commissioner Pete Kuntz agrees.

"If we give it to one company, we will be expected to give it to others," he said during the meeting.

Stark County recently granted exemptions to an ethanol plant near Richardton, Baker Boy and Steffes, but they have not been total exemptions. The companies work with a graduated program where the amount exempt decreases over the years, Zander said.

Stark County States Attorney Tom Henning said EDOG could resubmit the request under different conditions, such as a smaller exemption percentage or a graduated program. Also, he said commissioners could design an exemption program that would feasibly fit the budget.

After the meeting, Wadsworth said EDOG was still excited to bring a profitable asset to the area.

Copyright (c) 2011, The Dickinson Press, N.D.

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Commission Leases Land to Oil Company

- Commission Leases Land to Oil Company

Thursday, June 09, 2011
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
by Josh Mitchell, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Cheyenne

The Laramie County Commission on Tuesday leased county-owned mineral rights for oil development.

Pacer Energy Acquisitions of Gillette is leasing the 9.7 acres on Chalk Bluff Road, south of Cheyenne, from the county for $500 an acre for five years.

The county also may lease more than 800 acres of mineral rights at the Archer Complex east of Cheyenne to the same company.

Pacer Energy is a third-party land broker acting on behalf of Texas-based Anadarko Petroleum.

For the Chalk Bluff Road lease, the county will get 18.75 percent of the royalties from any minerals extracted.

"The parcel is located near an area where we currently have ongoing operations," Anadarko spokesman Brian Cain said. "Land acquisition is a normal part of early-stage oil and natural-gas exploration."

The county owns 50 percent of the mineral rights under the property, county attorney Mark Voss said.

That means the county will get 18.75 of the royalties on 50 percent of the minerals extracted.

Voss and County Commission Chairwoman Diane Humphrey both said they do not know who owns the other half of the mineral rights.

Pacer has offered the same lease rate and royalty percentage for the Archer land as well, Humphrey said.

The county owns 100 percent of the mineral rights the Archer property, which totals 875 acres.

Humphrey said she is pleased with the amount of money the county is getting for the Chalk Bluff Road lease. She said a royalty of 18.75 percent is "almost unheard of."

It could take two to three years to see revenue from royalties, Commissioner Gay Woodhouse said.

The Chalk Bluff Road land is unlikely to generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in royalties because it is a small parcel, Humphrey said.

But the county could make significant money if it leases the Archer property and it pays off.

At $500 an acre, the lease itself at Archer would generate over $400,000. In addition, the county would make money from the mineral royalties.

The commission will advertise the property to other oil production companies as well to get the best deal, Humphrey said.

Since it is taxpayer-owned land, the county has an obligation to get the most money it can from the property, Humphrey said.

Voss said the county will solicit offers for the Archer mineral lease until June 17.

Money made off the oil leases could help build a new fairgrounds at the Archer Complex, Humphrey said. Also, it could go toward county employees and road construction.

Voss said it is unusual for the county to own mineral rights as it usually only has surface interests.

In Wyoming, there can be two owners to a piece of property -- the surface owner and the mineral owner. For the most part, the county only owns the surface rights to property.

It is unclear how many acres of mineral rights the county owns.

Woodhouse supports the leasing.

"I am in favor of getting the money we can for the leases," she said. "It's a good source of revenue."

Some of the revenue could help complete the indoor shooting range at the Archer Complex, Woodhouse said. She added that there remains about $700,000 worth of work to finish the project.

Copyright (c) 2011, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Cheyenne

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