The Colorado legislature passed a bill to increase the maximum penalty for a violations of the Oil and Gas Conservation Act from $1,000 a day to $15,000 a day for so long as the violation continues.  The bill is now headed to Governor Hickenlooper for final approval.  For more information on the new bill, click here.

Governor Hickenlooper appointed James W. “Bill” Hawkins to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on April 10, 2014.

The North Dakota Industrial Commission is hosting a special hearing to address the newly-adopted policy on reducing gas flaring .  The hearing will be held on at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at their offices in Bismark. More information on the new policy and future action items of the Commission can be found at: https://www.dmr.nd.gov/oilgas/presentations/NDIC030314_100.pdf

Anne Weber is presenting at the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation's Special Institute on Development Issues in Major Shale Plays.  The Special Institute is on May 1-2, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  https://www.rmmlf.org/confrnce/SP2news.pdf

Following an extensive rulemaking process, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission adopted revisions to Regulations 3, 6, and 7 on February 23, 2014.  These rules fully adopt EPA's NSPS OOOO ("Quad O") regulations and add controls and strategies for reducing fugitive Volatile Organic Compounds ("VOCs") emissions.  More information on the rulemaking process is available at: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDPHE-AQCC/CBON/1251647985820

In response to an Executive Order issued by Governor Hickenlooper in May, 2013, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission ("COGCC") recently released its Enforcement and Penalty Policy Review ("Review").  The Review recommends new legislation to increase total potential daily penalties for violations followed by new rulemaking to implement the change in legislation.  The Review also articulates a Draft Enforcement Guidance and Penalty Policy, parts of which become effective May 1, 2014. http://cogcc.state.co.us/Announcements/Enforcement_Penalty_Policy_Review_Final.pdf

The Weber Law Firm is sponsoring Colorado's American Institute of Professional Geologists' 2014 Legislative Reception on February 27, 2014.  The Weber Law Firm is a long-time sponsor and previous multiple-time Chair/Co-Chair of this event. For more information or to register for the event, please check out the Colorado AIPG Website.

On December 19, 2013, the North Dakota Industrial Commission approved new rule changes which will increase pipeline regulations and provide additional protections to surface owners.  The new rules must still be reviewed by the North Dakota attorney general's office and the Legislature's Administrative Rules Committee before they can be finalized.  If approved, they will go into effect on April 1, 2014.  Click here to review the rule changes.

Three cities in Colorado voted, on November 5, 2013, to impose measures to ban hydraulic fracturing within their city limits. Boulder, Fort Collins, and Lafayette all voted yes on various measures designed to ban hydraulic fracturing.  One additional city, Broomfield, had a similar measure on the ballot, but results are still pending and are likely headed for a recount due to the very slim margin. 

The Weber Law Firm is co-hosting a Women In Energy Happy Hour on Wednesday October 16, 2013 from 5-7 p.m.  We will have a silent auction and will be collecting cash donations for local Colorado flood relief efforts. Bidding will end at 6:30 p.m., so make sure you come in plenty of time to bid!