In this Issue

	Gov. Palin Believes ANWR Development Would Send a Strong Message
	Untapped Potential
	On The Hill
	Mark Your Calendars
	Briefs

In Other News

IOGCC Annual Chairman's Stewardship Awards

Gov. Palin Believes ANWR Development Would Send a Strong Message

IOGCC Chairman, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, recently reiterated her stance on developing oil and natural gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in her recent letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

In her letter Gov. Palin urged the enactment of legislation to authorize development in the ANWR area as she has done previously. Click here to read the full letter.

Untapped Potential

The IOGCC recently rereleased the 2006, “Untapped Potential” to key members of the United States Congress, IOGCC member Governors and Official Representatives to highlight the significance of offshore areas in North America currently off-limits to oil and natural gas production.

The report gathers factual information regarding hydrocarbon resource potential in offshore areas of the United States and Canada that currently are under leasing moratoria or are otherwise withdrawn or excluded from exploration, drilling, and production by legislation or policy.

North American offshore moratorium areas are estimated to contain nearly 135 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas and 30 billion barrels of crude oil.

On The Hill

By Kevin Bliss

The 110th Congress already is counting the days until adjournment. When one factors in the Independence Day and August recess and the targeted end of September adjournment, there are but four or five working weeks left in this session. As usual, the annual appropriations bills are a top priority, but few now expect Congress to be able to pass any of the bills. This would mean that the bills would be rolled into a continuing resolution that would need to be passed before final adjournment by this Congress, even in a lame-duck session after the election.

Energy is certainly in the news in Washington, and around the country. High gasoline prices and their impact on the economy are driving a lot of charges and counter-charges on Capitol Hill as to which party has been responsible. Public opinion may at some point force reconsideration of legislation that would open up additional public lands to development, including offshore. While Republicans are in the process of developing legislation to do just that, one should view it more in the context of defining a campaign issue than as legislation anyone expects to pass in this session, although this could change.

Click here to read the full article. 

Mark Your Calendars

• Mark your calendars for the IOGCC 2008 Annual Meeting in Santa Fe, NM, Nov. 16-18, at the Eldorado Hotel. Registration and updated information regarding the meeting will be coming soon.
   
• The 15th Annual International Petroleum & BioFuels Environmental Conference will be held November 11-13, 2008, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The IOGCC is a conference co-sponsor.
  
  For the past 14 years, professionals from the oil and gas industry, the regulatory community, and academia have gathered together for this conference gaining insight into environmental issues affecting the petroleum industry worldwide.
  
  For more information, visit the conference Web site.
   

Briefs

• Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Jr. has appointed Harris Sherman, executive director for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources as the State's Official Representative and Tricia C. Beaver, hearings manager, Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission as the Associate Representative.

• The IOGCC welcomes Hank List, deputy secretary, Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, Office of the Secretary, to IOGCC’s Legal and Regulatory Affairs Committee.