The Colorado Oil and Gas Commission

Earlier, I posted comments about using letters to comment on public issues. One of the issues that has generated a bunch of letters from legislators is oil and gas activity in Western Colorado, and the proposed new rules of the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission. The proposed rules have generated a number of letters and emails to me. The Commission's website discusses both the Initial, Predraft, Rule-making Proposal and the hearing process that the Commission is going through to discuss the various proposals being considered. I invite interested individuals to actually look at the website to learn what the proposal involves:

http://www.oil-gas.state.co.us/RuleMaking/2007RuleMaking.cfm

To me, some of the proposed rules look pretty solid and a few of them may well be unworkable (I particularly think that the standing for adjacent surface owners is unworkable, and the time frame for the processing of permits may be too long). But the important point is that these rules are "Initial, Predraft." I have talked to several individuals involved with the Commission, and it is the clear intent of these "initial, predraft" proposed rules to generate a conversation about the appropriate level of regulation and the balance between wildlife, the environment, surface owners and the clear need to develop our natural resources.

Again, it is clear to me that some of the rules go to far. I do not in any way believe that they are intended to "shut the industry down" or "drive the industry out of the state." A good, open and frank discussion about balance is appropriate, and I am confident that, at the end of the process the advocates on one side of this issue will say that the rules do not go far enough and the other side will say that they go too far. The best policy is generally when both sides to an issue are somewhat disappointed.

Legislators and Letters

One of the popular ways for a legislator to get his or her name in the newspaper is to send a letter to *********. Honestly, you can almost fill that blank in with the Governor, or any particular state agency, or even the President or one of the Departments of U S Government.

There have been a lot of these examples lately. In Western Colorado, this a is a great way to get your name in the newspaper,by sending a letter to somebody about oil and gas drilling. Legislators have sent letters demanding that the BLM be allowed to drill the Roan Plateau, and legislators have sent letters demanding hat the BLM prevent drilling on the Roan Plateau. More recently, a group of legislators have sent a letter to the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission complaining about the proposed, predraft, preliminary rules of the Commission. I actually received some criticism for not signing on to these letters. Now, don't get me wrong, it is entirely appropriate to communicate with the Departments and the Governor's Office and with the Federal Government, too.

My objection is the use of these communications as a method for getting the legislator's name in the Newspaper. These types of letters limit a legislator's real effectiveness in being effective. The letters tend to use words like "outrageous" and "unprecedented" and "devastating."

Several years ago, Hank Brown, the President of the University of Colorado explained to me his personal political philosophy. He told me that he never wanted to be the person who started out every press release with "I'm outraged that..." I've taken this advice to heart. Therefore, I very rarely sign these letters. I much prefer to deal directly with the Governor's office and the Departments. They know what my thoughts are. Although this doesn't get the publicity, I am absolutely certain it is much more effective.