American Oil and Gas Reporter - January 2017 - 114

ConventionSection: Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association

New Day For PIOGA
Starts With Hope
By Del Torkelson
WEXFORD, PA.-Since the Sept. 1
promotion making him the Pennsylvania
Independent Oil & Gas Association's president and executive director, Daniel Weaver
says he occasionally allows his mind to
boggle at the volume of public policy initiatives that occupy the group. "At times I
marvel at it all," he laughs. "We are
tracking more than 100 things-potential
regulations, bills and other things."
But becoming PIOGA's top staffer
has not expanded Weaver's estimation
about his personal proficiency. "I quickly
have come to the realization that I do not
have to be an expert in everything," he
acknowledges. "But I have to know who
the experts are."
One such expert, PIOGA Chairman
Gary E. Slagel, a government affairs specialist for Steptoe & Johnson in Southpointe, Pa., is an important source of
continuity as PIOGA prepares for its
2017 winter meeting, Feb. 1 in Pittsburgh,
Weaver notes. "There have been no shifts
or changes with Gary or our executive
board," he points out. "Gary has been
around for a while, and I am very appreciative of his steady leadership."
For his part, Slagel recalls his first impressions of Weaver, who was hired as
PIOGA's director of public outreach in
2012. He was a quick study who did not
hesitate to seek support from PIOGA's
leadership to do his job, Slagel recalls.
"He was not shy to speak his mind, and
that struck me in a very positive way," he
describes. "Since then, Dan has broadened
his knowledge of the industry and association. Now he understands the full scope
of what is entailed in managing and running
an association such as PIOGA. He has illustrated in a fairly short time that he is
capable of doing what needs to be done."
PIOGA's Value
Slagel says Weaver's desire to hear
from the experts includes an interest in
gaining perspective from someone who
knows a thing or two about leading PIOGA's day-to-day operations: Weaver's
predecessor, Louis D'Amico.

PIOGA Winter Meeting
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Wednesday, Feb. 1
8 a.m. Registration and Exhibition Open,
Rivers Casino
9:30 a.m. Morning Session
Welcome
Mobilizing for the Shale Gas Decade
2017 Pennsylvania Regulatory Updates
Energy Infrastructure and Future Growth
PIOGA Initiatives and State of the Association
Noon Keynote Luncheon
1:30 p.m. Afternoon Session
Advances in Long Range Weather Forecasting for the Energy Industry
Quad O Compliance Methane Regulations
Innovative Ideas for Stranded Gas: The
Sunnyside Energy Project
Manufacturing Synergies: Staying in
Step?
A Vision for Pennsylvania: A Legislator's
Perspective
5:15-7 p.m. Networking Reception

"Lou's retirement is a loss, but he has
offered to stick around on a consulting
basis," Slagel reports. "Dan comes with
Lou's highest recommendation, and is
up to the challenge. He has been Lou's
understudy for years, and comes to that
desk with a lot of enthusiasm, energy
and fresh ideas."
According to Weaver, "Working with
Lou for the past five years was fantastic.
If I remember half of what he has forgotten, I will be very thankful. He understands
the foundations underlying a lot of decisions we make, even if they were set
decades ago."
But even as he offers himself as a resource, D'Amico also has made clear to
everyone at PIOGA that the group has
only one president, Weaver says. "Lou
basically told everyone, 'It is Dan's ball,'"
Weaver recounts. "Since then, he has
whispered in my ear, and if I need anything, he is only a phone call away."
Recruitment may be among the undertakings for which PIOGA may seek
D'Amico's assistance, Slagel says. The
industry's slump has taken its toll on the

114 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

group's membership rolls, he observes,
and explaining to companies the value
PIOGA offers is not a message that
usually conveys itself. "PIOGA does a
lot for a very small investment," he
reasons. "Our members have opportunities
to really get involved in committees and
activities, and we are very responsive to
any of their concerns."
Weaver confirms that making sure PIOGA gets credit where it is due-even
when that means tooting its own horn-is
one of his early priorities. "We are going
to get our name in front of people," he
vows. "PIOGA is always accomplishing
things, but we are so busy that when we
complete a task, we are already on to the
next three tasks. We need to make sure
we take a moment to tell everybody so
they realize what we made happen."
Getting Better?
Although PIOGA always strives to
respond to developments, Slagel reflects,
the group bills itself as a proactive association that does not wait for issues to
fester. Even so, he considers, that becomes
tougher when dollars are scarce.
"We are striving to trim our budget
and be more efficient, so if a legal challenge
arises, the last things we need are additional
legal expenses," Slagel reflects. "Nevertheless, some issues need to be addressed.
If an issue arises for which we need to allocate unbudgeted money, we are going
to do that because PIOGA's primary focus
is to identify and address issues upfront,
and resolve them for our membership."
There are reasons to hope that some
trends making the past couple years especially tough for oil and gas producers
may be changing, he expresses. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has announced its intention to cut
oil production. Meanwhile, some in the
industry have taken heart from November's
elections and hope the results will help
ease the press of new regulations.
In early December, before the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection announced it would adopt new
air quality permits focused on methane
emitted from compressor stations and un-

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