American Oil and Gas Reporter - September 2017 - 106

ConventionCoverage: Petroleum Association of Wyoming
projects, they must be reasonable," he
concluded.

Migratory Birds
Operators also can run afoul of federal
regulations with other bird species when
planning a new site or facility, according
to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Field
Supervisor Tyler Abbott. He warned that
well plans must account for the risk that
their projects might be responsible for
bird takings-unintentionally or otherwise-that could violate the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act.
"The USFWS can provide guidance
on how to specify if a project has a reasonable likelihood a bird taking may occur," Abbott said.
Even with such assistance, the unexpected can occur, he acknowledged. "We
recognize that operators may do everything
they can to avoid a bird taking, but accidents happen," he admitted. "If our officers
are satisfied everything has been done
and the operator is willing to put it into
writing, they have some enforcement
flexibility."
Abbott concluded with an update on
USFWS involvement in an environmental
impact statement in process for Converse
County, Wy. The proposal calls for drilling
as many as 5,000 new oil and gas wells
in a 1.5 million acre area during the
course of 10 years, published reports say.
"Our strategy is to identify migratory
bird impacts, avoid them where possible,

Sweetwater River Conservancy's Ryan
Lance tells PAW that reclamation can
be difficult and time consuming for sage
grouse habitat at the group's 2017 convention, Aug. 15-16 in Casper, Wy. Nevertheless, he said, Wyoming's program
allowing companies to secure credits
for long-term sage grouse habitat protection seemed to be progressing well.

and minimize as needed," Abbott characterized. "We are working with BLM
and industry to develop best management
practices and conservation measures that
can be included in the EIS."

Congressional Insights
PAW's convention included insights
into Washington's changing political climate from the Wyoming congressional
delegation.
Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wy., said he
detected renewed optimism in D.C., even
as the news media largely had overlooked
the Trump administration's progress since
taking office. As chairman of the Senate
Budget Committee, Enzi expressed a
belief that Congress could pass tax reform,
but he acknowledged the task would not
be easy.
"The other side will put things like
intangible drilling costs and oil depletion
on the chopping block," he predicted.
"We won't let them have it."
Enzi urged oil and gas industry representatives to provide federal policymakers
with examples that would demonstrate
what would happen to U.S. energy production if the provisions were deleted
from the tax code.
Senator John Barrasso, R-Wy., also
expressed encouragement at the new administration's actions, especially in the
area of energy development. "When I
first took office (in 2007), we were talking
about energy security, not energy independence," Barrasso reflected. "President
Trump has made it clear that he wants to
see us reach energy dominance."
Representative Liz Cheney, R-Wy.,
who was elected to the House in 2016,
outlined for PAW some of what she had
seen during her first six months in office.
"President Trump has repealed or rescinded more than 800 regulations since
taking office," she detailed. "Start with
Waters of the United States and the methane
rule and the first bites out of the Clean
Power Plan," she recounted. "This president
has done more in his first 100 days than
any other since Harry Truman."
As a member of the House Rules
Committee, Cheney said she played an
instrumental part in moving a bill under
the Congressional Review Act that rescinded the Obama Administration's Planning 2.0 policy.
"We want to change the way the
federal government regulates," Cheney
declared. "New regulations must consider
economic costs and the need for a sunset

106 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

provision."

Species Revisions
An increase in Wyoming oil and gas
activity in 2017 was a source of encouragement, assessed Governor Mead, who
cited a threefold increase in drilling rigs
since 2016's nadir.
"Twenty-six rigs may not be boom
times, but compared with the eight rigs
last year, it's wonderful," Mead considered. "In a state where minerals pay 70
percent of our bills, I am grateful."
He commended the industry for responding to the commodity price slump
by streamlining and creating efficiencies.
State offices also have cut back their operations and adjusted to reduced revenue,
he reported.
"Three years ago, I asked all departments to cut rules and regulations by 30
percent," Mead recalled. "Those that
weren't frowning at me may have been
laughing at me when I said that. I am
pleased to report that the agencies responded-some cut 30 percent, some cut
50 percent-and still are able to carry out
their duties."
Considering Wyoming's considerable
reliance on mineral resources, economic
diversification is vital, Mead suggested.
"Developing additional revenue streams
is not only about smoothing the ups and
downs of the commodity markets," Mead

Possible provisions for smart regulatory
reform include accounting for economic
costs and including sunset provisions,
suggests Representative Liz Cheney,
R-Wy. As a member of the House Rules
Committee, Cheney indicated she had
helped advance Congressional Review
Act initiatives that rescinded some regulations established during the waning
days of the Obama administration.

American Oil and Gas Reporter - September 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Oil and Gas Reporter - September 2017