American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2019 - 105

ConventionSection: Colorado Oil & Gas Association
Colorado's economy are not going anywhere, Prestidge asserts, adding "By working together, we can elevate that awareness,
and hopefully provide some necessary
assurance in this time of uncertainty."
COGA Chairman Rich Frommer assesses 2019 as an unprecedented year in
many ways, and he suggests the association
has navigated successfully through one of
the industry's largest challenges to date.
"The challenge, in many ways, has
just begun, as we see through the many
months ahead of rule making and adjusting
to changes in local and county regulatory
frameworks," says Frommer, president
and chief executive officer of Denverbased Great Western Oil & Gas Co.
"Ultimately, however, I am optimistic
because our industry as a whole continues
to have a seat at the table as we persevere
through these uncertainties. Most importantly, here in Colorado we produce 'meticulous methane'-resources developed in
adherence to the strictest of safety measures
and environmental standards, all while
providing our communities and our country
with clean, affordable energy. How can
you not be optimistic about that?"

with many of them, connections that he
judges have become more important
than ever.
Changing COGCC
One of the rule makings authorized
under SB 181 proposes to revise the
COGCC's mission statement. The commission now is required to foster the responsible development of the state's oil
and gas resources, but the legislation rec-

ommends replacing "fostering" with "regulating." Prestidge reports that rule making
is scheduled to occur early next year.
"The COGCC is taking public comment now, both through hearings and listening sessions as well as written comments that can be submitted through its
website," he says. "In addition to the
mission statement, the commission will
be taking public comment covering a
number of other rule makings. But when

COGA At Work
The association also will continue its
education of county and local officials
on the importance of the Colorado oil
and gas industry, Haley assures.
"COGA will be visiting city council
meetings and county commission meetings
to make sure that the association is seen as
a resource-that if they have questions about
oil and gas they can reach out to us," he
says. "The association will be proactively
reaching out to many cities and counties
in areas where the oil and gas industry operates. COGA wants to make sure those
officials have the information they need to
make good decisions."
He notes that this outreach effort is
another example of the value that COGA
provides to its members.
"We are a member-based organization,
so these companies are investing in us. It
is incumbent upon us to make sure they
see the value. There has been a value in
this trade association for years, and that
will continue. Education and outreach to
elected officials, having those conversations and dialogues-are more important
than ever, especially at the local levels,"
Haley assesses.
Members of the association's staff
have worked with many of those counties
and local government officials for years,
he notes, and have developed relationships
OCTOBER 2019 105

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American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2019

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