American Oil and Gas Reporter - January 2015 - 214

The Presidential Papers
fitting our member companies, and opposing legislation that poses a negative
impact. The ongoing debate over the disposition of production royalties from escrow accounts will continue, and we
expect additional attempts will be made
to assert local authority related to production activities.
We may have opportunities to advance
policy that will lead to more robust natural
gas infrastructure expansion as well.
Members of the Virginia House and Senate
will face elections in 2015, which also
will have a bearing on the flow and fate

of legislation during the session.
Additionally, VOGA continues to reach
out to engage all segments of the natural
gas industry in Virginia. Our membership
includes not only producers, but pipeline
companies, local distribution companies,
marketers and support companies. We believe the utilities providing service at the
burner tip, where consumers are directly
experiencing the benefits of the production
boom, must understand the significant
challenges facing producers.
Likewise, producers need to appreciate
the challenges of siting infrastructure and

Western Energy
Alliance
JACK R. EKSTROM
Vice President,
Corporate and Government
Relations
Whiting Petroleum Corp.
Denver

FROM THE CHAIRMAN
The Western Energy Alliance is a 13state confederation of energy producers,
service companies and others involved
in the exploration, production and development sector that confront a myriad of
federal issues relating to public lands.
These range from regulatory overreach
and a one-size-fits-all mentality to an inability/unwillingness by this presidential
administration to attain minimum functionality in permitting and partnership
with industry.
Here is a sampler, by no means complete, of front and center federal conflicts
confronting Western Energy Alliance producers and their associates: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency overreach,
the Endangered Species Act and the sage
grouse, the Bureau of Land Management,
activist groups' sue and settle tactics,
permitting, leasing, no-surface occupancy
restrictions, allegations of mineral trespass,
national grasslands, Keystone XL Pipeline,
federal versus state land management,
methane emissions, et al.
In addition, in one Alliance state, a
sitting U.S. congressman funded a ballot
initiative that would have resulted in one
of the largest takings of private property

in our nation's history.
Clearly, risks in oil and gas operations
have moved from the subsurface to surface-use battles. It no longer is sufficient
for operators anywhere in the United
States to be prudent, sustainable and
transparent in all activities. Our public
license to operate could be revoked at
the ballot box, as has been attempted in
Colorado. The fracturing debate is not
about fracturing; it is about green radicals
seizing an issue and fear mongering far
and wide.
Likewise, extractive operations on federal lands are not about national parks or
wilderness; no one seeks to operate there.
Routine operations on multiple-use lands
approved for decades now are subject to
lawsuits challenging leasing and environmental analysis. The term "multiple
use" has been lost in the hue and cry by
the green radicals about species extinction,
"unbridled development absent any regulation" and "greedy oil and gas tycoons"
who care about nothing but profits. And
even the word "profit" has devolved into
the equivalent of crass self-interest.
At our annual meeting, we asked a
veteran of the battles with these well-

214 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

providing natural gas service to homes
and businesses. VOGA provides an important forum in which all industry participants develop this understanding as we
share information and ideas.
This is an exciting time for the natural
gas industry. In Virginia, we see an open
window of opportunity to take action
today that will provide lasting and measurable benefits for our employees and all
energy consumers in Virginia. We will
continue to advance our agenda of jobs,
economic development and environmental
benefits.
Ì
funded opponents to provide some insights
on the tactics used against us, and some
avenues we might consider to confront
and neutralize the avalanche of negative
messaging. Adopting the opponents tactics-essentially fighting fire with fire-
was one option examined, with costs and
tactics detailed.
That presentation was the subject of
some internal debate and external publicity.
As chairman, it is my view that industry
must realize it is targeted for a vicious,
extended onslaught of false allegations,
predatory regulators and media disinformation. It may be that aggressive tactics
are contrary to members' sensibilities,
both here in the intermountain West and
across oil country in general. Perhaps
forgoing such tactics is prudent; perhaps
not.
What are the weapons at industry's
disposal to effectively counter the "dirty
pool" employed by our opponents? Following is a list with which to begin and
which most can affirm.
Engagement
We must engage all of industry's stakeholders-governments, landowners, mineral
interest owners, the media and educators
at every level...and even the radicals who
stand in opposition.
For too long, industry ceded the court
of public opinion to radicals and regulators.
Across our Alliance states, we have employed wide-ranging and unconventional
venues to deliver our messages: radio interviews paid for by operators, newspaper
special sections devoted to positive messaging, door-to-door canvassing before
the midterm election, message testing
with focus groups, ambassador programs
for employees and contractors, industry-

American Oil and Gas Reporter - January 2015

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