American Oil and Gas Reporter - January 2015 - 226

TIPRO Focuses On State Legislature
AUSTIN, TX.-Since the Texas legislative session will be in full swing when
Texas Independent Producers & Royalty
Owners Association members gather for
their annual meeting, topics will focus
primarily on legislative issues affecting
the state's oil and gas industry, TIPRO
President Ed Longanecker reports.
TIPRO's 69th annual convention is
scheduled for March 2-3 at the Sheraton
Hotel Downtown in Austin.
"Our two-day agenda will allow oil
and gas professionals the opportunity to
collectively review issues most significant
to the industry today," Longanecker says.
"These issues include water use and conservation, funding transportation infrastructure, and existing tax provisions."
Speakers also plan to discuss efforts
to limit municipal bans on hydraulic
fracturing and drilling activity, which
impinge on regulatory authority granted
to state agencies such as the Texas Railroad Commission and Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality, Longanecker
adds.
"We look forward to an update from
Pac/West Communications, which has
been a leader on this critical issue for the
U.S. oil and gas industry," the TIPRO
president notes. "Presenters also will
highlight regulatory initiatives on the
state and federal levels that could impact
independent producers and royalty owners
in the future."
Confirmed speakers for the meeting
include U.S. Representative Bill Flores,
R-Tx.; Evan Smith, chief executive officer
and editor-in-chief of The Texas Tribune;
Harvey Kronberg, editor of The Quorum
Report; Mark Truax, senior account manager for Colorado at Pac/West Communications; and regulatory officials from
TCEQ and the Texas Department of
Transportation. Several state lawmakers
have been invited to speak as well, Longanecker says.
"TIPRO remains committed to working
with these and other government officials,
the general public, and other stakeholders
in a bipartisan effort to fight for continued
exploration and production in Texas and
across the United States," Longanecker
comments. "We are proud to again host
a strong lineup of elected officials, regulatory leaders and industry experts. They
will educate attendees on the evolving
regulatory and business environments,
and provide helpful updates on trends to
watch for in the next couple of years.
"Throughout the year," he continues,
"our association will persist with efforts

to sustain an environment conducive to
the growth of the exploration and production sectors. Our work remains as
important as ever, with a variety of issues
threatening the ongoing success of the
oil and gas industry."
A legislative reception is set for Monday evening, March 2, when the association will welcome conference attendees,
and state lawmakers and their staffs. The
following day, TIPRO will host breakfast,
lunch and dinner.
"TIPRO meetings provide attendees
with ample opportunity to meet other oil
and gas professionals and form new business connections," Longanecker remarks.
"By participating in our convention, mem-

bers will have the chance to network
with key players in the Texas oil and gas
industry, and to speak with distinguished
experts and politicians."
The association also will coordinate
meetings with legislators at the Texas
Capitol on Tuesday. "This allows members
an exclusive opportunity to speak oneon-one with state representatives and senators," Longanecker elaborates. "The
'Capitol Call-Up' meetings during the
convention serve as a crucial time to talk
directly with legislators about the importance of oil and gas development."
For information or to register, contact
TIPRO at 512-477-4452 or visit
www.tipro.org.
Ì

IOGA Convention Emphasizes
State's Business Opportunities
MOUNT VERNON, IL.-The Illinois
Oil & Gas Association will focus on providing a balanced perspective on the
state's business opportunities at its annual
meeting, scheduled for March 5-6 at the
Old National Events Plaza in Evansville,
In., reports Executive Vice President Brad
Richards.
"Our-two day agenda is still being
planned, but we can promise that our
members will hear the latest news in the
industry," Richards said in December.
"Our discussion will include information
about conventional plays as well as unconventional resource plays such as the
New Albany Shale, Maquoketa Shale and
Mississippian Lime."
Another meeting highlight will be a
discussion on the Illinois Department of
Natural Resources' regulations for highvolume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF),
Richards mentions. "Those rules were
finalized in November after more than
two years of negotiations and delays," he
notes.
A third topic will be the many positive
changes that have occurred within IDNR's
Office of Oil & Gas Resource Management, Richards continues. "The IDNR
has added much-needed staff, and of particular importance to our association members is the staff additions in the permitting
sector," he comments. "Delays in permitting
oil and injection wells have become a
major concern. We believe increased
staffing will allow for a much more timely
and efficient permitting program.
"In addition," the executive vice pres-

226 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

ident continues, "rule-making and legislative changes are being contemplated.
These changes would greatly improve
the process of obtaining permits and holding the administrative hearings necessary
for certain activities."
Permitting delays have made it difficult
to operate in Illinois, and procedures that
require administrative hearings, such as
initiating a tertiary recovery project, have
largely come to a standstill, he elaborates.
"Key IDNR regulatory personnel are
being invited to speak at IOGA's meeting
as part of the ongoing constructive dialogue
between our industry and this state
agency," Richards says.
In addition, he says, "Governor-elect
Bruce Rauner has made responsible development of Illinois' natural resources a
centerpiece of his plans to revitalize the
state."
Rauner spoke at IOGA's 2013 annual
meeting when he was a political unknown,
Richards remarks. He is invited to address
association members again this year.
Richards encourages members to attend
the gathering because it is equal parts
policy and technical discussions, trade
show, and social event.
"We had nearly 100 exhibitors last
year and hope to increase that number
significantly this year," he reports. "In
addition, the Thursday (March 5) evening
banquet has featured great entertainment
with concerts by Charlie Daniels and Diamond Rio. We plan to have a similarly
big name perform this year.

American Oil and Gas Reporter - January 2015

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