American Oil and Gas Reporter - December 2016 - 97

Virginia Natural Gas and the Virginia
cities of Norfolk and Newport News also
received partnership recognition for their
roles with VNG's SAVE program. Knowing that efforts to expedite the modernization of its pipeline system could increase
disruption for the community and impacted
cities, VNG established partnerships with
Norfolk and Newport News to better coordinate construction activities and customer communications. The heightened
coordination trimmed project costs, reduced customer complaints, and removed
more than 160 miles of aged pipe from
the company's system.
Recognizing Excellence
The awards program also included
several excellence awards.
Brent Archer received VOGA's Leadership Award, which recognized his history
in Virginia's natural gas industry. He has
provided many years of leadership with
VOGA, including serving as president
while raising awareness about the state's
oil and gas industry. As a leader at Columbia Gas of Virginia, he has tirelessly
driven legislative action in support of improving natural gas infrastructure, providing
mechanisms that support additional natural
gas use, helping consumers use energy
wisely, and assisting local communities
through natural gas service expansion in
support of jobs and local industry.
Jeremy Cook was recognized for excellence in public safety, an acknowledgement of his exceptional dedication
to sound management principles and excellence in the fire service. As chief of
the Oakwood, Va., Fire Department, Cook
has led the fight against several forest
fires that have threatened gas wells and
facilities. He has assumed the role of
grant writer and has helped the department
secure a variety of grants. Cook and the
department have worked alongside officials
from CONSOL, the Department of
Forestry and others to extinguish fires
that pose potential dangers to the public
and gas operations.
The Excellence in Education Award
went to Ed Rothman, coordinator for the
technical session at the VOGA's annual
meeting. In addition to that role, Rothman
is a professional geologist who has worked
with several companies and committees
to develop many analyses of U.S. geology.
He is also an adjunct professor at West
Virginia University, where he teaches
classes on petroleum and fossil fuels at
both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The recipient of the 2015 Award for
Excellence in Community Relations went
to Phil Horn, who was recognized for his
interpersonal skills, compassion and will-

ingness to connect with the community.
His talent for working with the public,
alongside his professionalism and ethics,
also were mentioned as traits that bolstered
his community relations efforts.
The night's final honor was the Leadership Award, which was bestowed on
Division of Gas & Oil Director Rick
Cooper. Cooper, who has held the position
since 2012, advanced the idea of a gas
industry awards program to recognize
Virginia gas producers, contractors, service
providers and personnel for their roles,
hard work and exemplary safety and environmental records in producing one of
Virginia's valuable natural resources.
Every year, Cooper attends VOGA's convention to update members on industry
statistics and trends, keeping them abreast
of developments in the industry.
At DGO, Cooper has a reputation for
inspiring employees to continuously find
ways to enhance data and records, providing employees with the tools and
ability to promote professional growth,
and enabling DGO to go completely digital. Perhaps one of his most appreciated

but challenging accomplishments is the
considerable extent to which Cooper
maintains a level of rapport with all companies and customers, which in turn promotes an environment of cooperation and
respect.
Other Business
Earlier in the day, VOGA held its fall
Board of Directors meeting. Congressman
Morgan Griffith, R-Va., addressed attendees at breakfast, emphasizing the importance natural gas played in national
energy security.
At the board meeting, new directors
were welcomed and the board heard updates
on a variety of topics, including the status
of regulatory reviews under way and progress
being made on developing two interstate
pipeline projects. Other subjects included
events for American Energy Awareness
Month and planning for the Virginia Energy
Challenge Creative Contest.
For information about VOGA, visit
www.vaoilandgas.com or www.frackingfuels.com.
❒

Texas Alliance Board Opposes
Overreaching Federal Regulation
WICHITA FALLS, TX.-The Texas
Alliance of Energy Producers has denounced what it calls "federal regulation
without representation."
At their meeting on Nov. 15 in Fort
Worth, the Alliance reports its Board of
Directors unanimously adopted a resolution "opposing the onslaught of overreaching federal regulations issued during
the outgoing administration's term, and
reaffirming the association's dedication
to advocating for and protecting the independent oil and gas industry in Texas."
The Alliance says its 3,000 members
recognize the Nov. 8 election "presents
an opportunity to work with our political
leadership to transcend partisan politics
and correct the repeated misuse of federal
regulatory power that has threatened the
livelihood of the Texas oil and gas industry,
the jobs of our employees, the well-being
of our families, and the state's economy."
The resolution observes that "Texas
oil fields have provided a pathway toward
American energy independence, afforded
good jobs and security to hundreds of
thousands of employees, and delivered
inexpensive energy to fuel our national
economy."
Furthermore, the association recalls,
"Our Founding Fathers called taxation
without representation tyranny, and fought

and won a revolution to free themselves
from the immoral policies of the cruel
English monarchy. Today, Americans
must recover from a new federal tyranny:
regulation without representation.
"During the past eight years." the Alliance continues, "the federal government
has embarked on a deliberate and determined regulatory war focused on the oil
fields of Texas and waged by an army of
faceless federal bureaucrats."
These federal agencies, the Alliance
contends, "are unresponsive to our protests,
the pleas of our elected (state) leaders,
and the concerns of members of Congress."
Consequently, the resolution pledges
the Alliance to:
* Advocate and protect the independent oil and gas industry in Texas;
* Vigorously and tirelessly represent
its membership before federal regulatory
bodies;
* Work with the country's new political leadership to fix a broken federal
regulatory system seriously damaged by
the previous administration; and
* Stand against the blatant misuse of
federal regulatory authority designed to
place punitive and misguided federal regulations on Texas and its oil and gas fields.
"Today, we call to our members and
DECEMBER 2016 97
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