Transparency and Property Rights at issue in Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Meeting

Transparency and Property Rights at issue in Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Meeting

Mark Reinhardt- Boise Idaho

At the Start of the meeting, the commission acknowledge that they were in violation of the Idaho Open Meetings law. To rectify the violation, they stated the circumstances behind the violation and how they would rectify it. To do this, the commission openly stated the violations circumstances' through open disclosure. The violation itself occurred when a memo was issued to other commissioners regarding Alta Mesa Idaho's application. Who then deliberated on the issue.

The application was removed entirely from the agenda at the meeting.

According to the IDL Directors Report, 16 Wells Permits are currently active. The well in Canyon County has been plugged and abandoned according to the same report. IDL, stands for the Idaho Department of Lands. Who's Oil and Gas activities are regulated by the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

Public Records Disclosure of Oil and Gas Production Records:

At the meeting, IDL Director Tom Schultz had recommended commission approval for changes to Idaho Code Title 9 9-340 D (2). Citing the fact that other Oil and Gas producing states allow for Public Records disclosure of Oil and Gas production records.

During the Public Testimony, everyone was in favor of disclosing Oil and Gas Production records. Of those who testified. Two were in favor of having the time limit for secrecy be three months.

Property Rights and Forced Pooling:

The meeting would later discuss Unitization and Shared Pooling. Unitization is a process designed to prevent disputes between companies over drilling operations.

Shared Pooling would later bring tensions between those in attendance and members of the commission.