Breaking News
Home / Spotlight / Oil Conservation Commission to Officially Review Hilcorp Decision

Oil Conservation Commission to Officially Review Hilcorp Decision

By State of NM

Thanks to the commitment of Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard, Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham, and her Secretary-designate Sarah Propst Cottrell in making citizens’ and advocates’ voices a part of government, the application for Texas-based Hilcorp Energy Co. to double its well density in the San Juan area will be reconsidered at a hearing on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.

 

On her first day in office, Commissioner Garcia Richard requested that the Oil Conservation Commission (OCC) review its prevision decision regarding the Hilcorp application. The three-member state Oil Conservation Commission has agreed to review its decision to allow Hilcorp Energy Co. to increase the density of natural gas wells in New Mexico’s San Juan Basin.

 

On December 31, 2018, departing OCD Director Heather Riley’s final day in the position, former Commissioner Dunn received a letter from Director Riley stating that the OCC would not consider the State Land Office’s (SLO) December 24, 2018 Application for Rehearing in Case No. 16403. In response, Commissioner Garcia Richard noted that Director Riley did not constitute a valid action of the OCC and violated Section 19.15.4.25 NMAC, which requires ten business days to pass before an application for rehearing is deemed denied without formal action by the OCC.

 

In her January 2, 2019 letter, Commissioner Garcia Richard further requested that the Secretary-designate, Sarah Cottrell Propst convene a special meeting of the OCC to consider the SLO’s application. On January 3, 2019, Secretary Designate Cottrell Propst issued a notice of the January 8. 2019 hearing to consider the application.

 

“The original decision was not only in violation of the Open Meetings Act and OCC rules but it set a dangerous precedent,” said Commissioner Garcia Richard.” “It is imperative that we make a decision in the region that ensures long-term sustainability and production that is fair to every producer in the state,” noted Commissioner Garcia Richard.

Check Also

CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Cancer Center

 By CHRISTUS St. Vincent We deliver compassionate, comprehensive, state-of-the-art care to Northern New Mexico cancer patients. …