Jim Winchester Executive Director | Independent Petrolium Association of New Mexico
Today, the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico (IPANM) submitted its witness rebuttal testimony to the Oil Conservation Commission in response to a rulemaking petition by the Western Environmental Law Center (WELC). The petition seeks to increase financial assurance requirements on state lands.
The rebuttal testimony includes statements from several individuals: Clay Padgett, John Nabors, Mike Cantrell, Mike Hannagan, Robert Arscott PhD, T. Calder Ezzell, Trevor Gilstrap, and Jim Winchester. These filings are intended as IPANM's main opposition to both WELC’s and the Oil Conservation Division’s (OCD) direct testimonies that support higher bonding levels.
Other groups involved in this rulemaking hearing—WELC, OCD, the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association (NMOGA), and Occidental Petroleum—also submitted their rebuttal testimonies today.
"IPANM is treating this rulemaking with the highest priority, and our direct testimony filed August 8th and today’s rebuttal testimony reflects our most vigorous opposition to this proposed rule. The proposed rule is being pushed administratively after the enviros and the OCD failed to get legislation passed in previous sessions," said IPANM.
IPANM's legal team for this matter has been led by Drew Cloutier and Ann Tripp of Hinkle Shanor LLP in Roswell.
