A Report from Washington

Nearly 60 people traveled with IPAMS to Washington DC last week to meet with Members of Congress, the Obama Administration, and media. We delivered a simple, but clear message: Our industry has real solutions to the nation’s economic, energy, and environmental challenges.

In total, IPAMS met with nearly 200 Congressional offices, three agencies including the Department of Interior, and every major media outlet in our nation’s capital. This year, IPAMS Call-Up coincided with IPAA’s, so the impact of independent producers blanketing Capitol Hill was greater than ever before.

IPAMS members did an outstanding job raising awareness about regulatory policies that would make development more difficult and costly, disproportionally impacting Western communities the most.

We are especially grateful to local officials from throughout the region who joined IPAMS in Washington DC.  These leaders are the best advocates to help Congress understand how local communities benefit from a healthy energy industry. A special thank you to Mark Raymond, Uinta County Commissioner; Tim Kaumo, Mayor of Rock Springs, WY, Paul Kauchich, Director of Engineering, Rock Springs, and Mike Hynek, Mayor of Stanley, ND for being a voice on behalf of their communities.  Commissioner Raymond hand delivered a petition to Secretary Salazar signed by ninety county commissioners, mayors and other elected officials from across Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, expressing concern about the negative effect Interior policies will have on local economies and jobs.

Highlights from the Trip

Briefings provide an insider’s view of Washington

This year’s Call-up included briefings and remarks from renowned Washington journalist, political pundit and Pulitzer Prize winner George Will, Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, Utah Congressman Rob Bishop, IPAA Chairman Bruce Vincent, WorldWatch Institute President Chris Flavin, and ANGA CEO Regina Hopper.

Meetings with Congress and the Obama Administration

In addition to meeting with more congressional offices than ever before during an IPAMS Call-Up, IPAMS also met with the Obama Administration to discuss our members’ concerns and explore ways in which we can work together. A team of ten IPAMS members and staff met with Secretary Salazar, Deputy Secretary David Hayes, Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland, Counselor to the Secretary Steve Black, Assistant Secretary for Land & Minerals Wilma Lewis, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land & Minerals Ned Farquhar, and BLM Deputy Director of Programs and Policy Marcilynn Burke. We had a meaningful dialogue on how to move forward in a constructive manner. IPAMS members also met with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of Fossil Energy at the Department of Energy.

A Go-to Source for Washington Media

IPAMS also met with nearly every major Washington-based media outlet, including those from the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, National Journal, Salt Lake Tribune, Denver Post, Oil & Gas Journal, Platts Gas Daily, E&E News, and Public Lands News. IPAMS President George Solich filmed an interview on the widely respected E&E TV’s “OnPoint.”  Special thanks to George for his effective representation of our industry in the DC media. Click here to watch George’s interview.

See some of the media coverage from our trip:

“America’s independent natural gas and oil producers take to Capitol Hill” (E&P Magazine)

“Independents converge on Washington as natural gas advocates” (Oil & Gas Journal)

IPAMS-IPAA Hill Reception Draws Hundreds of attendees!

In 2009, IPAMS for the first time held a reception on Capitol Hill, drawing over 300 attendees and raising IPAMS name recognition among policy makers and Congressional staff.  This year, we co-hosted the reception with IPAA, and had nearly 500 congressional staff and Members of Congress in attendance.  Special thanks to IPAA for all of their hard work on this event!

IPAMS Briefing Materials

For those not able to attend the trip this year, we want to make the materials available for your own use.  Below is a list of materials we’d like for you to have.

Click here for a copy of IPAMS Call-Up brochure (a public document intended as a ‘leave behind’ for Congressional staff)

Click here for a copy of IPAMS briefing book (a more in-depth analysis booklet with great statistics and charts about natural gas and oil production in the Intermountain West.)