Legislature(1997 - 1998)

02/12/1998 11:10 AM House O&G

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
txt
HB 274 - OIL & GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION                                     
                                                                               
Number 0156                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN HODGINS announced that the committee would hear HB 274,               
"An Act relating to the qualifications of the members of the Alaska            
Oil and Gas Conservation Commission; and providing for an effective            
date."   He stated that there is a committee substitute and asked              
Jeff Logan to present the committee substitute.                                
                                                                               
JEFF LOGAN, Legislative Assistant to Representative Joe Green,                 
sponsor of HB 274, informed the committee that Representative                  
Green is in Anchorage and will be on teleconference.                           
                                                                               
Number 0220                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN HODGINS stated that there is a committee substitute to HB
274.                                                                           
                                                                               
Number 0226                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE NORMAN ROKEBERG made a motion to adopt CSHB 274( )              
as a working draft.  He asked what version the committee is                    
addressing.                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN HODGINS responded that the committee is addressing CSHB
274( ), 0-LS0998\L, Glover,  2/11/98, as amended.                              
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT OGAN asked if Mr. Logan could explain the                 
changes to the bill.                                                           
                                                                               
Number 0336                                                                    
                                                                               
MR. LOGAN stated that the first change is on page 1, line 7,                   
"Before making an appointment, the Governor may solicit the                    
recommendations of professional or industry representatives for                
appointment of a commissioner."   He explained that this language              
is a result of comments to the sponsor by professional and industry            
groups, who would appreciate the opportunity to forward names to               
the  Governor.  He stated that these groups believe that they know             
who the most qualified members of their industry are and they would            
like to be able to forward the names to the Governor.                          
                                                                               
Number 0420                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN stated that the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation            
Commission, (AOGCC), are the policemen of the pipeline.  He stated             
that the bill is then proposing that the oil companies will be able            
to choose who will be their policemen.  He asked if that was                   
correct.                                                                       
                                                                               
Number 0448                                                                    
                                                                               
MR. LOGAN replied that it was not exactly correct.  He referred to             
Line 8, and noted the word "may".  The Governor may solicit the                
recommendations of the industry.  The industry representatives were            
hoping to have a formalized process toward the Governor in regards             
to positions on the commission.  He noted that there have been                 
previous members on the commission from the industry and it has not            
been a problem in the past.                                                    
                                                                               
Number 0507                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN, testified via teleconference from                    
Anchorage that the reason for this language is because the                     
Governor's past two appointments have been unqualified for the                 
position.  The reason being that he could not find professionals in            
the industry that would qualify.  He stated that this does not                 
preclude him from finding other qualified representatives.                     
                                                                               
Number 0575                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE TOM BRICE stated that he wanted to make sure he was             
clear on this.  The section is 31.05.005(a) and asked if it is                 
referencing the petroleum engineer's and the geologist's seat or if            
it is referring to all members of the commission.                              
                                                                               
Number 0606                                                                    
                                                                               
MR. LOGAN replied that subsection does not apply to membership of              
the commission.                                                                
                                                                               
Number 0642                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE stated he just wanted to be clear; the                    
subsection pertains to input on the engineer's and the geologist's             
seats and Section 1 is applicable to all the seats.                            
                                                                               
Number 0680                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked Representative Brice to refer to line 9             
and the word "professional".  He stated that the third member does             
not have to be a professional in anything.                                     
                                                                               
Number 0698                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG asked that the addition in Section 1                   
applies to all three seats on the commission.                                  
                                                                               
Number 0725                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN reiterated that the third member need not be              
qualified in either the geological or engineering area of                      
expertise, therefore there is no need for a professional review of             
the third seat.                                                                
                                                                               
Number 0775                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN stated that the way the additional information             
is written in Section 1, it pertains to all three positions and                
asked whether the language could be tightened to apply only to the             
petroleum engineer.                                                            
                                                                               
Number 0810                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN responded that he the word "may" is being used            
and it is the Governor's discretion if he is going to seek any                 
recommendation.  The intent is to help the Governor find the                   
required professionals to fill the two professional seats.                     
                                                                               
Number 0885                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE CON BUNDE stated that there seems to be some concern            
that the oil industry would be forwarding recommendations.  He                 
asked if it was correct that there is nothing in the existing law              
that would prevent the Governor from asking the AOGCC for                      
recommendations.                                                               
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN replied that is correct.                                  
                                                                               
Number 0897                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE stated that it seems like it is intent                    
language, carrying all the weight of a butterfly.                              
                                                                               
Number 0934                                                                    
                                                                               
MR. LOGAN stated that additional changes are found on page 2,                  
subsection (B), line 6, deleting the requirement that the person               
selected for the petroleum engineering seat have a degree in                   
petroleum engineering.  The word "petroleum" has been deleted.                 
This has also been done on line 10 and line 11.  He stated that                
otherwise it limited the pool of candidates to a level of                      
impracticality.                                                                
                                                                               
MR. LOGAN stated that on page 2, line 6 the insertion of the word              
"subsurface" requires the person to have at least 10 years of                  
professional subsurface experience.                                            
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG referred to page 1, line 13, "one member               
shall be a petroleum engineer" and stated that the definition of a             
petroleum engineer on page 2, is one who meets the requirements for            
program accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission.             
                                                                               
Number 1090                                                                    
                                                                               
MR. LOGAN stated that it is an omission on his part and the word               
"petroleum" on page 1, line 13 should have been deleted.                       
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG asked Representative Green if he wished to             
leave the word "licensed professional" in as well.                             
                                                                               
Number 1134                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN responded, "There is an (A) and a (B) and                 
there is an 'or' in there.  And that 'or' is very important because            
that person can be a registered petroleum engineer or would have               
these other qualifications which would insure that he has the                  
knowledge that is required for the position."                                  
                                                                               
Number 1167                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE stated therefore, on page 1, line 13 there                
would be no deletion of word "petroleum".                                      
                                                                               
Number 1199                                                                    
                                                                               
MR. LOGAN stated that on page 2, line 14, there is the requirement             
to complete "course work specific to petroleum engineering" that               
deals with the subjects listed in line 16 through line 18.                     
                                                                               
Number 1239                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE stated that the term "course work" is not very            
well defined.  He asked if it meant course work in every one of the            
subjects listed.                                                               
                                                                               
Number 1260                                                                    
                                                                               
MR. LOGAN replied that it could be a course, or courses; as long as            
the course work illustrated "application of engineering principles             
to the problems encountered and methods used in the petroleum                  
industry".  He explained that could be obtained in a variety of                
different courses.                                                             
                                                                               
Number 1300                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE asked at what level is the course work.  Is it            
a week-end seminar, a community college course, et cetera.                     
                                                                               
Number 1327                                                                    
                                                                               
MR. LOGAN replied that he believed it is covered on line 12 through            
line 13.  The course work has to be at a university that is                    
accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of                      
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, (ABET) which is            
the most basic and broadest accreditation for engineering programs             
in the United States.  He added that this is the organization in               
which the University of Alaska of Fairbanks, engineering programs              
are accredited by.                                                             
                                                                               
Number 1428                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE stated that he understood that a member would             
have to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree in engineering              
that meets the requirements as listed in line 12 through line 13.              
He asked if it would be more to the point say that "includes course            
work".                                                                         
                                                                               
Number 1428                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked if on line 13, "by competing" was                   
deleted and "that includes" was inserted, would be more to                     
Representative Bunde's liking.                                                 
                                                                               
Number 1490                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE stated that would be fine, but maybe he is the            
only one who sees it as a problem.                                             
                                                                               
Number 1519                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE stated that there are two requirements in                 
subsection (B), the member has to earn a degree from a university              
and have 10 years of professional subsurface experience.  In                   
defining the degree, it has to come from an ABET school and during             
that course work at the school one must have taken courses to                  
include drilling, production, reservoir engineering, fluid flow                
through subsurface formations and hydrocarbon transportation.  He              
stated that on page 2, line 8 through line 18 defines the type of              
educational experience that a person has gone through to get that              
degree from a university.  He stated that it does address the                  
question that a person could not just take a few week-end seminars             
and meet the requirements.  He stated that is at least the way he              
reads it.                                                                      
                                                                               
Number 1600                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE offered that on page 2, line 13, "including               
and completing course work specific to petroleum engineering".                 
                                                                               
Number 1610                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN stated that would be fine.                                
                                                                               
Number 1613                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE made a motion to amend CSHB 274( ), page 2,               
line 13 to delete the word "by" and insert the word "including", so            
that line 13 would read "Accreditation Board for Engineering and               
Technology including and completing".                                          
                                                                               
Number 1671                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN HODGINS asked if everybody understood the amendment.                  
                                                                               
Number 1681                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN asked if this language would then require a                
degree in petroleum engineering.                                               
                                                                               
Number 1689                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN replied that it would not.  He stated that it             
would avoid the situation of someone just having 10 years                      
experience in drilling, because it states there would have to be               
some course work in the other disciplines.  There is a broader                 
understanding of what members on the AOGCC need to be aware of.                
                                                                               
Number 1727                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN HODGINS asked if there were any objections to the                     
amendment.  Hearing none, Amendment 1 passed.                                  
                                                                               
Number 1734                                                                    
                                                                               
MR. LOGAN stated that the final change is on page 2, line 23, it is            
the insertion of the requirement for a minimum of 10 years                     
professional experience in the field of petroleum geology in order             
to serve on the commission.                                                    
                                                                               
Number 1706                                                                    
                                                                               
MIKE DUNN stated that he is representing himself and he has worked             
for a major oil company as a petroleum engineer for 15 years.  He              
stated that he has worked in drilling, production, reservoir and               
exploration.  He stated that the underlying intent of the bill is              
to raise the standards that the state has to manage the resources.             
He pointed to the city of Long Beach and the Texas Railroad                    
Commission as a model, as they are recruit side by side with the               
major oil companies on campuses, hiring the best and the brightest             
engineers.                                                                     
                                                                               
Number 1868                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN asked if he thought the bill raised the                    
standards for petroleum engineer.                                              
                                                                               
MR. DUNN replied that a minimum standard is a good idea and this               
bill is a direction that the state needs to take.                              
                                                                               
Number 1925                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE stated that the zero fiscal notes accompanying            
the bill contained, in the justification section, lobbying against             
the bill.  He stated that a fiscal note should just contain fiscal             
analysis and if someone wants to lobby about the bill they should              
come to the meeting and discuss their views.  He stated that this              
backdoor approach to lobbying is unacceptable.                                 
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN HODGINS stated that he whole-heartily agreed.                         
                                                                               
Number 1966                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG asked Representative Green if the                      
description of the course work that now will have to be included               
and completed, would be the curriculum necessary to obtain a degree            
in petroleum engineering.                                                      
                                                                               
Number 1902                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN replied that they are just individual areas               
and not necessarily course work and in any one of those areas there            
are several courses that a petroleum engineer takes.  He explained             
that they are not requiring the completion of all of them, just                
that they be introduced to them and complete a course in that                  
field.                                                                         
                                                                               
Number 2026                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG stated he wanted to verify for the record              
that under the stated engineering statute there is not a                       
requirement to indicate what a petroleum engineer is.  He asked if             
there is a regulatory definition of a petroleum engineer.                      
                                                                               
Number 2060                                                                    
                                                                               
MR. LOGAN replied that there is a petroleum engineering license and            
there is regulatory language in Alaska Administrative Code that                
addresses that.                                                                
                                                                               
Number 2108                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG asked that the rationale for removing the              
petroleum engineer language is to widen the pool of availability.              
                                                                               
Number 2117                                                                    
                                                                               
MR. LOGAN replied that is correct.                                             
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG asked if it would be okay to hire an out of            
state person for the job.                                                      
                                                                               
MR. LOGAN replied that it was discussed at the last hearing in a               
letter from the Department of Law, which stated that in order for              
a person to serve on a board or commission in the state they must              
be registered to vote at least 30 days prior to last general                   
election.                                                                      
                                                                               
Number 2137                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN stated that in the Alaska Administrative Code,            
12 AAC 36.990 "item 14" described petroleum engineer.                          
                                                                               
Number 2151                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE made a motion to move CSHB 274(O&G), 0-                   
LS0998\L, Glover, 2/11/98, as amended without the attached fiscal              
note.                                                                          
                                                                               
Number 2172                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN HODGINS asked if there was an objection.  Hearing none,               
CSHB 274 (O&G),0-LS0998\L, Glover, 2/11/98, as amended without the             
attached fiscal note was moved out of the House Special Committee              
on Oil and Gas.                                                                
                                                                               

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