Daily Sentinel article on drilling rules mentioned Club 20 member, but failed to ID her as official of energy-industry group

Summary: The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction on February 21 reported that the Western Slope group Club 20 "split" on a resolution "advising" the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on proposed drilling rules. But the article omitted that Club 20's chairwoman is also an official with the energy industry's top Colorado trade organization.

A February 21 article in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction reported on a rift within the Western Slope's Club 20 organization over a resolution "advising" the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on its proposed drilling rules, but failed to identify Club 20's chairwoman, Kathy Hall, as the Western Slope representative for the Colorado Oil & Gas Association (COGA) -- the industry's main trade group in the state.

The article by Gary Harmon reported, "Western Slope industrial and environmental interests split as a regional promotional organization passed a preliminary statement urging the state not to hinder the energy boom." It further reported:

The Club 20 energy and natural resources committees split sharply on the resolution advising the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on new rules, but both adopted the resolution, which next goes to the full organization in April.

The final product might take a less strident approach, however, as Club 20 Chairwoman Kathy Hall agreed to meet with industry critics to work on different wording.

Industry representatives pushed a resolution asking that new regulations not delay the permitting process for drilling. Environmental representatives complained that the organization was rushing headlong to aid an industry that didn't need help.

Nowhere in the article did the newspaper identify Hall as COGA's Western Slope representative.

In contrast, a February 22 article in The Denver Post about purchases of land near De Beque, Colorado, by the oil field-services corporation Schlumberger quoted Hall while identifying her role with COGA:

"It puts them in a very strategic location because it's closer to most of the energy activity," said Kathy Hall, the Western Slope representative of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association.

A tip from reader J.L. contributed to this item. Thanks, and keep them coming.

—B.J.M.