The director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) is stepping down next month to take a job with an energy policy consulting firm, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced Tuesday morning. Matt Lepore, who was appointed in August 2012, will resign effective March 2.
“Leading this agency has been the professional privilege and challenge of a lifetime,” Lepore said in a statement. “We benefit from the participation of so many outstanding citizens, industry representatives and COGCC staff and commissioners, working together in good faith through the inherently difficult issues that can arise in balancing increasing energy production within a growing state.”
Lepore oversaw regulation of the industry during a time of increasing production in the state, as well as increased engagement from anti-fracking activists. Dan Haley, president of industry group Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA) on Tuesday praised Lepore’s work to the Denver Post, saying Lepore “led massive change” and implemented “many first-of-their kind regulations,” in the process earning “the ire of both industry and activists.”
“That’s probably when you know you’re doing your job properly,” Haley added.
Anti-fracking activists, however, disagree. Cliff Willmeng, co-founder of Lafayette-based East County Boulder United, disparaged the “long collaboration between (government) officials and the oil and gas industry.”
That relationship is evidenced, Willmeng said, by Lepore’s move to the private sector. Lepore will join Adamantine Energy, a Denver-based consulting firm led by the one-time head of industry group Colorado Oil & Gas Association, Tisha Schuller. Adamantine manages a satellite office in Boulder.
Lepore will help Adamantine “fulfill its mission to transcend conflict around energy projects” according to a statement from the company, by “guiding (clients) to evolve their business strategies to reduce and transform their political and policy risk.”
“Matt has really unique experience and perspective seeing energy development conflicts from all sides,” Schuller said in a statement. “So he can help Adamantine with our mission, which is to transcend these divides and create enduring and fair solutions.”
Taking Lepore’s place at the COGCC will be Julie Murphy, the assistant director for energy and minerals at DNR. Murphy has been with the agency in various roles since 2012; prior to that, she served as an associate attorney at Denver’s Moye White, litigating land use and environmental disputes.
Lepore’s predecessor, David Neslin, is a partner in Denver law firm Davis Graham & Stubbs. He took the job in March 2012 after five years leading COGCC.
The Denver Post contributed to this article.
