Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead on Wednesday signed a new law changing the requirements for the state’s oil and natural gas supervisor, a post that has been vacant since June. Senate Enrolled Act 3 changes the criteria for the top oil/gas spot in the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (OGCC).

In the past, the supervisor was required to be a professionally licensed petroleum engineer or petroleum geologist. The new requirements call for a petroleum engineer or petroleum geologist with at least 10 years of experience in his or her respective field, but it does not require professional licensing.

The OGCC will continue to seek candidates for the supervisor’s spot, Mead said. “We have received interest from many great candidates, and we now have clarity from the legislature,” said Mead.

A permanent replacement has been sought since Tom Doll resigned suddenly last June, a little more than a week after he lambasted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its handling of a well water and natural gas drilling case near Pavillion, WY, that has evolved into a lingering state-federal issue (see Shale Daily, June 18, 2012).