Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Accomplishments 2003 – 2004

About the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC)

Mission: “To protect the public interest in exploration and development of oil and gas resources, ensuring conservation practices, and increasing ultimate recovery, while protecting health, safety, the environment, and property rights” (AOGCC, n.d., ¶1).

“AOGCC functions include maximizing oil and gas recovery, minimizing waste, approving oil pool development rules, and maintaining state production records” (Palin, 2009, p. 94)

“The commission also lends a hand in protecting the environment from contamination during drilling and also ensures environmental compliance in production, metering, and well abandonment activities, so federal agencies like the EPA as well as private interests and environmental groups have key interests in the commission’s activities” (Palin, 2009, p. 94).

Summary of Sarah Palin’s Accomplishments as Committee Chair

In her position as Chairman of the AOGCC, Sarah Palin worked diligently to correct a conflict of interest that existed with Randy Reudrich, the Commission’s Petroleum Engineer. Reudrich was the State Republican Party Chairman, and was a member of the Republican National Committee. Reudrich simultaneously was a general manager Doyon Drilling and the key fund-raiser for the GOP. He solicited party dollars from the oil and gas companies the Commission was supposed to be regulating (Palin, 2009, pp. 94-95).

Ethics Issues with Randy Reudrich

  • Reudrich used the AOGCC office to run the GOP (Palin, 2009, p. 96).
  • Reudrich’s employer, Doyon “pled guilty to federal felony charges for environmental crimes on the North Slope”. (Palin, 2009, p. 95). Reudrich testified in July 1995 before a US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which was chaired by then Senator Frank Murkowski that disposing drilling waste back down wells improved environmental safety. Doyon; however, was adding hazardous waste to the drilling spoils to save money. BP was also involved with this. Doyon paid a $1 million fine, and BP $500,000 (Palin, 2009, p. 95).
  • Reudrich adjudicated two cases closely involved with his old illegal dumping case (Palin, 2009, p. 96).
  • Reudrich shared confidential information with a coal bed methane company the Commission was supposed to be regulating (Palin, 2009, p. 96).

Actions Taken:

  1. Chairman Palin spoke with Reudrich personally on a number of occasions.
  2. Chairman Palin pursued Reudrich’s conflict of interest issue within the Commission’s chain of command.
  3. Sarah Palin resigned so that she could speak publicly about the issue. In her Chair position, Gov. Palin was legally bound to silence on the matter. The gag-order persisted for several months post-resignation.

(Palin, 2009, pp. 96-98).

Personal Consequences Suffered

  • Gov. Palin by her actions angered both the GOP (“talking ill of a fellow Republican” and “jumping on board with the Democrats”) and the Democrats (who accused her of “covering up for the GOP”).
  • Sacrificed a high-paying job that she also loved.

(Palin, 2009, p. 98).

Results Achieved:

  • Reudrich the subject of a 16-page ethics complaint, “agreed to pay the highest civil fine in Alaska history.” (Palin, 2009, p. 99).
  • Sarah Palin earned the respect of lawmakers from both parties, as they got to know and respect her, because she unearthed the truth.

Kaylene Johnson’s Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned the Political Establishment Upside Down, Chapter 6 is devoted entirely to Gov. Palin’s chairmanship of the AOGCC.

References:

Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. (n.d.) State of Alaska Department of Administration. Retrieved June 28, 2010 from: http://doa.alaska.gov/ogc/

Johnson, K. (2008). Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned the Political Establishment Upside Down. (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House).

Palin, S. L. H. (2009). Going Rogue: An American Life. (New York: Harper). pp. 94-99.

Print Friendly

Article written by

Editor and Publisher, US for Palin; LAN Infrastructure PM; IFR PPL; fishing, shooting.

  • bob

    ok got the fact that she ratted out some guy she did'nt like.
    Palin worked diligently to correct a conflict of interest that existed with Randy Reudrich
    what work, what policy, what reports did she write? as chair?
    “To protect the public interest in exploration and development of oil and gas resources, ensuring conservation practices, and increasing ultimate recovery, while protecting health, safety, the environment, and property rights"
    what knowlege of exploration and development of oil and gas resources would paliin have? none….she quit this job because she was in over her head.

    • http://us4palin.com Ron Devito

      Bob,

      You make the statement that then Commissioner Palin "quit" because she "was in over her head." Fine. Prove it. Provide properly cited references from actual colleagues who worked with her that prove your statement. Provide proof that Reudrich was not exposed by her and did not pay a huge fine for his transgressions. Bob, your problem is you just don't like her and nothing positive anyone tells you about her will convince you. You either like Obama, or you're an establishment RINO or sympathizer, or you were personally involved in some operation that she busted up. Whatever the case, your mind is closed to all things Palin and that's it. You're free to not like her, sir. No skin off my back. But, don't post this garbage here and expect to get anywhere – not with me you won't.

  • Pingback: AK’s Bob and Mark: ACES Wins! … For Today | Palin Promotions

  • Pingback: Palin Supporter Creates Gov Palin Online Resume | DC4Palin.com

  • http://www.evaapartman-balatonboglar.hu/vendegkoenyv Aruba

    I tend not to create a ton of responses, but i did some searching and wound up

    here Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Accomplishments 2003 – 2004. And I actually do have 2 questions for you if it’s allright. Is it just me or does it appear like some of the comments come across like they are written by brain dead visitors? :-P And, if you are posting on additional sites, I would like to follow anything new you have to post. Could you list of the complete urls of your shared sites like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?