THE INTERSTATE OIL AND GAS COMPACT COMMISSION: A PARTNERSHIP INVOLVING GEOSCIENTISTS AND POLICY MAKERS

The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) was founded in 1935 to ensure the efficient recovery of domestic petroleum resources while protecting health, safety and the environment. The Commission today represents the Governors of 30 oil and gas producing states; an additional 7 states are affiliate members. The IOGCC is a venue in which geoscientists can work with governors and state agencies to have an impact on public policy. In 2001, IOGCC published the report "Human Resources: The Missing Piece of the Energy Puzzle" by William L. Fisher and Sarah Seals, highlighting education and workforce needs for the petroleum industry. Subsequently, the incoming Chairman of IOGCC, Governor John Hoeven of North Dakota, convened a Blue Ribbon Petroleum Professionals Task Force to address IOGCC's concerns about future shortages of technically trained, environmentally responsible personnel for the domestic oil and gas industry workforce. As a result, IOGCC has started new initiatives to increase advocacy for federal oil and gas research funding, and to become more involved with professional societies to enhance educational and career services for the next generation of geologists, geophysicists, and engineers who will be employed by the U.S. oil and gas industry. In 2002 IOGCC created the Geosciences Electronic Resource Center website http://www.iogcc.state.ok.us/GEOSCIENCE/index.htm, linked to the IOGCC home page at http://www.iogcc.state.ok.us. The website will serve students and professionals by providing education and career services such as links to internship programs with state agencies and industry; information on academic scholarship opportunities at universities and colleges; and links to education and outreach websites of professional societies. The IOGCC welcomes suggestions from users for making the Center more effective. Gov. Hoeven is also convening a meeting of industry leaders to identify solutions developed at individual company levels which can be shared and encouraged in other companies. Through the IOGCC, the petroleum-producing states will become more directly involved with this issue, and state employees will be encouraged to work cooperatively with industry organizations. State employment agencies will be urged to develop outreach efforts.