IPAA held its annual midyear meeting in Colorado Springs this week, kicking off the event with a one-day conference focused on strategic planning on environment and land access issues. The conference included expert speakers and members of IPAA’s Government Relations team to discuss some of the key issues facing independent producers, including the Endangered Species Act and access to federal lands.
Michael Nedd,from the Bureau of Land Management, spoke about the implantation of the sage grouse resource management plans and potential impacts for independent producers. Tom Sansonetti, a partner with Holland & Hart, later discussed the best ways to navigate the regulatory challenges facing independent producers operating on federal lands. Patrick Traylor, a partner with Hogan Lovells US LLP, also lead an interactive discussion on how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has used the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA) in enforcement actions against the oil and gas and renewable energy sectors as well as the Service’s recent notice of intent to create an MBTA incidental take permit program. IPAA would like to thank all of the great speakers for their insight into these important issues.
