The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has a new permanent supervisor. Mark Watson received a unanimous vote from the commissioners.
Watson was a runner-up in the last search for a supervisor and had been serving as the Commission’s interim supervisor after Grant Black’s sudden resignation in March. He's been with the Commission for almost thirty years in various positions, most recently as the principal petroleum engineer.
In a press release, Governor Matt Mead said Watson’s history with the Commission would help create stability at a time when the agency is taking on a number of new responsibilities, including implementing rules for baseline testing of water quality near oil and gas wells and drafting new rules for the setback of wells from homes.
The Commission also announced that it would create a deputy supervisor position to help with the increased workload.