Two issues concerning the oil and gas industry that really bring out emotional responses are methane regulations and public outreach efforts. Both are deeply tied to the political convictions of the public and the direction of federal and state governments. In this episode, we examine both issues.

In the first segment, Paul Seby, shareholder, Greenberg Traurig in Denver, discusses the two major methane regulations from the EPA and Bureau of Land Management.

In the second segment, the American Petroleum Institute’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Marty Durbin, gives an insider’s view of the organization’s recent Super Bowl commercial and the petroleum industry’s public outreach efforts.

To comment on this episode please use the comment section or tweet our host Len Vermillion (@LenVermillion). He can also be reached at lvermillion@hartenergy.com.

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Featured on this episode:

Paul Seby is a leading practitioner in the Rocky Mountain region, with nearly 25 years' experience analyzing a myriad of environmental issues. He counsels public and private clients in the energy, mining, manufacturing, and service industries on how to navigate and successfully operate within the complex framework of state and federal environmental regulations and policies. Mr. Seby has vast experience prosecuting cases to enforce and overturn administrative agency regulations and decisions, and has defended clients in federal and state enforcement proceedings, in appearances before the U.S. Supreme Court, several U.S. Courts of Appeal, and the Colorado Supreme Court, among others. Bearing in mind that a successful outcome is often a combination of traditional and non-traditional legal strategy, Seby leverages his experience to negotiate with government agencies and adversary groups.

Martin (Marty) J. Durbin is Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at API, where he integrates API’s broad advocacy capabilities in pursuit of the organization’s and the industry’s priority public policy objectives. Marty returned to API after serving for nearly three years as President and CEO of America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA), representing North America’s leading independent natural gas exploration and production companies, where he oversaw ANGA’s market expansion efforts with industry, governmental and consumer stakeholders. At the end of 2015, Marty guided ANGA’s ultimate combination into API to better achieve the mission of both organizations.

Len Vermillion (host) is group managing editor for Hart Energy's Digital News Group. Based in Houston, Texas, he manages editorial content development for Hart Energy's upstream and midstream websites.He has worked in publishing for more than 20 years, having led several magazines and digital products serving various industries including engineering, retail and travel.

He has a bachelor's degree in communications and journalism from the University of Pittsburgh.

Velda Addision (co-host) is senior editor of Hart Energy’s Digital News Group. She joined Hart Energy in June 2012. She brings more than a decade of journalism experience along with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. She has won several reporting awards for news coverage in Texas and Louisiana. As part of Hart Energy's Digital News Group, Addison is responsible for maintaining the E&P website, including writing and editing articles and blog posts as well as managing social media accounts and driving engagement with social media for Hart Energy's upstream websites.