Oil & Gas Commission declines to exempt itself from contested case procedures

The Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has decided it won’t use an option made available by lawmakers intended to speed the commission’s natural gas and oil decision making process. With a 3-0 vote Wednesday, the commission chose not to exempt itself from the contested case provision in Idaho law, the AP reports. While commissioners voted to terminate negotiated rulemaking that had been underway, they voted to adopt a policy to follow the Idaho Administrative Procedures Act where Idaho’s oil and gas statutes and rules don’t provide procedures.

That decision drew praise from the Idaho Conservation League, which said it quieted fears that people wouldn’t be able to have their say; you can read AP reporter Keith Ridler’s full report here .