30-5-103. Oil and gas conservation commission; composition; expenses; hearings; director of oil and gas conservation; legal advisors.

(a) The governor, director of the office of state lands and investments, the state geologist and two (2) additional members from the public at large who shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the consent of the state senate and shall be citizens and residents of the state of Wyoming and shall be qualified to serve the oil and gas industry of this state, shall comprise the commission. The terms of the two (2) members appointed by the governor shall be for two (2) years except that, of the initially appointed members, one (1) designated by the governor, shall serve for one (1) year. The governor may remove any member he appoints as provided by W.S. 9-1-202.

(b) Each member of the commission not otherwise in full time employment of the state, shall receive the same allowances as other state officials and employees as set forth in W.S. 9-3-102, as amended while attending and traveling to and from meetings of the commission, said fees and expenses to be paid from the funds of the Wyoming conservation commission.

(c) The governor shall serve as chairman of the Wyoming oil and gas conservation commission. The commission shall meet or hold hearings at such times and places as may be found by the commission to be necessary to carry out its duties. Three (3) members of the board shall constitute a quorum.

(d) The state oil and gas supervisor shall be ex officio the director of oil and gas conservation, and as such shall be charged with the duty of enforcing this act and all rules, regulations and orders promulgated by the commission. The director of oil and gas conservation with the concurrence of the commission shall have the authority, and it shall be his duty, to employ all personnel necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. The director of oil and gas conservation shall be ex officio secretary of the Wyoming oil and gas conservation commission and shall keep all minutes and records of the commission.

(e) The attorney general shall be attorney for the commission; provided, that in cases of emergency, the commission may call upon the county attorney for the county of Laramie or the county attorney of the county in which the action is to be brought or defended to represent the commission until such time as the attorney general may take charge of the litigation and upon request, or with the consent of the attorney general, the commission may retain additional counsel to assist the attorney general, and for such purpose may employ any funds available under this act. Any member of the commission, or the secretary thereof, shall have power to administer oaths to any witness in any hearing, investigation, or proceeding contemplated by this act, or by any other law of this state relating to the conservation of oil and gas.

(f) Effective July 1, 1979, appointments and terms under this section shall be in accordance with W.S. 28-12-101 through 28-12-103.