News Release

For more information contact: Linda Berry, (785) 271-3269 or Samir Arif, (785) 271-3188

August 18, 2016

KCC Partners with Washburn Law School to Offer Oil and Gas Law Training

Wichita, KS - Washburn Law students will have the opportunity to learn firsthand about the rapidly changing technologies and economics of the state's oil and gas industry when the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) hosts a three day educational event at its Conservation Division office in Wichita. The event, offered in partnership with Washburn University, will feature KCC Commissioners presiding over a mock hearing.

The training will be held Saturday, August 20, Sunday, August 21, and Monday, August 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Conservation Division office, 266 N. Main, Suite 202, Wichita. Students may earn credit hours for their participation.

"The Commission is excited to offer this opportunity to train young lawyers for the unique way that public utilities commissions operate. The field of Conservation, Oil and Natural Gas law is rapidly changing, with technological advancements and price fluctuations affecting the entire industry. It is vital that we have competent attorneys across the state for this reason," said KCC Chairman Jay Scott Emler.

The training will examine the statutes and regulations administered by the KCC Conservation Division, and showcase its unique litigation procedures.

"This marks the third time this very popular course has been offered in partnership with the Kansas Corporation Commission. In no other setting can students meet, learn from, and interact with the legal, technical, and administrative personnel charged with administering the major energy industries within a state," said Washburn Law School Professor David Pierce. "We are thankful for the support and active participation of the men and women of the Kansas Corporation Commission who make this sort of unique learning experience possible for our students."

The mission of the KCC Conservation Division is to protect correlative rights and prevent waste of natural resources through effective regulatory oversight of oil and natural gas exploration and production activities, and intrastate gas storage.

Every oil and gas producing state has a regulatory agency charged with that oversight. These state agencies regulate all aspects of oil and gas development from drilling to abandoning wells and have extensive authority over environmental matters associated with oil and gas development including protecting the correlative rights of resource owners and fresh and usable waters.