There’s been a gradual makeover taking shape at the state Department of Natural Resources under the leadership of Governor Kathleen Blanco’s appointee Secretary Scott Angelle. The agency has a wide range of programs and services that include environmental regulations, energy conservation, and coastal restoration and management.

With a year of what he terms as “action planning” under his belt, Secretary Angelle just won’t sit around waiting for opportunities to knock at the door. He believes a key ingredient in his recipe for success is positioning the agency for more business, particularly, from the oil and gas industry.

He has listened and reacted to industry when the cry was to streamline the coastal use permitting process. He also made it a priority early on to travel to every field office operated by the department to get input on regional issues and to impart his views about strengthening internal communications.

Last week, he was on the road again, but this time he was combining fact-finding and economic development efforts as he visited with top executives of seven leading oil and gas companies in Houston. “I wanted to meet with these key leaders, explain some of the progress made here, and thank them for keeping Louisiana on their radar,” Secretary Angelle said.

Angelle believes that these company CEO’s are indeed interested in a state that they have looked to in the past for oil and gas resources. “These industry executives were appreciative and open and our discussions were candid,” noted Angelle. “Making it a face to face opportunity in this way had never been done before and I certainly plan to do more of this as time goes on,” he said.

According to Angelle, there are a number of the independent companies in Louisiana that have had input to the department over the last year. “LIOGA’s director Don Briggs and many of the executives in the Louisiana Independent Oil and Gas Association have shown support for our efforts to make change and upgrade our technology,” he said.

“We continue to see a bright future for Louisiana and our involvement there despite the difficulties that our industry has experienced,” remarked Hilcorp Energy Company’s Vice President for Exploitation L. Tommy Porter. He went on to say that Angelle’s message was a “breath of fresh air” and that he is seeing results of the progress being made by the state.

Mark Houser, who is Executive Vice President and CEO of Houston-based, EnerVest Management Partners, said the meeting made it possible to “effectively discuss the challenges we face and the significant growth potential available through our businesses in Louisiana.”

Joining Secretary Angelle were State Mineral Board Vice Chairwoman Marjorie McKeithen and Commissioner of Conservation James “Jim” Welsh. DNR Coastal Management Administrator David Frugé also joined the group bringing these select executives updates on the coastal-use permitting procedures that make it faster than in past years to do business in the state. Permitted projects will soon go paperless, according to Frugé, who confirmed that the department’s plan to go online for most of the processing is coming soon.

“One of the things I heard during our meetings with these company leaders is that training industry employees about the regulations that affect them is important,” Commissioner Welsh said. “I plan to heed this advice, calling on the other regulating departments in state government to join me in more training,” Welsh said.

Last year, there were 1,633 drilling permits issued in Louisiana and according to energy statistics, permitting activity has had its lows for a number of years. The bright spot, however, is what appears to be a continuing increase of active rigs in the state for the current year. So far, there has been an 18 percent jump in drilling permits for this year through the month of June over last year.

Angelle is quick to note in his speeches that he believes Louisiana has a new business model that recognizes that oil companies have a choice where they go with their investment dollars. He said it’s important for this state to be motivated and work much harder than before if we want industry to sit up and notice.

Angelle said, “I think along with the administration’s ethics reform and reduced taxes on business, we have the nation’s new address for success.”

The foursome all agreed that meeting top management was a way to gain more insight and to get our information to the decision makers. Angelle shared with his traveling team, this message, “either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool or you go out in the ocean.”