Governor Appoints Split Estates Task Force

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Gov. Dave Freudenthal today announced his five appointments to the newly created Split Estate Task Force. The task force is charged with studying issues and drafting legislation with respect to estates in which the mineral rights and surface rights are held by different parties.

Created by a budget footnote in the last legislative session, the task force comprises 11 members, including three representatives and three senators from the Wyoming Legislature. The governor appoints the remaining five members according to qualifications spelled out in the footnote.

Two must be owners of a surface estate over leased oil or gas minerals, at least one of whom does not also own the mineral rights to the property. One must own the private mineral interests of a split estate and two must represent oil or gas producers operating in Wyoming. The task force will be staffed by the Legislative Service Office.

“Given the inherent complexity and controversy surrounding split estates, these 11 people have an undeniably difficult job ahead of them,” Freudenthal said. “However, I am fortunate to have been able to select very qualified individuals within the framework established by the Legislature.”

The task force includes:

-Frankie Addington of Douglas, representing a landowner occupying a surface estate without ownership of the leased oil and gas mineral rights;

-Jerry Barnes of Denver, representing an oil and gas producer operating in Wyoming;

-J.J. Healy of Teton Village, representing a landowner occupying a surface estate over leased oil and gas mineral rights;

-Rick Robitaille of Casper, representing an oil and gas producer operating in Wyoming;

-Nancy Sorenson of Arvada, representing an owner of private mineral interest not connected to the surface estate;

-Sen. Ken Decaria, D-Evanston, a member of the Joint Judiciary Committee;

-Sen. Bill Hawks, R-Casper, co-chair of the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee;

-Rep. Saundra Meyer, D-Evanston, a member of the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee;

-Rep. Mark Semlek, R-Moorcroft, a member of the Joint Agriculture, Public Lands and Water Resources Committee;

-Rep. Colin Simpson, R-Cody, co-chair of the Joint Judiciary Committee; and

-Sen. C.L. “Chuck” Townsend, R-Osage, a member of the Joint Agriculture, Public Lands and Water Resources Committee.