IOGCC Recognizes Indiana Group for Environmental Stewardship The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) awarded its Chairmans Stewardship Award to the Southwest Indiana Brine Coalition (SWIBC) for its outstanding environmental practices. SWIBC was the recipient of the award for environmental partnership. Other companies and organizations receiving awards during todays IOGCC Midyear Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, were Phillips Alaska Inc., Evergreen Resources Inc., National Energy Foundation (NEF) and Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB). Alaska Governor Tony Knowles, 2001 IOGCC chairman, presented the awards and commended the winning organizations for demonstrating that resource development and ecosystem conservation are not mutually exclusive. The SWIBC, a citizen group, was given the award for its work with the Indiana Division of Oil and Gas to remediate old, historically contaminated oil production sites. In October 2000, the SWIBC completed its first pilot project in Posey County. Many group members began working with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in 1995, when the division implemented a citizen-input process called Direct Dialogue. The process was supported and funded by the IOGCC through a grant from the US Department of Energy. The IOGCC, founded in 1935 to ensure the efficient recovery of domestic petroleum resources while protecting health, safety and the environment, represents the governors of 30 oil and gas producing states. Seven states are associate members, and the IOGCC International program has five affiliates. The SWIBC is a not-for-profit, non-regulatory grass roots organization working under the 501(c) umbrella of the Four Rivers Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc. Seven Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Southwest Indiana---Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Pike, Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties, support the SWIBC. SWIBC Chairperson Priscilla Kelly, Posey County SWCD Supervisor, accepted the award in Anchorage, Alaska during the IOGCC mid-year meeting.