From Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

The man who oversees oil and gas, water, wildlife, mining and other natural resource management in Colorado will be leaving his job along with his boss in January.

Bob Randall, executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources under Gov. John Hickenlooper, will be finishing up his job Jan. 8, Hickenlooper’s office announced Wednesday.

Randall will be joining the Denver-based law firm Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell.

He leaves as the term-limited Hickenlooper will be replaced by fellow Democrat and Governor-elect Jared Polis in January. Such a transition raises questions about the future of department-head gubernatorial appointees such as the DNR chief. Polis can decide to bring in his own team members or retain existing cabinet members, and they too can face the decision of whether to stay on under a new governor if that’s an option.

On Monday, Randall told fellow members of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission that their meeting might be his last as a commission member through his DNR role.

“As far as that goes we will know more before the end of the year from the incoming governor-elect’s team as to who’s sitting in this spot, so stay tuned,” he said.

He added, “I will just share that it’s been the privilege of a lifetime and the most rewarding and challenging work I’ve ever been able to do sitting in this role, so I appreciate that as well.”

In Hickenlooper’s announcement Wednesday, he said, “Bob led the DNR through landmark issues facing Colorado. From water to oil and gas, outdoor recreation to parks and wildlife, Bob was a steady voice through complicated matters. Colorado’s leadership in these areas is a reflection of Bob’s commitment, and we should all be most grateful.”

Hickenlooper appointed Randall to the post in June 2016. He had served as interim director since that February, and as deputy director since 2010.

Hickenlooper’s office cited Randall’s work in helping achieve protections for the Roan Plateau and Thompson Divide from oil and gas development, overseeing the adoption of new regulations by the COGCC and participating in the state’s response following a fatal home explosion due to an improperly abandoned oil and gas flowline in 2017, and playing a leading role in finalizing a rule to conserve 4.2 million acres of roadless national forest land in the state. Hickenlooper’s office also cited Randall’s work in securing $36 million to implement the state’s water plan, and millions of dollars for trails.

While at the department Randall also was involved in the response to the historic 2013 floods on the northern Front Range, the spill of pollutants from the Gold King Mine into the Animas River in 2015, and the escape of the state-ignited Lower North Fork prescribed burn in 2012, which ended up killing three people and destroying homes.

At least one member of the oil and gas commission, Republican rancher and royalty owner Kent Jolley of Garfield County, previously had voiced the hope that Randall might stay on in the job. Jolley had speculated that what oil and gas regulatory changes Polis might pursue could depend in part on whether Randall remained as executive director of DNR.

A spokesperson for the Polis transition team couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

As Polis considers who should succeed Randall, it’s worth noting that past DNR chiefs oftentimes have hailed from the Western Slope. Randall’s predecessor, Mike King, is a Montrose native. Russell George of Rifle and Greg Walcher, now a Daily Sentinel columnist who grew up in Mesa County, also previously held the job.


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