Mr. Buys has over 30 years of environmental management experience in the oil and gas industry.  As President of Buys & Associates, he has managed numerous environmental analyses and permitting operations for traditional oil and gas projects, coal bed methane projects, mining operations, seismic exploration activities, and other mineral exploration and production operations in the Intermountain and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States.  Because of his long-term experience and expertise, Mr. Buys has a firm understanding of how energy and mineral development affects public land uses, as well as how the energy and mineral industry is affected by public land management decisions. 

M.S. Environmental Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

B.S. Environmental Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

NEPA Program/Project Management Experience

• Tumbleweed Unit 3D Seismic Exploration EA (UT080-2004-XXX) (in progress);
• North Chapita Natural Gas Development EA (UT-080-0307V) (in progress);
• Greater Deadman Bench Oil and Natural Gas Development EIS and BA (UT-080-2004-0369V) (in progress);
• Figure Four Natural Gas Field Development EA (CO-WRFO-03-187-EA):
• West Mamm Creek Natural Gas Well BA, BE and MIS Evaluation;
• East Mamm Creek Natural Gas Well EA and BA, BE and MIS Evaluation;
• Federal 29-14 Natural Gas Well BA, BE and MIS Evaluation;
• Hightower Mountain Natural Gas Exploration EA and BA/BE;
• EA of Coastal’s Proposed Development of the Ouray Field;
• Deadman Bench Pipeline EA (UT-080-2001-39);
• River Bend Unit Pipeline EA (UT-080-2001-374);
• Antelope Knolls Pipeline EA (UT-080-2001-199);
• EA of Wind River’s North Hill Creek Development;
• Porcupine Tuit CBM EA;
• Monell CO2 Pipeline EA; and
•  Phillips Petroleum Riverbend 24-7 Pipeline EA.

Regulatory Experience

• Managed and implemented thousands of Spill Prevention and Counter Control Measure (SPCC) plans, SARA Title III reports, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans, and air permits for oil and gas operations in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Louisiana.
• Coordinated overall design, construction, and initial operation of a 3-acre, clay-lined treatment area for petroleum-contaminated soils.  A total of 15,000 yds3 of contaminated soils were remediated in the treatment area. 
• Coordinated major groundwater monitoring programs and systems for industrial hazardous and non-hazardous oil field spills, landfills, RCRA TSD facilities, railway sidings with emergency spills, and pit monitoring. 
• Designed, developed, and directed hazardous waste management program for 18 major chemical plants, and the largest U.S. PVC plant.

Environmental Manager

• Prior to forming B&A, Mr. Buys was the Environmental Manager of Tenneco Oil for more than 8 years.  In this capacity, he managed Tenneco’s regulatory and environmental requirements on federal lands in seven western states.  This work specifically included preparing Applications for Permit to Drill (APDs), Rights-of-Way applications, and other State and Federal permits required for new development. It also included identification and preparation of the necessary NEPA documents for new exploration and development projects.  A major part of his position with Tenneco also involved working within industry/government committees dealing with federal land use issues and the revision of the Federal Mineral Leasing Act.   

Commissioner, Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC):