DENVER  -  Governor Bill Owens announced the appointment today of the following three individuals to the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: Michael W. Klish of Grand Junction, Daniel Skrabacz of Denver, and Abe Phillips of Evergreen.

"All three individuals bring a great deal of experience and expertise to the Commission," said Governor Owens. "They will bring a common-sense approach to natural resource issues that will serve Colorado well."

Michael Klish, an Unaffiliated, will serve as a member from the Third Congressional District. Klish is an environmental scientist for West Water Engineering specializing in environmental research, restoration and reclamation. He is member of the Society of Wetland Scientist and served as a representative for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management on numerous oil and gas drilling projects. Klish received his bachelor's degree in forestry and his master's degree in plant ecology from Colorado State University.

Daniel Skrabacz, an Unaffiliated, will serve as a member from the First Congressional District. Skrabacz is a consulting engineer for Pollard, Gore, and Harrison, a petroleum-engineering firm, and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He previously served as vice president and senior petroleum engineer for NationsBank Energy Finance Division in Denver from 1984 to 1998. Skrabacz has his bachelor's in natural gas engineering from Texas A & I University.

Abe Phillips, a Republican, will serve as an at-large member. Phillips, a geologist, formerly served as president of Coors Energy Company from 1980 to 1992 in Denver. Phillips is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologist and Land Committee chair for the Independent Petroleum Association Mountain States. He has his bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Oklahoma.