Oil and Gas Conservation Commission gets new chief

Denver lawyer Matthew Lepore will lead the state Oil and Gas Conservation Commission as the agency’s new director, the state Department of Natural Resources said Thursday.

Lepore, former state assistant attorney general, recently served as lead counsel for the commission, representing the agency in environmental protection, permitting and regulatory enforcement matters. Lepore, whose legal career spans nearly 20 years, also has worked for private firms.

“Matt is a longtime Coloradan whose love and appreciation of the outdoors and experience with legal and natural resource issues make him an ideal leader for the Commission,” Gov. John Hickenlooper said in a statement.…