Spring 2018 Issue

Employee Profile
Getting to Know OPS
by Catherine Johnson
Bill Hickman has answered some questions for the April 2018 OPS Newsletter to help us get
to know him. Take a look at his picture and his answers. What a great coworker and addition
to our Division!
1) Bill's background
Born in El Paso, TX and raised in Carlsbad, NM (home of the Carlsbad Caverns,
where I worked 750 ft underground, and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, where I
worked 2000 ft underground). My adult work history has been primarily in oil and gas,
including a coast-to- coast natural gas pipeline company and downstream operations
(everything after refining) with a major oil company.
2) How long have you worked for OPS?
22 years
3) What are your job responsibilities?
Being a technical resource for the Petroleum Program's regulated community, their
service providers, and OPS staff.
4) What do you enjoy the most about your job?
Having the opportunity to help our owners, operators and their service providers
understand our requirements, and why they're important to all of us.
5) Any fascinating Compliance issues you'd like to share?
Just because they're growing marijuana doesn't mean that pot farms don't get the
same variances and exclusions that other "farms" might!
6) What advice do you have for a gas station owner?
Borrowing a movie quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail: "Run away!" - It's a
tough business, and I have nothing but respect and admiration for our small- and midsized
business owners that are able to support their employees, remain profitable and
maintain compliance these days.
Content
SPRING 2018 NEWSLETTER 16