Public scrutiny of the oil and gas industry is motivating companies to balance field development activities with environmental and community needs. It’s prudent for operators to communicate with stakeholders and discover their concerns as early as possible; projects can be slowed or even stopped by perceived shortcomings.While the life of a field may be short, local communities remain firmly rooted and expect operators to preserve and often improve the quality of land, air, and water. Local stakeholders benefit from a stable tax base and work force, but workers in the field gravitate toward companies perceived as good neighbors.PinedaleIn western Wyoming, the hydrocarbon-rich Green ...