Richard Powell is an environmental scientist/field inspector in the Oil and Gas Program. He’s been in the program for 15 years and is based in the Vernal field office. As a Uinta Basin oil and gas field inspector he monitors, inspects and advises operators in all aspects of oil and gas activity from initial pre-site inspections and drilling to final well plugging and reclamation.
Richard brings expertise and experience that gives him the skills necessary to ensure oil and gas development is done properly. Regulatory oversite is needed to make sure oilfield operations, such as produced salt water disposal, spill cleanup and drilling, are completed while protecting the resources of the state.
The best thing Richard likes about his job is working in very remote areas of the state. Because his truck is his office, he often deals with extreme temperatures, weather, potential flash flooding and lots of dust.
Richard received his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Utah State University. Before joining the Division, he worked as a service supervisor for BJ Services, a worldwide oilfield pressure pumping service provider and as a licensed environmental health scientist for the TriCounty Health Department.
He is married with four children. He is active in church and community activities including youth sports coaching and most recently assistant coach for the Uintah High School mountain bike team the Rollin’ Utes. Richard has numerous hobbies including leather work, raising registered Black Hereford cattle and registered 100% New Zealand Kiko goats, archery, Dutch oven cooking, gardening and mountain biking.