Gas and Oil Board names Lydia Camus of Virginia Department of Energy to preside over contested hearings

The Virginia Gas and Oil Board on Oct. 21 resolved to appoint Lydia Camus of the Virginia Department of Energy to preside over formal hearings on several contested petitions, after objections from Diversified Energy led the board to invoke administrative‑law hearing procedures.

Chair Gus Jansen introduced the resolution, citing statutory provisions that allow the board to appoint a hearing officer to help conduct timely hearings and issue decisions under the Administrative Process Act. “The designation will be Lydia Camus of the Virginia Department of Energy,” the chair stated during the motion.

Diversified Energy had filed objections to competing petitions for several docketed items and requested formal litigated hearings. Board members said appointing a presiding officer would streamline scheduling and limit delays while preserving parties’ procedural rights. The board voted on the resolution, with several members recording affirmative responses and at least one abstention during the roll call.

The board instructed the division to notify parties and to coordinate hearing logistics with Ms. Camus and the parties’ counsel. The resolution directs the division to set the time and place for the formal hearings and to provide parties with details on the issues to be heard.

Next procedural steps: parties that filed objections will be contacted by the division to schedule the formal hearings to be conducted by the designated presiding officer. Written orders and hearing logistics will be provided to parties by the division as required by statute.