In FY98, after a three-year campaign and the strong support of the Oklahoma and Arkansas Congressional Delegations, the Congress provided $1.5 million in dedicated funding for the Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium (IPEC), for the development of environmental technology and technology transfer for the domestic petroleum industry. Subsequent appropriations for IPEC have included: FY99 - $1,500,000; FY00 - $750,000; FY01 - $750,000; FY02 - $1,250,000; FY03 - $900,000; FY04 - $1,650,000; FY05 - $1,200,000.

Funded under the Science and Technology account of EPA, IPEC is implementing a comprehensive mechanism (Center) to advance the Consortium's research expertise in environmental technology. The consortium includes The University of Tulsa, The University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and The University of Arkansas. IPEC's operating practices and linkages to the independent sector ensure that real problems in the domestic petroleum industry are addressed with real, workable solutions.

IPEC is developing cost-effective solutions for the environmental problems that represent the greatest challenge to the competitiveness of the domestic petroleum industry and providing much needed technology transfer to the small independent producers.

As envisioned and proposed by the Consortium, State-level matching funds have been obtained to support IPEC, creating a true Federal-State partnership in this critical area. In FY98 and FY99, IPEC received $375,000, and in FY00 $50,000 in matching funds from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Additional amounts from this source are anticipated in future years.