How to clean up the Railroad Commission of Texas and make the agency work better for you.

Raise your hand if you think the Railroad Commission of Texas RRC needs change. 

That’s what I suspected. I even see some industry hands waving. 

STEPS TO CHANGE THE RRC.

The Sunset Advisory Commission is the agency that regulates all Texas agencies. ONCE EVERY 12 YEARS, they examine the agencies and decide what needs to be changed and if the agencies should continue. This year it’s the RRC’s turn for examination.

How to Participate.

On Wednesday, December 19th, you can testify (3 minutes) at the public hearing in Austin.

Since there is no drilling in Austin, it doesn’t make much sense to hold the hearings there. This is one of the many things we need to change about the RRC. Hearings should be held in the areas where people are most affected. What Austin does have is plenty of oil and gas lobbyists. This puts us at an unfair advantage and is why it is so important for you to show up if you can.

Comment on the Staff Report (November 2012)

The Sunset Commission staff has written a Staff Report from their examination of the RRC. You can submit your comments on their report. I will give you examples and walk you through submitting comments.

1. Write up a general comment about your experiences with the RRC and living in the gas patch. HERE are Earthworks comments I prepared to give orally at the hearing.
2. Write up your response to the items on the Staff Report. (You can just say agree or do not agree) HERE are Earthworks responses. These responses will be tallied and you can bet that the oil and gas industry will submit plenty of responses.
   • On Issue 4, I referred to some comments Earthworks submitted earlier. Those comments have our Texas Enforcement Report attached. 
   • Issue 7 is about the Mineral Interest Pooling Act MIPA. This is where the oil and gas industry with the help of the state is trying to railroad your property rights. I delivered comments from Earthworks at that hearing in January so I referred the commission to those comments. 

3.  Submit your comments through the form or through email sunset@sunset.state.tx.us.