The Texas Railroad Commission’s primary responsibility is to develop and enforce regulations relating to oil and gas exploration, production and transportation. Many of these regulations, however, have not been closely examined and revised for many years, and some of these rules do not address the reality of the current exploration and production environment. Further, enforcement is spotty and uneven, often focusing on particular groups of industry participants while some of the worst rule-breakers go untouched.
Recently, specific attention was focused on our current Railroad Commissioners’ failure to call hearings to investigate whether ExxonMobil had filed false plugging reports years ago. Despite the pleas of the Land Commissioner and others, the Railroad Commissioners have yet to call for these hearings. This inaction is unacceptable.
Enforcement of existing regulations should be uniform. As Railroad Commissioner, I would undertake a systematic and thorough review of each of the rules under which it operates, working to modernize the regulatory framework to fit the current needs of all Texans. This review should not take place in a vacuum, but would include input from everyone. I will not shy away from calling for hearings when a significant potential violation of state rules is alleged to have occurred.
Finally, the Texas Railroad Commission should serve as a bully pulpit for alternative forms of energy, and for alternative uses for existing energy sources. For example, the Commission’s Alternative Fuels Research and Education Division, which has done an admirable job in expanding the uses, and thus the market, for propane, could go farther by advocating for authority to expand the uses and markets of other natural gas constituent elements. Texas should strive to regain its rightful position as a leader in all sources and uses of energy – whether conventional or not.
