Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Members of the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Energy Resources chaired by Rep. Chris Paddie visited the Railroad Commissions Austin offices today for an agency tour and briefing on operations.
The RRC is vital to the environmental protection and economic success of Texas so this was a great opportunity to dig in on the important work of the agency said Chairman Paddie. Im pleased to see the good progress the agency is making from increasing transparency by implementing an online search tool for oil and gas inspection and violation data to adding field staff for inspecting oil and gas wells and pipelines.
During the Committees tour members and legislative staff were given a demonstration of RRC OIL the agencys new online search tool for inspection and violation data of oil and gas wells in Texas. They also were updated on the Commissions progress on state managed well-plugging as well as oil and gas well inspections.
Were grateful the members and their staff took time out of their very busy schedules to visit us and see first-hand the hard work and dedication of RRC staff to ensure the safe responsible production our states energy resources said RRC Executive Director Wei Wang. Were extremely proud of the work we do for Texas and stand ready to assist the Committee on important energy-related issues this legislative session.
Committee members were also given a briefing on the RRCs Groundwater Advisory Unit which sets drilling requirements for every oil or gas well to ensure groundwater is protected. Additional briefings covered pipeline safety responsibilities alternative fuel activities gas service operations coal mining regulations and improvements to the agencys online Geographic Information System Map which gives the public access to data on every oil and gas well in the state.
