Dallas Business Journal
Published: 10-03-08
Funds to deal with drilling permit backlogs
A dramatic increase in drilling permit filings and other applications and documents related to the oil and gas industry has the Texas Railroad Commission requesting emergency funding from the state.
The agency says three railroad commissioners have asked the agency’s leader to request $750000 in emergency funding from the Legislative Budget Board — a committee of the Texas Legislature that develops policy recommendations for legislative appropriations. The request is in response to a backlog of permit filings.
In a statement the Railroad Commission said it’s “witnessing high industry activity levels — driven by high energy prices that have not been seen since the last energy boom in the 1980s.”
The Commission said 20000 drilling permits were issued in 2007 and approximately 29000 are expected to be issued this year. The Commission added “The last time drilling permits reached these levels was in 1985 when 30878 drilling permits were issued.”
