Photo: ©albradenphoto.com
By Cyrus Reed
The Texas Legislature is close to passing a bill that would take away the rights of citizens and cities to protect themselves against pollution and hazardous activities. HB 40, a bill heavily influenced by the oil and gas industry, would fundamentally undermine a community’s right to regulate oil and gas activities within its borders. The vote on this bill is expected to take place this Tuesday.
Authored by House Energy Resources Chair Drew Darby (R-San Angelo), HB 40 assumes the state provides enough oversight of oil and gas operations and that state law preempts city ordinances. The Senate version of the bill, SB 1165, authored by Senate Natural Resources & Economic Development Chair Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay), includes similar language and must be stopped.
We’ve all heard or experienced horror stories about fracking. We know the state does not do enough, and cities should have the right to protect themselves. Not only would these bills prevent communities from passing new ordinances to protect themselves against fracking, it could also erase many current ordinances.
This is not just one party supporting this. Democrats and Republicans have signed on in support. Tell them now that you strongly oppose these bills!
The oil and gas industry should not decide how to protect public our health.
(To those of you who have already contacted your members, thank you very much!)