The Railroad Commission of Texas is currently undergoing Sunset, a process intended to improve state agencies. However, due to the limited and lack of effective reforms proposed by the Sunset Commission, numerous legislators have had to intercept in order to initiate important reforms, including State Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas), State Rep. Larry Phillips (R-Sherman) and State Sen. Jose Rodriguez (D-El Paso).
Add two more legislators to that list: State Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio) and State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham).
Sen. Uresti has filed SB 189, a bill that would finally require -- gasp -- that those seeking a permit from the Railroad Commission of Texas to inject large amounts of toxic wastewater underground through disposal wells actually give notice to the Groundwater Conservation Districts that are actually charged with protecting groundwater. Turns out that Groundwater Districts often find out that disposal wells are being built after the fact and have little ability to participate in those decisions.
In addition, Sen. Kolkhorst filed SB 747, which would require the Railroad Commission of Texas to issue a permit for a commercial surface disposal facility located within a municipality or within five miles of a municipality. The bill seems to be in response to concerns about the recent issuance of a permit by the RRC to allow commercial oil and gas waste in open pits near Nordheim, Texas.
The Sierra Club will be working with our volunteers and Senator Rodriguez, Uresti, Phillips, and Anchia to help make these bills law in the coming months. We also expect more reform bills to be introduced over the coming months.