At the May 13th Open Meeting of the Railroad Commission of Texas, several people delivered input to the Commission about oil and gas wells, carbon capture and storage, and groundwater contamination.
Paul Dubois, Assistant Director for Technical Permitting in the Oil & Gas Division of the Railroad Commission, gave useful context and information about the induced seismicity happening in the Permian Basin, related to agenda item 430: a staff proposal to order Blackbuck Resources LLC to cease injecting in a Culberson County disposal well.
Virginia Palacios, executive director of Commission Shift, spoke about the ongoing problems with groundwater contamination under the Railroad Commission’s jurisdiction.
Landowner Schuyler Wight spoke about his experience dealing with oil and gas operator Oxy and the wells on his property, highlighting that some of his wells have gone untested and underlining the RRC’s track record as they ramp up their efforts to gain primacy over carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Terry Allen spoke about how commissioners allegedly ignored the recommendations of experts in approving a disposal permit in Shelby County, threatening groundwater near him.
