The Railroad Commission (RRC) permits, monitors, and enforces rules for all Texas oil and gas development. RRC decisions are critical to public health and climate emissions, yet the agency operates with little public accountability. For instance, the three elected Commissioners have deep financial ties to the industry they regulate, with two-thirds of their campaign contributions coming from oil and gas.
The RRC holds monthly open meetings. While challenging to follow, the open meetings are a valuable opportunity to get issues on the record and learn more about decisions that affect us and our communities.
The open meeting agenda for Tuesday, November 17th at 9:30 AM is available.
Inactive wells pose a huge risk to Texans, and thanks to the Texas Legislature’s passage of SB 1150 last year, the Railroad Commission has new tools to address these wells. Agenda item 477 will finally begin the rulemaking to implement SB 1150.
Below are our agenda highlights with some additional notes and context.
Item 6: a motion for Rehearing requested by the Cheek Texas Community Association regarding the ExxonMobil Rose Carbon Capture and Storage Project. The RRC memo on the case states “In its Motion Cheek Texas argues for remand of the application for the limited purpose of resolving TCEQ’s reference in its no harm letter to a 13-mile pressure front. Additionally, the Motion states specific Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law relating to the AOR and the Geologic Storage Facility are erroneous. Lastly, the Motion requests additional Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law to address safety, public health, and the protection of groundwater and amendment of the proposed permit language.” RRC staff are recommending denial of the motion, because none of the issues raised are new.
Items 9 – 15: motions for Rehearing regarding an enforcement action against Large Operating LLC, which violated statewide rules that prohibit companies from operating wells that do not have a certificate of compliance. The RRC recommended penalties of $20,000, which Large Operating LLC has not paid. Staff recommend denial of the motion for rehearing.
Item 18: a motion for rehearing by Black Gold Industries Operating LLC related to a good faith claim for wells in Ector County on the surface estate of YT Holdings Ltd. The wells have been inactive more than a year, and YT Holdings claims Black Gold does not have a good faith claim to operate the wells. At the August open meeting, the RRC ordered the wells to be plugged. RRC staff are recommending denial of the motion for rehearing.
Items 19 – 30: motions for Rehearing for various companies whose P-5 Organization Reports were denied. This is usually because the operators were not in compliance with inactive well plugging rules. If the P-5 denial holds, the operators’ inactive wells will be orphaned. It is unusual to see so many P-5 motions for rehearing on the Hearings Division section of one Open Meeting.
Item 548: The RRC will open a rulemaking for proposed amendments to its Memorandum of Understanding with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Some of these MOU updates are related to Senate Bill 1145 (89R) which transferred authority over land application of treated produced water from Railroad Commission to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The agencies have also indicated that they may include updates to the MOU that clarify duties related to air quality, venting, and flaring, between the two agencies.
Item 549: FY 2027 Risk Assessment and Audit Plan Report.
Item 550: Oil Field Cleanup Program Quarterly Status Report, Fiscal Year 2026, 4th quarter.
Item 551: Oil Field Cleanup Program Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2026.
Item 553 is the commission’s ordinary Public Input agenda item.
On November 10th, Commissioner Wayne Christian sent a letter to Rep. Drew Darby stating that the RRC’s public participation policy will be “revised to restore the process that existed prior to August.” Commissioner Christian has not indicated that the policy change will allow Remote Public Input. A response from Rep. Drew Darby encouraged Commissioner Christian to keep the monthly Listening Sessions, and stated that another interim oversight hearing of the agency will not be held this year.
The deadline to sign up to address the commission on an agenda item or during public input is noon Mon, November 16th, 2026. (Note: They don’t have to call on you if you’re commenting on an agenda item).
People who want to speak on an item that is NOT on the agenda, must register to do so in the Public Input section. Note: you may not speak about an agenda item in the Public Input section.
RRC open meetings typically last less than half an hour.
