Heightened Inspection Regime Explored by Railroad Commission

Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) chairwoman Christi Craddick has directed the commission’s executive director to explore the potential need for further emphasis on inspections in highly populated, urban areas throughout the state. Craddick noted that RRC has heard concerns from residents of urban areas where drilling is occurring.

“In current times, we are looking at a state in which drilling does not necessarily occur in less populated, rural areas, as it once did years ago,” Craddick said. “Because of both production and population growth across this state, our communities are more commonly touched by the development of oil and gas. With that growth comes the commission’s critical responsibility to not only reevaluate our processes, but to educate Texans about our everyday duties as their regulator, and to assure them that their communities are in fact safe.”

In other business, RRC has instituted upgrades to its online Geographic Information System (GIS), which is used by the public to view statewide oil, gas, and pipeline data. The upgrades are part of the commission’s information technology modernization program to assist operators conducting business with RRC online and to increase transparency of data to the public. The public and legacy GIS viewers are now both available on an enhanced web page at www.rrc.state.tx.us/about-us/resource-center/research/gis-viewers/.

“This upgrade is part of our continuing efforts to make oil and gas well and pipeline information available to the public in an accessible and easy manner,” said commissioner Barry Smitherman. “The enhanced viewer will help keep members of the public and the industry better informed about the activities of this dynamic and growing industry.”