The Texas Railroad Commission has recently set a total of over $2 million worth of fines on several businesses that failed to stay up to Commission standards and also failed to show up to official Commission hearings. According to a statement from the Commission, "$2,425,495.50 in fines involving 597 enforcement dockets" were assessed.
Railroad Commissioners are faced with assessing over $2 million of fines set on various operators and businesses across the state. The fines were distributed for two main reasons. Firstly, over $1 million of the fines were imposed on operators who failed to attend required enforcement proceedings. Despite receiving notice to fix the issues and come into compliance with regulations, these operators neglected to show up. Secondly, another $1 million of fines were distributed to operators in the gas and oil industries who failed to meet the Commission's standards for their operations.
The Texas Railroad Commission's mission statement, as given on their website, is to "serve Texas by [its] stewardship of natural resources and the environment, [its] concern for personal and community safety, and [its] support of enhanced development and economic vitality for the benefit of Texans." The Railroad Commission is the foremost leader in mandating the oil and natural gas industries spread throughout Texas.
Operators and businesses are expected to adhere to the rules and regulations set by the Railroad Commission. These regulations can be found on the Commission's website under the General Counsel and Rules tabs. The rules are outlined in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Title 16 and Economic Regulation Part 1: Railroad Commission of Texas. The regulations cover various topics, including practices and procedures, carbon dioxide, environmental protection, and coal mining regulations.
The fines imposed by the Texas Railroad Commission serve as a reminder to operators and businesses to prioritize compliance with the Commission's standards. Failure to do so can result in significant financial penalties.
