This week, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is receiving final comments on a proposed rule to introduce new methane regulations for oil and natural gas operations in Texas. This initiative is part of a federal mandate under the Biden administration, which has been criticized for imposing significant challenges on U.S. oil and gas operators, particularly smaller producers.

Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian has expressed his concerns about the impact of these rules. In a letter to TCEQ commissioners, he urged them to halt the implementation of what he described as an overreaching federal policy. Christian said, "The Biden administration has taken over 250 actions to end oil and gas production, and this new methane rule is one of the many aimed at stifling large producing states like Texas." He further noted that while larger companies might not oppose the rule, smaller producers would face insurmountable compliance costs.

Christian also remarked on the broader political implications, saying, "Elections have consequences, and the American people decided that the Biden administration’s energy and environmental agenda aren’t in their best interest." He advised patience in dealing with these regulations until potential changes in federal policy occur.

Commissioner Christian has been a consistent critic of President Biden's EPA methane rule since 2021. He has warned about its potential negative effects on independent producers and America's energy security. In 2024, all three Texas Railroad Commissioners voted to challenge the rule legally.

Wayne Christian was elected as Texas Railroad Commissioner in November 2016 after serving seven sessions in the Texas House of Representatives.