RRC Proposes Significant Overhaul of Oil & Gas Waste Management Rules

AUSTIN - RRC Commissioners voted to publish for public comment proposed amendments that are critical to updating the agency’s rules regulating waste management facilities.

This is the first overhaul of RRC’s waste management rules in four decades. Groundwater protection is a major factor in the rule amendments, and they also take into consideration the need for historical rules to adapt to technological advancements in the energy industry’s resource development in Texas.

The amendments pertain to not only waste from oil and gas operations, such as rock and other material pulled up from the ground during drilling, but also encapsulate waste from other operations for which the Legislature has given the RRC jurisdiction. Examples include geothermal, carbon sequestration and brine mining wells.

The proposed rule updates requirements on the design, construction, operation, monitoring, and closure of waste management units, and help improve the Commission’s ability to track and collect data on oilfield waste transported throughout Texas.

Many of the amendments codify informal guidance that the RRC has developed over the course of several decades and would give operators and the public certainty on how regulations of waste management facilities are carried out.

The proposed rule also allows residents more time to protest waste management permit applications. Among the changes to the process is an extended time frame for a person to file a protest, from the current 15 days to 30 days.

The RRC’s forward-thinking approach to protecting the public and groundwater resources is not just limited to the amendments to the waste management rules. The Commission now has a team that is dedicated to environmental permit compliance. That team reviews waste management facility reports and inspections and follows-up on those reviews to quickly rectify any issues.

“This proposed rule reflects the hard work and dedication of agency staff and stakeholders on this critical rule,” said Chairman Christi Craddick. “I am grateful to Commissioner Wright for his leadership on this important matter and look forward to reviewing public input as we work toward final adoption of our solid waste rule amendments.”

“The Railroad Commission continues to prove that a robust, responsible oil and gas industry can thrive while also ensuring a safe and clean environment for all,” said Commissioner Wayne Christian. “Right next to oil and gas, water is becoming perhaps the most valuable natural resource in Texas. As an EPA commended agency for ground water protection, the Commission takes safeguarding water extremely seriously, and this rule update makes certain that industry is taking every precaution possible toward protecting the public. I’m proud of the hard work by our Commission staff and look forward to this rule continuing to bolster the RRC’s historic legacy as a world-class regulatory agency.”

“Today’s draft rule represents an important step forward with respect to the Railroad Commission’s expectations regarding waste management practices,” said Commissioner Jim Wright. “It has been 40 years since the Commission last made significant updates to this rule, and today’s proposal is an acknowledgment that considerable changes have occurred in terms of technology and industry practices now being utilized. I thank the Railroad Commission staff for their tireless work on behalf of our state and look forward to reviewing the public’s feedback on this important issue as we work towards final adoption.”   

The proposed rule and information on public comments can be found on the RRC website at https://www.rrc.texas.gov/general-counsel/rules/proposed-rules/ under Chapters 3 and 4.