The Railroad Commission met to hear a regular agenda. This report focuses on administrative matters.
358. Issues regarding operations in the Barnett, Eagle For, and other shale trends.
- Not discussed
359. Issues related to the management and operations of the agency, and personnel matters.
- Not discussed
360. Consideration and possible adoption of policy regarding delegation of signature authority to the Executive Director for contracts in excess of $1 million, pursuant to Texas Government Code §2261.254.
- SB 20 allows delegation of signature authority for contracts to the executive director
- Motion to approve delegation of signature authority to executive director passes
361. Consideration and possible adoption of policy regarding delegation of authority to staff.
- Motion to approve delegation of authority to staff passes
362. Pending and/or contemplated litigation, rulemakings, and other actions initiated by or involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Transportation, and other federal agencies that may impact the State of Texas, including, but not limited to, the energy, pipeline, and natural resource industries.
- Clean power plant litigation hearing for oral argument was canceled, en banc hearing is set for September and is seen as a good and efficient move by staff
363. Discussion of whether to request that the Office of Attorney General file a Petition for Review related to EPA’s submission of the following final rules for publication in the Federal Register: Docket Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0505, Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New and Modified Sources, and Docket Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0685, Source Determination for Certain Emission Units in the Oil and Natural Gas Sector.
- Concerns EPA’s new source performance rules for methane gas wells,
- Commenters have 60 days to file a petition for review, deadline to land in August, TCEQ is still reviewing the rules
- Staff is asking for authority to refer matter to the AG in concert with sister agencies
- Commissioners agree, some think EPA should be clear of source of global warming and is being disingenuous by going after carbon and methane
- Motion to approve authority to bring matter to the AG
No public comment received