The Railroad Commission of Texas assessed $1,245,802 in enforcement docket fines against operators and businesses at the commissioners’ open meeting on Tuesday, the agency said in an Oct. 7 news release.
According to the release, the commission has primary oversight and enforcement of the state’s oil and gas industry and intrastate pipeline safety.
The agency’s summary table lists $195,673 in fines assessed in master default orders and $1,050,129 in fines assessed in master agreed orders, for a total of $1,245,802. Master default orders cover operators that failed to appear at commission enforcement proceedings, while master agreed orders are those in which operators were ordered to come into compliance with commission rules, the release said.
The commission said master default orders can be found on the RRC Hearings Division web page and master agreed orders on the RRC General Counsel web page. In the absence of timely motions for rehearing, the release said, decisions are final as stated in the orders.
The Railroad Commission describes its mission as serving Texas through stewardship of natural resources and the environment, concern for personal and community safety, and support of enhanced development and economic vitality. Established in 1891, it is the state’s oldest regulatory agency, according to the release, and it also has jurisdiction over alternative fuels safety, natural gas utilities, surface mining and intrastate pipelines.