The State of Texas is about to legally challenge the methane gas emission rules handed down recently by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Texas Railroad Commission voted this week to ask Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to file a Petition for Review.
“These rules are just another assault from the Obama administration in its war against fossil fuels and a blatant attempt to forcibly take over the regulation of Texas’ oil and gas industry, a job the Railroad Commission has excelled at for almost a century,” said David Porter, Chairman of the 3-member Commission. “These overbearing regulations accomplish nothing other than encumbering business, wounding our economy and killing the jobs Texans rely on to support their families.”
The state’s two other Railroad Commissioners agreed with Porter.
“These new rules would have little to no impact on the environment while placing an undue burden on an industry that is succeeding in this area on its own,” said Commissioner Christi Craddick. She said the EPA is improperly injecting bureaucracy and mandates where private business already thrives.
Commissioner Ryan Sitton called them “flawed rules” from the EPA.
“The EPA’s methane rules will harm Texas energy producers and accomplish very little in terms of protecting the environment.”