Texas RRC commissioners assess unusually heavy amount of enforcement fines

AUSTIN — The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) assessed $1,008,396 in fines, involving 228 enforcement dockets against operators and businesses at the Commissioners’ Conference on Wednesday.

The Commission has primary oversight and enforcement of the state’s oil and gas industry and intrastate pipeline safety. In recent months, fines have averaged between a low of $330,000 and a high of $525,000, so June’s figure of over $1 million is unusually heavy.

Thirty-three dockets involved $499,663 in penalties after operators failed to appear at Commission enforcement proceedings. Records show that just eight companies were responsible for this total, which is close to half of the entire list of penalties.  

Operators were ordered to come into compliance with Commission rules and assessed $32,533 for oil and gas, LP-Gas or pipeline safety rule violations. Pipeline operators and excavators were assessed $476,200 for violations of the Commission’s Pipeline Damage Prevention rules. 

In the absence of timely motions for rehearing, decisions are final, as stated in these final orders.