Chairman David PorterCommissioner Christi CraddickCommissioner Ryan SittonAugust 2016

Groundwater Protectionand

The Railroad Commission of Texas

Overview

• RRC History

• Regulatory Authority

• Groundwater Protection

• Groundwater Remediation

• Contacting the RRC

RRC History

• 1891 – Railroad Commission of Texas established to regulate railroads

• 1917 – Regulation of Pipelines• 1919 – Regulation of Oil and Gas Production• 1976 – Surface Mining Regulation• 2005 – Last of railroad oversight transferred

to TxDOT

Oil and Gas Jurisdiction

• Oil and natural gas primary production• Pipelines• Natural gas processing and natural gas utilities• Salt dome cavern storage• Bulk storage of crude oil• RRC commercial disposal facilities• Liquid propane gas (LPG), compressed natural

gas (CNG), and liquid natural gas (LNG)

Statutory Authority

• Natural Resources Code §91.101• Texas Water Code §26.131

RRC Rules

Texas Administrative Code (TAC)Title 16, Part 1, Chapter 3

§3.3 Identification of Properties, Wells & Tanks

§3.8 Water Protection§3.9 Disposal Wells

§3.13 Casing, Cementing, Drilling, Well Control & Completion

RRC Rules

Texas Administrative Code (TAC)Title 16, Part 1, Chapter 3

§3.14 Plugging§3.20 Notification of Fire Breaks, Leaks, or

Blow-outs§3.30 Memorandum of Understanding

Between the RRC and TCEQ§3.98 Standards for Management of

Hazardous Oil & Gas Waste

Rule 8 (b) - Water Protection

“No pollution. No person conducting activities subject to regulation by the commission may cause or allow pollution of surface or subsurface water in the state.”

RRC Water Protection

• Pipeline Damage Prevention (Texas 811)• Pipeline Safety• Groundwater Advisory Unit (surface casing)• Cementing, Testing, and Plugging Rules• State Managed Plugging Program• Texas Groundwater Protection Committee• Field Operations

RRC Field Operations

• Monitor Emergency Operations– Blowouts– Spills

• Witness Industry Operations & Tests– Surface Casing– Well Plugging– Mechanical Integrity Tests– Operator Cleanups– Fluid Level Tests (H-15 Program)

RRC Field Operations

• Field Inspections– Lease– Rig– Pit– Commercial Waste and Saltwater Disposal Facilities

• Complaint Investigations– Conducted by the District Offices– Monitored by Field Operations

• Enforcement Recommendations– Plug Hearings– Penalty Action Hearings

Inspection/Violation Process

• Notification by Letter (2)– Severance / Seal– Cancel P4

• Legal Enforcement– Settlement– Hearing

• Cancel P5

RRC Cleanup Programs

• Operator Cleanup Program (OCP)• State Managed Cleanup Program

– Oil and Gas Regulation and Cleanup Fund (OGRC)

• Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP)• Brownfields Response Program (BRP)

– EPA 128(a) environmental site assessment grant

Rig Supply Wells

• Well installed to supply water for drilling and completion (including hydraulic fracturing)

• Registered with the local GCD• Equipped and maintained according to GCD or

TWDB and TDLR requirements• Subject to GCD rules if no longer actively

engaged in drilling or exploration operations for an oil or gas well permitted by RRC

• Must be plugged in accordance with GCD/TDLR requirements

Contact the RRC

District Offices: http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/about-us/organization-activities/rrc-locations/

Contact the RRC

Call Before You Dig: 81124-hour Emergency: 844-773-0305General Information: 877-228-5740

http://www.rrc.texas.gov/

Contact the RRC

Christopher Moore, P.G.Site Remediation Section

chris.moore@rrc.texas.gov512-461-2175