Texas Railroad Commissioners assess over $3 million in penalties; one penalty in Texas Panhandle

AUSTIN, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Railroad Commission of Texas announced Tuesday that RRC Commissioners assessed $3.1 million in fines involving 775 enforcement dockets against operators and businesses at the Commissioners’ Conference.

According to RCT officials, the commission has primary oversight and enforcement of the state’s oil and gas industry and intrastate pipeline safety.

Officials stated operators were ordered to come into compliance with Commission rules and assessed $367,026 for any oil and gas, LP-Gas, critical infrastructure or pipeline safety rule violations and also assessed pipeline operators and excavators and found $1,556,700 for violations of the Commission’s Pipeline Damage Prevention rules.

In the Master Agreed Orders, only one lease in Hutchinson County in the Texas Panhandle was penalized $85,915, and a full list of the orders can be found on the RRC Commissioners website.

Officials stated 91 dockets involved $1,217,351.30 in penalties after operators failed to appear at Commission enforcement proceedings.

For the latest Amarillo news and regional updates, check with MyHighPlains.com and tune in to KAMR Local 4 News at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00 p.m. and Fox 14 News at 9:00 p.m. CST.