-: Okay, good morning.
Welcome back.
Nice to see everybody's shining faces in person, actually.
All right, this meeting of the Railroad Commission of Texas
will come to order to consider matters
which have been duly posted
with the Secretary of State for August 3rd, 2021,
and our public participation policy,
anyone desiring to offer public testimony on any items
that are not noticed on today's agenda
was required to register in advance
and we didn't have anybody.
So, the Commission will now consider items on the agenda
that were posted.
Item number one.
And we've got some online, right?
Woman: I believe the first four are by video.
-: Okay.
-: Yes, good morning, chairman and Commissioners.
For the record my name is Sarah Montoya Fogelsong
and I'm representing the market oversight section
of the Oversight and Safety Division.
Item number one is case number 5921.
The application filed by Atmos Energy Corporation
for test year 2020 annual interim rate adjustment
for the unincorporated areas of the Mid-Tex division.
This case represents the third interim rate adjustment
since the company's most recent rate case,
GUD number 10742.
The adjustment represents
an incremental increase of $111,211,960
of which $4,632,119 is recoverable from customers
subject to the order in this case.
The recommended adjustment does not include recovery
of any costs associated with the winter weather event
of February, 2021.
Staff recommends approval of the interim rate adjustment,
and I'm available to answer any questions.
-: Thank you, Sarah, are there any questions?
All right, I move we approve the examiners recommendation.
Is there a second?
-: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Christian,
all those in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
-: Motion passes, that item's approved.
Thank you. -: Thank you.
And you've got number two.
-: Agenda item number two
is gas utilities docket number 10980.
The application filed by Border Pipeline, LLC,
pursuant to Natural Gas Policy Act, Section 311
for review of the reasonableness of the transportation rate.
The applicant provided testimony and supporting data
demonstrating that the requested rate
does not exceed a cost-based rate.
Staff recommends approval of the request of rate,
and I'm available to answer any questions.
-: Thank you, Sarah, are there any questions?
All right, I move we approve the examiner recommendation.
Is there a second? -: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner-
-: Wright.
(everyone laughing)
-: Second by Commissioner Bright. (laughing)
I know, it's confusing.
It's making me think this morning.
All in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
-: Motion passes, that item's approved.
I do know your name.
Thank you, Sarah.
-: You're reaching the-
I'm sorry, you're no longer young.
This happens to me as an old guy.
-: It just happens to me. (everyone laughing)
-: It could've been worse.
I didn't call you anything bad, that's a first.
-: Almost, almost.
-: No. (everyone laughing)
But you managed to switch sides, so the Wright on the right.
All right, Sarah, you're number three, thanks.
-: Okay. (chuckling)
Agenda item number three is case number 6942.
The petition for review of municipal rate action
at the city of El Paso regarding Texas Gas Services
2020 interim rate adjustment.
TGS filed their calendar year 2020 interim rate adjustment
for the West Texas service area with both the Commission
and the city of El Paso on March 12th, 2021.
TGS's IRA at the Commission was assigned case number 6161.
On June 22nd, the Commission approved case number 6161,
which was the revised version
of the company's 2020 interim rate adjustment.
On June 21st, the city of El Paso issued a motion
finding that rates identified
in the company's revised application
complied with Texas utilities code,
but also denying TGS's request to implement those rates.
Based on Commission staff's previous review,
the Commission approval of case number 6161,
it is reasonable that the Commission approved TGS's appeal
and order TGS to institute the same calendar year
2020 IRA rates in the incorporated areas
of the city of El Paso.
Staff recommends approval of this petition for review
and I'm available to answer any questions.
-: Thank you, are there any questions?
We also have, Mrs. Norman is preregistered
if there's any questions of her.
All right?
I move we approve the examiners recommendation,
is there a second? -: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Christian.
All those in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes, that item's approved.
All right, number four, Sarah.
-: Agenda item number four is case number 5306.
The application filed by Permian Highway Pipeline, LLC
pursuant to Natural Gas Policy Act, Section 311,
for the review of the reasonableness
of a transportation rate.
The applicant provided testimony and supporting data
demonstrating that the requested rate
does not exceed a cost-based rate.
Staff recommends approval of the requested rate.
I'm available to answer any questions you may have.
-: Thank you, are there any questions?
All right, I move we approve the examiner's recommendation.
Is there a second?
Wright: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Wright.
All in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes, that items are approved.
Thank you, Sarah.
Sarah: Thank you.
All right, item number five.
John, good morning.
That looks fancy.
-: It is.
I've got one over here.
-: Yeah, did you not notice?
-: No, I was sitting right, I was looking at you.
Didn't see the thing,
I didn't know they gave me one over here.
-: See, you gotta get back in the groove, right?
-: In stereo. -: That's right.
Good morning. -: Good morning.
John: Good morning, chairman and Commissioners.
I'm Administrative Law Judge, John Dotson,
with the Hearings division.
Item 5, 5136 consolidated.
It is a gas utility rate case
that resulted in a settlement by the parties.
Applicant CoServ seeks a rate increase
for the utility service it provides it's Texas customers
based on the cost of providing service.
Commission staff intervened as well as
the steering committee of city served by CoServ.
Ultimately, the parties reached a settlement,
resolving all issues and agreeing to a reduced,
settled annual revenue amount for CoServ
totaling $6.25 million.
On July 7th, the proposal for decision was issued by the ALJ
formally assigned to this case with no exceptions filed.
Consistent with the PFD,
the recommendation is to approve the settlement,
and today is the last scheduled conference
prior to the deadline for Commission action.
I'm available for questions.
Chairman: Thank you, John.
Are there any questions at John?
Wright: No.
Chairman: We also have someone from CoServ here
that's preregistered and ready for questions
if there are any questions of him.
All right, I move we approve the examiner's recommendation.
Is there a second?
-: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Christian,
all those in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes, that item's approved, and number six.
John: Item six, GUD 10606 involves discrimination claims
by prospective shippers, SINOC, against Williams,
a gas gathering utility pipeline.
The original PFD was issued last year
and found multiple acts
of unlawful discrimination by Williams.
At the March 4th conference last year,
the Commission remanded this case for further consideration
and to reopen the hearing to give the parties
the opportunity to further develop the record
with respect to certain shipper comparisons
specified in the remand order.
Consistent with the remand order,
the hearing was reopened in September,
and SINOC and Williams both did offer
a considerable volume of new evidence,
including additional expert witness testimony.
On June 29th, a supplemental PFD was issued
that provided the analysis requested in the remand order.
There was no change of the recommendation for final action.
The discrimination found pertains to approximately
$1.6 billion in capital expenditures made by Williams
and the performance of it's gathering contract
with its anchor shipper, Chesapeake,
before SINOC was a customer.
For the attempted recovery by Williams
of these past expenses,
the findings of the supplemental PFD are
SINOC is not similarly situated to Chesapeake,
Ex-Co is not similarly situated to Chesapeake,
SINOC is not similarly situated to Ex-Co,
and SINOC and Ex-Co both are similarly situated
to comparison shippers 14, 15, 27 and 33.
Williams timely filed exceptions to the supplemental PFD
and SINOC timely filed a reply.
All filings were reviewed and carefully considered.
The findings, conclusions, and analysis
in both the original PFD
and supplemental PFD are maintained.
I'm available for questions.
-: Thank you, are there any questions?
And we do have some people that are pre-registered as well.
Will we hear from anybody?
-: No.
-: Madam chairman, if it's appropriate,
I believe this, as the judge is present,
is a very complex case and quite frankly,
my staff and I would like a little more time
to look into this, so I'd like to request
that we pass this item to the August 24th calendar.
-: I think that that's appropriate,
I would like to continue reviewing it too.
Thank you, John.
John: Thank you
-: All right, we've got item number seven.
Good morning, Veronica.
-: Good morning, chairman, Commissioner.
Veronica Roberto, Administrative Law Judge
with the Hearings division.
Item number seven is the application
by Luminant Mining Company requesting release
of phase two and three reclamation obligations
on 497.38 acres within CACI mine, permit number 50 C
located in Limestone and Robertson county.
The approved post-mine land use for the subject area
is pasture land and developed water resources.
Evidence in the record supports that Luminant has satisfied
all requirements for the various phases of release.
After notice, no comments or requests
for a hearing were received.
Luminant staff are the only parties to the proceeding.
No exceptions were filed, no changes to the current bond
are requested in this docket.
It is recommended that the request for release be approved
and that Luminant be eligible to reduce
the amount of bond for this permit.
I'm available for questions.
-: Thank you, are there any questions?
Right, I move we approve the examiner's recommendations.
Is there are second? -: Second.
Second by Commissioner Wright.
All those in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
-: Let's see, motion passes, that item's approved
and you've got the next one.
-: Item number eight is the application
by the Sabinee Mining Company
for release of phase one reclamation obligations
on 269.3 acres within Russ mine,
permit number 55 A, located in Harrison,
Rusk, and Panola counties.
Evidence in the record supports that Sabinee has satisfied
all the requirements for phase one release.
After notice, no comments or requests
for a hearing were received.
Sabine and staff are the only parties to the proceeding.
No exceptions were filed,
no changes to the current bond are requested,
it is recommended that the request for a release be approved
and that Sabine be eligible
to reduce the amount of bond for this permit.
I'm available for questions.
-: Thank you, Veronica, are there any questions?
Right, I move we approve the examiner's recommendations.
Is there are second? -: Second.
Second by Commissioner Christian.
All those in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes, that item's approved.
Thank you very much.
All right, item number nine.
-: Good morning, chairman and Commissioners.
My name is Austin Gascamp,
Technical Examiner for the Hearings division.
Item number nine is the application
of Abraxis Petroleum Corporation
pursuant to Statewide rule 46 for a permit to inject fluid
into a reservoir productive of oil gas
for the 9406 JVP Taurus Leads well number one
in the Taurus Devonian Field in Ward County, Texas.
This non-commercial well will be used to dispose
of Abraxis' produced water and reduce its disposal
and transport costs, thereby reducing operating costs
and extending the life of producing wells it serves.
Protestant, Leon Greenblatt,
contends the proposed injection wells surface casing
does not extend to the depths
where the Capitan Reef is stratographically located,
and therefore the proposed injection well will not be
protective of the Capitan Reef aquifer.
Abraxis presented evidence that the fluids injected
into the Devonian formation would be confined
by the Woodford shale located above and the Cilirian shale
located beneath the proposed injection interval.
Abraxis maintained in the hearing
that the proposed well casing has met
Statewide rule 13 requirements
to protect usable quality water with surface
and intermediate casing and cement
from the surface to a depth at 12,569 feet.
The examiners recommend approval
of Abraxis Petroleum Corporation's application,
and I'm available for questions.
Chairman: Thank you, are there any questions?
-: Chairman, I need to recuse myself from this one.
This is a case that my general counsel worked on,
Christopher Hotchkiss,
and just don't feel good about voting on that,
so although I'd be impartial, I'm asked to be recused.
-: Okay, I appreciate that, thank you.
Are there any other questions?
-: No.
-: All right.
I move we approve the examiners recommendation.
Is there a second? -: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Christian.
All those in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes with one extension, that items approved.
Thank you very much, Austin.
Good morning, Christie.
-: Good morning.
Chairman, Commissioners, Christy Reeve,
Administrative Law Judge with the Hearings division.
I'll be presenting items number 10 through 12.
Item number 10 is the results of an application for a waiver
or as is allowed by the rule,
an exception to Statewide rule 86-G6,
which requires drilled plats or astral plats to be certified
by a registered professional land surveyor
or registered professional engineer.
Rocking Horse requested to be able to use
the same land surveyor who provided the plats
for the drilling permits,
who is not a registered professional land surveyor.
Statewide rule 86-H allows for an exception
to prevent waste, prevent confiscation,
or protect corelative rights.
Rocking Horse failed to provide any evidence to support
that it qualified for an exception.
It is recommended the Commission deny Rocking Horse request.
No exceptions were filed to the proposal for decision
and I'm available for questions.
-: Thank you, are there any questions?
All right, I move we approve the examiner's recommendations.
Is there are second?
-: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Wright.
All those in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passed, that item's approved.
And 11 and 12 you're doing together.
-: Yes ma'am, I am
Chairman: Great.
-: And they will only require one vote as it's one order.
Chairman: Okay.
-: Tisuki Oil and Gas filed two single signature P4s
seeking to be designated the operator
of the subject leases.
The current operator of record,
True Star Operating Company, filed a protest.
True Star failed to provide
a reasonably satisfactory showing of a good faith claim.
Additionally, True Star's P5 organization report
is delinquent, prohibiting True Star from operating.
Tisuki provided a reasonably satisfactory showing
of a good faith claim, sufficient to be named the operator
of record of the leases and wells.
It is recommended the Commission find Tisuki
has provided a reasonably satisfactory showing
of a good faith claim
and approve to suit these applications.
No exceptions were filed, I'm available for questions.
Chairman: Thank you, are there any questions?
Right, I move we approve the examiner's recommendations
for items 11 and 12.
Is there are second? -: Second.
Second by Commissioner Christian.
All those in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes, those items are approved.
Thank you.
Chritie: Thank you.
-: 13, 14.
Good morning, Jennifer.
Jennifer: Good morning, chairman and Commissioners.
-: Good morning.
-: I am Jennifer Cook, Administrative Law Judge,
with the Hearings division.
I am presenting items 13 and 14 together
and both are in one order and require one vote.
In items 13 and 14 Lonestar Mineral Development, LLC
filed single signature form P4s request
to get the designated operator for the subject wells.
Dallas Petroleum Group, LLC, the current operator of record
protests the requested transfers to Lonestar.
Lonestar maintained it has oil and gas leases
covering the mineral interest where the wells are located.
It also asserts Dallas Petroleum has no mineral rights,
does not end the surface track
and thus does not have a good faith claim.
Dallas Petroleum acknowledges the contractual leases
relied upon in the past to operate the wells has terminated
and there has been no production since 2015.
Instead, Dallas Petroleum claims it owns the surface tract
where the wells are located and owns the well bores
and plans to use the wells
for commercial disposal or water wells,
however, the documentation relied on by Dallas Petroleum
does not identify or describe any surface tract
on the list of assets conveyed,
it does not describe the surface tract issue.
It is also not signed by the owner of the tract, Sanchez.
Sanchez denies it conveyed
the surface tract to Dallas Petroleum.
Sanchez continued to pay the property taxes
on the surface tract after the alleged conveyance in 2017
and through 2020.
Dallas Petroleum did not attempt to pay property tax
on the surface until the month of the hearing of this case,
which was January, 2021.
It is recommended that the Commission
find Dallas Petroleum did not provide
a reasonably satisfactory showing it has a good faith claim
to operate the wells.
Lonestar did establish a good faith claim
to operate the wells and approve Lonestar's applications
to transfer the wells to Lonestar
as the Commission operator of record.
(indistinct) were filed and I'm available for questions.
-: Thank you. Are there any questions at Jennifer?
Right, and we also have some people
from Dallas Petroleum that are preregistered,
does anybody have any questions at them?
Right, I move we approve the examiner's recommendation
for items 13 and 14.
Is there are second? -: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Wright.
All those in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes, those items are approved.
Thank you, Jennifer.
Item 15.
Good morning, Joe.
Joe: Good morning, chairman, Commissioners,
and for the record, Joe Minafee,
paralegal with the Hearings division.
I'll be presenting items 15 through 17,
all of which are P5 motions for rehearing
filed as a result of a final order,
denying renewal of the operators P5
because of wells noncompliant with Statewide rule 15.
Item number 15, in its motion for rehearing,
Womack Operating, LLC states its failure
to request a hearing was due to its inability
to maintain at full-time staff,
that compliance is eminent, and that granting the rehearing
will not delay or injure their Commission.
Staff opposes the motion, one well remains noncompliant
with Statewide rule 15 due to an H-15 related issue.
It is recommended the motion be denied.
The motion will be overruled by operation of law
on September 16th.
I'm available for questions.
-: Thank you, are there any questions?
I move we approve the examiner's recommendation.
Is there a second?
-: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Christian.
All in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes, that item's approved.
Number 16
-: Item number 16.
In it's motion for rehearing, Amen Oil, LLC states
that it is almost compliant and that they should have
all documentation and payments made very shortly.
Staff opposes the motion,
25 Wells remain noncompliant with Statewide rule 15.
It is recommended the motion be denied.
The motion will be overruled
by operation of law on September 16th.
I'm available for questions.
Chairman: Thank you, Joe.
Originally it had 47, so they've gotten some done?
-: They did.
Chairman: Okay.
All right, thank you are there any other questions?
Right, I move we approve the examiner's recommendations.
Is there are second? -: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Wright.
All those in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes, that item's approved.
Item number 17.
-: Item number 17.
In it's motion for rehearing, Bacon Energy states
it has gathered all the paperwork,
but neglected to complete all required obligations.
Staff opposes the motion,
43 Wells remain noncompliant with Statewide rule 15.
It is recommended the motion be denied.
The motion will be overruled
by operation of law on September 16th.
I'm available for questions.
-: Thank you, are there any questions?
Right, I move we approve the examiner's recommendations.
Is there are second? -: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Christian.
All those in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
-: Motion passes that item through.
Thank you.
All right, let's move to the oil and gas Consent Agenda.
Those are items 18 through 150 and we've got
before we get down on these items,
we've got somebody here to testify if we need
on items 48 through 52,
is there gonna be any questions on those?
All right, so we've got items 18 through 150.
Are there any questions or comments?
-: I have some comments on these, chairman,
I know that comes as a shock to you, but
I just want to say first the good news,
there were multiple operators who have reduced
their flaring volumes by upwards of 98%.
In addition, the examiners are doing a great job
of reducing the exception terms.
From a commonly requested two year term
down to an 18 month term or even a 12 month term.
Shorter terms allow the Commission to better understand
the direction the operator's heading with regard to flaring.
Next, the potentially good news,
several operators specifically in items number 23,
32 through 34, 48 through 52,
all specifically include the intention of connecting
with a midstream takeaway operator in the near future.
While this is potentially very promising,
we need to ensure these connections actually happen.
Therefore, I'm asking the respective examiners
for those items to follow up with these particular operators
and let me know when the connections are made.
What happens in this querying exception term
may affect whether future exceptions are granted,
at least as far as I'm concerned.
Finally, the less than good news,
there was at least one instance in item number 90
in which the operator is not connected
to a takeaway provider, at least in part
because there are contaminants in it's natural gas.
According to the materials in our binder,
the operator has clearly investigated options
for the marketing of it's gas,
but has not as of yet found any solutions.
I would strongly suggest that if this operator
cannot fully utilize it's gas for lease use,
that it contact a third vendor to help utilize its gas
for useful purposes,
otherwise the gas is simply being wasted.
I'm not inclined to vote to consistently approve
a flaring exception where no improvement is noted.
That's my comments.
Chairman: Thank you.
Christian: Madam chairman.
-: I want Commissioner Wright,
you might want to meet him before the day's out.
I know, I know, (everyone laughing)
-: But he's on the left side.
-: That's true, we hadn't met in person I think in forever,
so if you see him,
-: 18 months. -: That's right.
Anyhow, I appreciate the work he's doing
in the monitoring over this and flaring has been an issue,
but I want to express my appreciation to the industry,
to the work they're doing
and to the railroad Commission staff
and point out that over the last three years,
we have reduced flaring in the state of Texas,
the entire state, by over 1% a year.
And the last I was reported to about a month or so ago,
right now, flaring allowed in the state of Texas
of all of the natural gas being produced
is seven hundredths of 1%.
And I wanted to make that a issue is that they have invented
on Wall Street called environmentally social
and governance funds that have withdrawn at last count,
over 17 trillion with a tenant,
one third of them cash available from banks
and from financial companies have been removed
from access by the oil and gas industry
over largely the argument
that we are polluting the environment through flaring.
And when you sit back and look at the facts of this,
that seven hundredths of 1%,
the railroad Commissioner, right?
All of us are doing the right thing for flaring
by decreasing it and while there is definitely something
we will continue to control,
the evidence is that industry is controlling
and decreasing flaring as we speak.
So we're headed in the right direction
and I just want point out,
when the extremists have to use seven hundredths of 1%
as a reason to condemn the oil and gas industry,
it shows how empty their scalberts are for any true guns
or weapons against us at this point,
and there is reason to question all of the quote,
"settled science" that our constituents are hearing.
And I would encourage our industry, our companies,
to put on their big boy and girl witches,
and let's stand up and fight this thing,
and stand up for what we know the truth is,
not the myths that have been created by such extremists.
Thank you.
Wright: Thank you.
Chairman: Thank you.
-: You know, again, I want to say, and thank our examiners.
I think you guys have done a wonderful job.
I want to thank our producers for the progress we've made
in getting our flaring down.
I think that it is important though,
to recognize that we continue to try to find
more of a market for our natural gas
so that it helps improve our economy even better,
and I couldn't agree with you more,
I think that the industry is showing
the investment community a lot this year,
as far as return on the dollar
and I'm very proud of the direction that it's heading.
-: Thank you both for your comments,
I think we've come a long way
and are continuing to go the right direction,
without a lot of unnecessary regulation some days, right?
-: Very true.
-: All right, so I move that we approve items 18 through 150.
Is there a second?
-: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Wright.
All in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes, those items are approved.
We're going to rule 15, inactive wells.
Let's see, we've got item number 158
is now in compliance, correct?
Okay, so we have 24 items on this part of the docket.
Items 151 through 175, except for item 158,
I move we approve those items.
Is there a second?
-: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Christian.
All those in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes, those items are approved.
We'll go into master default orders.
Items 176 through 183, there are eight of those.
I move we approve items 176 through 183.
Is there a second? -: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Wright.
All in favor say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes, those items are approved.
Agreed enforcement orders, items 184 through 326.
There are 143 agreed enforcement orders.
I move we approve items 184 through 326.
Is there a second?
-: Second.
-: Second by Commissioner Christian,
All those in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes, those items are approved.
That concludes the hearing section matters
and we'll now take up our administrative agenda,
which is 327.
Wang, good morning.
-: Good morning.
-: Good morning, chairman Commissioner.
For the record, Wey Wang, executive director.
I'm here to provide a report on the agency's operation
and I'm glad to let you know that as of last week,
we have met or seated at least 10
of the performance measures already
a month ahead of the year end, and there are a couple
I just want to highlight on gas inspections.
Our target for the year is 189,000.
Right around their inspections and as of last Friday,
we have conducted 274,000.
So, exceeding the target by about 80,000 inspections,
and for well plugging, we had plugged so far 1,455 wells,
exceeding the target by 50 wells for the year already.
And also for pipeline inspections,
for specialized inspections, we also already exceeded
the performance measure for the year
and we have done several press releases
to let people know that the agency
has been performing very well despite the pandemic.
And also, I'm glad to report that the staff
has been aggressively working on implementation of the bill
that passed all of the 86 regular session.
There are several important bills
that directly impact our agency,
so we're busy drafting rules, meeting with the operators,
and so we'll continue the good work on that
and make sure we adopt the rules and meet the requirements
and the deadlines in these bills,
so there's more to come on those.
And also, in terms of our head count,
we have been able to maintain our head count
at around 830 employees,
so there are a lot of retirements
towards the end of the year,
but so far we're able to backfill those agency
and be able to maintain our staffing level
around 830 and 840.
So with that, I can close my report today
and am available for questions.
Chairman: Thank you.
Wright: I have one, when you said 1,455 plug wells,
is that based on our budget year or calendar year?
Wey: That's the budget year.
-: Budget year, thank you.
Perfect.
Good job, Wey thanks.
Wey: Thank you.
-: Thank you, Wey thank you all for the staff
for continuing to do a good job and be ahead.
See, we can all just go home and work on it.
Just kidding, we're going back to work.
All right, 328, good morning, Dave.
-: Good morning, chairman, Commissioners,
David Cooney here sitting in for Alec Shock.
I just have two items to report,
staff recently, our Friday, thanks to Commissioner Wright
and Commissioner Christian, and on a little prodding
from the IOGCC filed pre rule comments on Friday, July 30th
on oil and gas methane emission rules
that EPA will be proposing,
we expect at the end of September.
I want to thank also Leslie Savage,
who was a rock as usual, helping get this together,
and TCEQ kind of toward helped us out quite a bit too.
And for the September 30th rules,
we plan to work closely with TCEQ
to formulate our state comments.
And then yesterday, per the item at last conference,
we filed comments on the proposal,
the fish and wildlife services proposal to list
the lesser prairie chicken under the endangered species act.
Our primary points were that we oppose the listing.
We urge fish and wildlife service not to turn their back
on stakeholders who have been working hard
to try on conservation efforts for the chicken
and that if it is listed that it be allowed
that these conservation efforts be allowed to continue
and that the fish and wildlife service
address the economic impacts of their action.
That concludes general council's general report.
Chairman: Thank you, any questions or comments?
You know, I would like to say, David, you and Leslie,
the work y'all done on the methane emission side,
I very much appreciate that hard work
and I'm very proud that we got TCEQ to go in
with our comments and share those comments back to the EPA,
so great job.
Dave: Thank you very much.
-: And may I say, I appreciate also the work
that everyone has done on this
and just to point out to people the concern that I have
that we have some in our industry, the retail industry,
that are actively working to move methane regulation
back to the federal government rather than have the states
and that's why I'm glad that IOGCC,
the 31 states that are involved in this have come out
and supported and that you and Leslie and others
have supported here the staff,
their work to make sure the states keep
the regulatory power over that
rather than a federal big brother government doing it to us.
-: So, thank you.
Dave: Yes, sir.
-: Thank you. Thank you, Dave.
All right, item 329.
Jason, good morning.
-: Good morning, chairman, Commissioners.
For the record, my name is Jason Clark,
director of agency projects.
As part of the agency's ongoing oil fuel relief initiative
and to find opportunities
where operating efficiencies are possible,
staff is requesting your approval on the following item.
Item 329 is for the oversight and safety division.
Staff is requesting approval to post proposed changes
to the pop's CL form on the Commission's website
for a 30 day comment period.
The proposed changes to the pop CL form
will replace approximately 12 templates
that an operator must download, interpret, and customize
to create their own version of an application cover letter.
Each application type
in the pipeline online permitting system
requires a cover letter with different information
based on the type of application submitted.
Their proposed changes to the pop CL form
will prompt the user to fill out
only the required information
based on the type of application selected.
With your approval today, staff add the pop CL form
to the Commission's website for a comment period of 30 days,
track all submitted comments and report back the results.
I'm available for questions.
Chairman: Thank you, are there any questions?
Always nice to figure out how to streamline some more stuff,
we appreciate it. -: Absolutely.
Chairman: All right, I move we approve
the staff's recommendations.
Is there a second?
-: Second.
Second by Commissioner Wright.
All in favor, say aye.
-: Aye. -: Aye.
Motion passes, that item's approved.
Thank you.
All right, item 330 is our public participation item
and we didn't have anybody else register.
Item 331 is executive session,
which we won't be going into today.
Are there any other things
that we need to consider at this time?
-: Madam Chairman, I think Commissioner Wright
has a special guest in the audience today,
I think it's appropriate for him
to welcome and introduce them.
-: Yes.
-: Yeah, you know, I'm so proud that my wife and my son
are both sitting right here,
came to my first live session today
and made the Trek all the way up here to Austin to do that.
Thank you both so much, love you.
Chairman: We're glad to see you in person finally.
All right, anything else this morning?
All right, hearing none,
this meeting of the Railroad Commission is adjourned.
Thank you all.