Gas Wells - Business as usual in Austin?

Recently I read an article in the Denton Record Chronicle that described several bills filed by State Rep. Tan Parker affecting residents in communities in the Barnett Shale (and other shale plays in the future). HB 2125 sought to direct the Rail Road Commission of Texas to place a priority on inspections of gas wells (in any phase) in urbanized counties with a large number of wells. HB 2126 would have increased the maximum fine for regulatory infractions by gas well operators in urbanized counties to $20,000. The $10,000 increase would have gone directly to the fund established for setting up and operating air monitoring in these urbanized counties.



These bills would because of their definitions affect Denton and Tarrant counties directly, which as we know, are in the thick of the Barnett Shale gas play. Both may have helped residents in their communities by increasing compliance with drilling and well operating regulations by the operators. I certainly thought these bills were worth considering (which was why I asked that the Corinth City Council consider resolutions supporting these bills).

So, the bills were referred to the energy resources committee (a standing committee); a public hearing was held on March 24, 2011. No one testified or registered for the bills. I was dimayed (but not surprised) to see the Energy companies out in force (against of course). Here is an interesting list of those that registered against the bills (from the committee meeting minutes):

           HB 2125
                 Registering, but not testifying:

                 Against:

                                 Carter, Teddy (TX Independent Producers + Royalty Owners Assoc. (TIPRO))

                                 Gipson, Mark (Devon Energy)

                                 Golemon, Kinnan (Shell Oil CO)

                                 MacKsood, Gres (Chesapeake Energy)

                                 McBeth, Kelly (Crosstex Energy)

                                 McBeth, Kelly (Martin Midstream)

                                 Quinn, Kitty Sue (TX Land & Mineral Owners Assn)

                                 Skaggs, Jason (Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Assoc.)

                                 Stevens, Bill (TX Alliance of Energy Producers)

          HB 2126

                 Against:

                                 Sebree, Ben (Texas Oil & Gas Association)

                 On:

                                 Tintera, John (Railroad Commission of TX)

                 Registering, but not testifying:

                 Against:

                                 Carter, Teddy (TX Independent Producers + Royalty Owners Assoc. (TIPRO))

                                 Gipson, Mark (Devon Energy)

                                 Golemon, Kinnan (Shell Oil Co.)

                                 Markgood, Greg (Chesapeake Energy)

                                 McBeth, Kelly (Crosstex Energy)

                                 McBeth, Kelly (Martin Midstream)

                                 Perry, Steve (Chevron USA)

                                 Stevens, Bill (TX Alliance of Energy Producers)

Read the bills, see what you think. If you think they would help us out in protecting the health, safety, and well being of people in Corinth and other communities in the Barnett Shale region, contact members of the house energy resources committee and let them know. Right now the bills are in "left pending in committee" status.