Texas Railroad Commission Promises to Address Flaring Even as it Exempts 30 Active Flares
EDF statement from Colin Leyden, Director, Regulatory and Legislative Affairs
(AUSTIN, TX) In an online hearing tomorrow, the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) will consider changes to flaring data collection and flaring exceptions. At the same time the commission plans to vote and approve operator petitions for long-term exemptions — wells that have already been flaring for at least 180 days. Since the beginning of the shale boom in Texas, the RRC has never denied a permit to flare and continually issued bulk flaring exemptions at commission hearings.
“The commission itself has said they want to reduce flaring; industry, investors and mineral rights owners have called for less flaring. And yet tomorrow the commission will issue 30 new long-term exemptions to allow more flaring. The commission needs a strong goal, defined interim targets, and a robust commitment to data with accountability to bring routine flaring to an end.”
- Colin Leyden, Director, Regulatory and Legislative Affairs
BACKGROUND
Operators in Texas have sent a trillion cubic feet of natural gas up in smoke since 2013, enough to meet the yearly needs of every home in Texas three times over.
Recent data collected in the Permian basin found 11% of flares surveyed were either malfunctioning — only partially burning the gas — and 5% were completely unlit, venting uncombusted methane straight into the atmosphere. Although the pandemic and economic crisis slowed down flaring this spring, emerging satellite data is showing flaring is on the rebound, with June volume up 50% from May.
With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org
Media Contact
Latest press releases
-
House Takes Unprecedented Step to Undermine California’s Clean Air Act Authority
April 30, 2025 -
New Map Shows Hundreds of Facilities Across the U.S. That Might Get a Pollution Pass from Trump Administration
April 30, 2025 -
Dismissal of National Climate Assessment Authors
April 29, 2025 -
Americans Want More Opportunity and Safer, Healthier Communities. The Trump Administration Has Only Delivered Less.
April 29, 2025 -
New Report Finds Disadvantaged Communities Bear the Brunt of Massive Warehouse Expansion Through New York State
April 28, 2025 -
EDF Files Lawsuit for Documents Related to Trump EPA’s Offer to Help Provide Polluter Passes
April 25, 2025