The three elected officials overseeing Texas’ oil and gas industry meet monthly in Austin to address issues from pipeline violations to permit renewals.
Public attendees may register to speak for up to three minutes at the end of each meeting. People frequently travel from South Texas, the Permian Basin, and the Gulf Coast to engage directly with these regulators. Currently, the commission does not accept public comments via phone during meetings.
This week, the commissioners adopted a new public participation policy with a 2-1 vote, eliminating the automatic public comment agenda item. Commissioners must now individually request a public comment item for it to be included.
Other policy changes include more frequent “listening sessions” where residents can address commission staff, although commissioners do not attend these sessions.
The policy was introduced without prior public circulation. During the meeting, the other commissioners appeared to review it for the first time before voting. It was not read into the record.
Commissioner Christi Craddick opposed the policy, stressing the importance of public speaking opportunities. The motion passed with support from Commissioners Christian and Jim Wright.
Virginia Palacios, of the nonprofit Commission Shift, regularly attends meetings to provide comments. She was not called upon to comment on the proposed policy but spoke afterward, pointing out the irony of approving a participation policy without public input.
“The new policy expands public participation by offering monthly listening sessions,” Commissioner Christian remarked. “These sessions allow Texans to engage with our staff directly, which is more meaningful than the constraints of a formal meeting.”
Railroad Commission spokesperson Bryce Dubee highlighted the updated policy’s emphasis on expanded outreach by the Office of Public Engagement, which conducts online sessions to inform the public.
Commissioner Wright’s office declined to comment, and Craddick’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
Long-Standing Calls for More Transparency
Advocacy groups have long called for changes in the Railroad Commission’s public engagement, often citing the agency’s name as misleading. Originally regulating railroads since 1891, it now oversees the oil and gas industries.
The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission recommended changing the commission’s name in 2016-17 to “eliminate confusion” and enhance transparency. This recommendation remains unimplemented.
Commissioner Christian introduced the policy change, acknowledging voter confusion over the agency’s name. However, he emphasized introducing phone and in-person comment options during listening sessions, attended by the Office of Public Engagement but not the commissioners.
Craddick expressed concern about removing automatic public comment postings from meetings, emphasizing the need for direct communication with elected officials.
In a blog, Palacios argued that listening sessions should not replace open meetings, as they are crucial for public interaction with commissioners.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org