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I have watched every open meeting of the Railroad Commission of Texas, the state’s oil and gas regulatory agency, since I started reporting for Inside Climate News.
Every month, the three elected commissioners meet in Austin to vote on agency business, and members of the public can register for a three-minute slot to give public comments. Concerns about conflicts of interest have long plagued the Railroad Commission. Residents have told me their best opportunity to be heard is speaking directly to the commissioners during these open meetings.
At the August meeting, Commissioner Wayne Christian introduced a new public participation policy that had not been circulated. The commissioners hastily passed the new policy, which removed the standing public comment period from the monthly agenda. Going forward, public comment would be at the discretion of the commissioners.
We were the first to break the story. Outlets across the state republished our reporting, and I appeared on Austin’s local NBC station, KXAN, to discuss the story. Backlash from concerned citizens and elected officials promptly followed.
State Rep. Drew Darby, a Republican, urged the Railroad Commission to restore the original policy. Darby, who chairs the House Energy Resources Committee, called on Commissioner Christian to testify before an oversight hearing of his committee on September 15. Christian didn’t show at the hearing and doubled down on his position in a letter.
Then on November 10, after months of public pressure, Christian reversed his position. He informed Rep. Darby in a letter that the commissioners will restore the original public participation policy at their December open meeting. Once again there will be a standing agenda item for public comment every month.
Rep. Darby praised the decision in a press release. “Numerous constituents called my office expressing serious concerns with removal of the standalone comment period.”
Incoming Railroad Commissioner Jon Rosenthal, the first Democrat to win a seat on the commission in more than three decades, also reacted to the situation after my first story was published. He has expressed support for protecting the public comment period and making the agency more accessible.
With public comment restored, I will continue attending Railroad Commission open meetings and listening to the Texans who travel from around the state to participate.
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