Committee on Environmental Regulation Public Hearing

ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) – The Texas House Committee on Environmental Regulation discussed the orphan well problem in West Texas.

The hearings addressed several key issues important to West Texas, including a review of new laws designed to boost efforts to clean up contaminated oil and gas sites and plug wells. was given.

The hearing was held at a new location, but nothing has changed for the people involved.

“What we saw at this hearing today was a number of invited testimonies from people talking about the economic benefits of oil and gas development. A truly valid discussion of how to resolve many of the community impacts we are experiencing.” Virginia Palacios, Commission Shift.

The debate has been going on for years, and today legislators heard from local residents affected by a well eruption here in West Texas.

One of the speakers was rancher Skyler Wight.

Wight has lived in West Texas since the mid-1980s, but says his land has been low in the last decade.

This issue has caused great concern among residents, and those residents have expressed their concern today.

“I really want to clean this up and be part of the solution to stop talking about the mess,” Schuyler Wight.

Former RRC candidate Sarah Stogner has been vocal about finding common ground with the RRC and trying to solve the orphan well problem, and today was no exception.

“What disgusts me is that elected officials, especially the Railroad Commission, shirk responsibility on the grounds that it is not politically advantageous. , and wherever oil and gas is produced, there are problem wells,” said Sarah Stogner, oil and gas attorney at Monahans.

With the election approaching, one of the ballot items is railroad commissioner status, a race between Republican incumbent Wayne Christian and challenger Democrat Luke Warford.

The election is November 8th.

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