We are excited to release our brand new explainer video that delves into the topic of carbon capture in Texas. This informative video covers the potential risks of carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) and the important role the Railroad Commission would play in regulating this emerging industry.

Whether you are a concerned community member, living near proposed CCUS sites and pipelines, an industry expert, or a policymaker, this video is a must-watch. 

This past month, Commission Shift participated in the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts 2023 Texas Groundwater Summit, where we had the opportunity to collaborate with other experts in the field on Texas water issues. Of particular interest was the intersection of water issues with oil and gas development. Commission Shift Executive Director, Virginia Palacios, gave a presentation on solutions for eliminating orphaned wells and sites in Texas and explained how P-13 “water wells” can still legally be considered orphaned wells under the Railroad Commission’s authority.

Commission Shift is committed to continuing to work with others in the field to find solutions to these complex issues, and ensure that our state's precious groundwater resources are protected for generations to come. If you are interested in joining our working group on P-13 wells, please sign up here.

EJ Community Leaders Meeting with EPA Region 6

Executive Director Virginia Palacios and Language Access Program Coordinator Jose Corpus attended an environmental justice (EJ) community leaders meeting in Laredo with EPA Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. Virginia discussed the RRC’s failure to protect groundwater in their Class II injection well program, and the need for the EPA to consider the RRC’s Class II performance before it grants primacy to the RRC to oversee Class VI carbon dioxide injection wells.

Jose explained that the RRC has not provided enough Spanish language information to the public, and that more resources and accountability for language access are needed from federal agencies granting funds to the state. Community leaders from Eagle Pass and Laredo were present and voiced their concerns over the impact that border barriers are having on Rio Grande water quality. 

Pictured: Community leaders meet with EPA Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance in Laredo.

“Zombie Wells”

Each newsletter we’re featuring a video from our Orphaned Wells video series. Today we give you video four: “Zombie Wells!” In it, Virginia Palacios and Megan Milliken Biven discuss the underlying policies that have led to over 150,000 inactive, unplugged wells in Texas. These unmonitored, seemingly dormant sites can suddenly spring to life – wreaking environmental harm and costly damages. Each of these videos make recommendations for Texas’s orphaned well problem using Commission Shift’s 2022 report, Eliminating Orphan Wells and Sites in Texas.  Take a look at the video explaining it all!

Sep. 15 - Oct. 15: Hispanic Heritage Month 

Oct. 2: Expected Railroad Commission announcement of informal draft amendments of Statewide Rule 8 and Chapter 4 waste pit rules for public comment.

Oct. 5: Texas Land and Mineral Owners Annual Statewide Members Meeting. Register here.

Oct. 12: Virginia Palacios will speak at the AAAS, Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues virtual symposium, “Exploring How Carbon Credits are Evolving in the Oil and Gas Sector.” Register here.

Oct. 24: Next Railroad Commission Open Meeting 

Tell the RRC: Texas Needs Stronger Waste Pit Rules

Don’t wait! Please sign on today!

Deadline Oct. 2 

Take action on CO2 Pipeline Rules

Send an email to your congress member asking them to support a moratorium on CO2 pipelines until PHMSA drafts and implements strong, enforceable rules!

RRC Open Meeting - Austin, virtual

Tuesday, October 24th RSVP

At the Railroad Commission’s Sep. 19th open meeting, there were six proposed permits for Class II oil and gas wastewater disposal wells in Dawson and Howard Counties. The RRC hearings examiner recommended denying two permits in Dawson County proposed by Lagoon Water Management LLC, on the grounds that they would not be in the public interest due to a lack of market need. Commissioner Christian disagreed with the examiner’s findings and made a motion to approve the company’s proposed substitute findings of fact and conclusions of law. The motion passed 2:1 with Chairman Craddick opposing the motion. Commissioner Wright commented that in this situation Lagoon would be removing produced water injection volumes from the commission’s designated seismic response areas.

Coincidentally, these particular wells will inject into the San Andres formation, which is the same formation that is contributing to extreme flows from the well at Boehmer Lake and the subsurface erosion that is causing the sinkhole on FM 1053. As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers granting Class VI Carbon Dioxide Injection well primacy to the RRC, it should also evaluate how the RRC currently handles Class II injection well permits, and whether the agency’s decisions have been protective of water quality.   

You can listen to a recording of Commission Shift’s discussion of the open meeting here.

And remember, don’t forget to RSVP to the October Open Meeting!

We're Hiring!

Commission Shift is hiring and seeking proposals for a slate of new positions to expand our organization’s capacity and reach! Are you or someone you know a good fit? Take a look at our listings for

• Development Director
• Organizing Director
• Orphaned Wells Policy Manager
• Voter Mobilization Program Coordinator
• Voter Mobilization Strategy Consultant (RFP)

• Inside Climate News recently covered the offshore risks of Carbon Capture Storage, calling it an “Undersea Bonanza.”

• Top Texas state officials that oversee the oil and gas industry are revealed to have received over $6 million in campaign donations from donors tied to pipelines accused of triggering grid blackouts. You can read the full Texans for Public Justice report here.

• The Smithsonian recently covered orphaned wells in their Season 2 episode of “How Did they Fix That?” In it, host Mike joins a team of experts who find and cap some of the millions of potentially deadly abandoned oil wells across the U.S. that are leaking toxic gases into the air and water. Smithsonian has a free 24 hour pass to watch the video. We encourage everyone to check it out!

P.S. Be sure to follow Commission Shift on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Commission Shift
212 Flores Avenue
Laredo, TX 78040
United States

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