Holiday Office Closure

In observance of the Christmas holidays, Railroad Commission of Texas offices will be closed December 23-27. The offices will re-open at 8 a.m. on Monday, December 30 for regular business. Expedited Drilling Permits will be processed within standard processing times. If assistance is needed, please email Drillingpermits-info@rrc.texas.gov.
RRC maintains a 24-hour emergency phone line to report any leaks or spills. That number is 844-773-0305

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Wayne Christian Joins Coalition Demanding Congressional Oversight Of Regulations

January 18, 2017

AUSTIN– Today, Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian added his name to a coalition of elected officials supporting the passage of a Regulation Freedom Amendment. This would require Congress to approve any major new federal regulations by a majority vote in both chambers if a quarter of the members give the president a written declaration of opposition.

“Far too often, frivolous, job-killing federal regulations are put into place at the agency level with zero oversight from Congress,” said Commissioner Wayne Christian. “It is time to put in place a mechanism that returns power to the democratically elected Congress and give them the ability to override harmful regulations.”

The coalition supporting this measure includes over 900 state legislators and 6 governors including Vice-President-Elect Mike Pence. Support in Texas includes U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, U.S. House Rules Chair Pete Sessions, State Representative Phil King, and State Senators Craig Estes, Bob Hall, Bryan Hughes, and Van Taylor.


A lifelong conservative businessman, Wayne Christian was elected to join the Railroad Commission of Texas in November 2016. In 1996, Christian was elected to the House of Representatives as the first Republican elected from Deep East Texas since Reconstruction after the Civil War. During his time in the Texas House, Christian served as Vice-Chair of Regulated Industries and as a multi-term member of the Energy Resource Committee. On these committees, he had direct oversight of the Railroad Commission and accumulated a strong record of standing for free markets and against burdensome regulations.

About the Railroad Commission:
Our mission is to serve Texas by our stewardship of natural resources and the environment, our concern for personal and community safety, and our support of enhanced development and economic vitality for the benefit of Texans. The Commission has a long and proud history of service to both Texas and to the nation, including more than 100 years regulating the oil and gas industry. The Commission also has jurisdiction over alternative fuels safety, natural gas utilities, surface mining and intrastate pipelines. Established in 1891, the Railroad Commission of Texas is the oldest regulatory agency in the state. To learn more, please visit https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/.