AUSTIN State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) convened the House Environmental Regulation Committee for a hearing on Wednesday to discuss the state’s options for plugging orphaned oil wells, a press release stated.
“The importance of Texas oil and gas has hit an all time high, not only for Texans, but for every American and freedom-loving person on this planet,” Landgraf stated in the press release. “But the prominence of our past and the promise of our future has left us with a significant number of orphaned wells in need of plugging. Part of the purpose of today’s hearing was to identify ways to strengthen Texas’ well-plugging program.”
Landgraf was appointed chairman of the House Environmental Regulation Committee by House Speaker Dade Phelan in February, 2021.
In addition to overseeing the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the nine-member committee has jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to waste disposal and pollution, including environmental regulation of industrial development, the press release detailed.
Earlier this year, Phelan issued interim committee charges for the 87th Legislature. Reviewing how federal funds can be used to complement state efforts on well plugging and pollution clean-up is among the charges issued to the House Environmental Regulation Committee.
“As chairman of the Environmental Regulation Committee, I am tasked with overlooking one of the most important committees in the Texas House,” Landgraf stated in the press release. “I appreciate Speaker Phelan’s thoughtful and deliberate leadership and look forward to completing the work he has entrusted to our committee ahead of the upcoming legislative session. As always, I’ll use any influence I have to fight for the Permian Basin and protect the West Texas way of life. Thankfully, what’s best for the Permian happens to also always be what’s best for Texas.”
In addition to identifying funds for well plugging, the House Environmental Regulation Committee has been charged with monitoring federal regulations proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency that could directly impact economic development, manufacturing, or industrial activities, the press release stated.
To see the full list of interim charges issued to each committee of the Texas House of Representatives, visit: https://house.texas.gov/_media/pdf/interimcharges-87th.pdf
