The COVID Project
The record
- Jurisdiction
- Texas
- Level
- Sector regulator
- Authority
- Tex. Nat. Res. Code ch. 81, 85, 86; 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 3.32 (Statewide Rule 32); Governor's disaster declaration of Mar. 13, 2020
- Issued
- 2020-03-19 Mar. 19, 2020
- Effective
- 2020-03-19 ('effective immediately') (read as 2020-03-19)
- End
- 'The Commission will issue a Notice to Oil and Gas Operators when this extension of notification requirements under SWR 32 is terminated' (termination notice not located; the parallel Apr. 3 extensions expired Dec. 31, 2020) (read as 2020-12-31)
- In force
- Mar. 19, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020
- Quarters
- 2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q4
2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
- Limitation types
- Workplace rulesOther
- Addressees
- all Texas oil and gas operators
- Functions reached
- PM regulator filings (flaring notifications and exceptions)
- EX production sites (gas releases)
- OP (Commission and operators 'working remotely')
- Collection
- Mining, Oil and Gas, and Energy Services SEC-23
Operative words
On March 13, 2020 the Governor of Texas declared a state of disaster for the State of Texas due to the COVID-19 virus. The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) and a large number of operators are now working remotely in order to help respond to this situation. In recognition of these circumstances, the Commission is extending certain deadlines under Statewide Rule 32 (SWR 32), effective immediately, as follows: Operators shall notify the appropriate Commission district office by telephone or facsimile as soon as reasonably possible after the release of gas begins. Such notification may be provided after the initial 24 hours but no later than seven (7) calendar days from commencement of the release.... A request for an administrative exception under subsection (h) of SWR 32 shall be filed with the Commission by the end of the fourteenth (14th) calendar day following the first 24 hours of the release.
Enforcement
SWR 32 flaring and venting rule; Commission enforcement under Tex. Nat. Res. Code § 81.0531
Notes
The RRC's own statement, six days after the disaster declaration, that the regulator and 'a large number of operators are now working remotely'; the first of seven RRC COVID-19 notices to operators.
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