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Texas Railroad Commission
Contents |
The Texas Railroad Commission is a state executive agency in the Texas state government. Despite its name, the commission does not regulate railroads but instead oversees the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry, and surface coal and uranium mining.
Current officeholders
The current commissioners are Barry Smitherman (Chairman) and David Porter.[1]
Elizabeth Ames Jones resigned on February 13, 2012. Her seat remains open.[2]
Authority
The commission's authority is established by the Texas Natural Resource Code.[3]
Texas Natural Resource Code, Title 3. Chapter 81, Subchapter C, Section 81.051
| JURISDICTION OF COMMISSION. (a) The commission has jurisdiction over all:
(1) common carrier pipelines defined in Section 111.002 of this code in Texas; (2) oil and gas wells in Texas; (3) persons owning or operating pipelines in Texas; and (4) persons owning or engaged in drilling or operating oil or gas wells in Texas. |
Qualifications
Qualifications for being a commissioner are outline in the Texas Natural Resource Code.[3]
To serve on the Texas Railroad Commission a person must be:[3]
(1) a qualified voter under the constitution and laws; and
(2) at least 25 years of age.
Elections
Commissioners are elected to six-year staggered terms, with one commissioner up for election every two years.[4]
Vacancies
Vacancies are filled by appointment from the governor. Once appointed, commissioners serve until the next general election at which time they can run to be elected for the remainder of the unexpired term.[4]
Duties
The Commission is responsible for overseeing and regulating the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry, and surface coal and uranium mining in the state of Texas.
Former officeholders
| Name | Tenure | # |
|---|---|---|
| JOHN H. REAGAN | June 10, 1891 to January 20, 1903 | |
| L.L. FOSTER | June 10, 1891 to April 30, 1895 | |
| W.P. McLEAN | June 10, 1891 to November 20, 1894 | |
| L. J. STOREY | November 21, 1894 to March 28, 1909 | |
| (succeeded W.P. McLean) | ||
| N.A. STEDMAN | May 1, 1895 to January 4, 1897 | |
| (succeeded L.L. Foster) | ||
| ALLISON MAYFIELD | January 5, 1897 to January 23, 1923 | |
| (succeeded N.A. Stedman) | ||
| O.B. COLQUITT | January 21, 1903 to January 17, 1911 | |
| (succeeded John H. Reagan) | ||
| WILLIAM D. WILLIAMS | April 28, 1909 to October 1, 1916 | |
| (succeeded L.J. Storey) | ||
| JOHN L. WORTHAM | January 21, 1911 to January 1, 1913 | |
| (succeeded O.B. Colquitt) | ||
| EARLE B. MAYFIELD | January 2, 1913 to March 1, 1923 | |
| (succeeded John L. Wortham) | ||
| CHARLES H. HURDLESTON | October 10, 1916 to December 31, 1918 | |
| (succeeded William D. Williams) | ||
| CLARENCE E. GILMORE | January 1, 1919 to January 1, 1929 | |
| (succeeded Charles H. Hurdleston) | ||
| N.A. NABORS | March 1, 1923 to January 18, 1925 | |
| (succeeded Allison Mayfield) | ||
| WILLIAM W. SPLAWN | March 1, 1923 to August 1, 1924 | |
| (succeeded Earle B. Mayfield) | ||
| C.V. TERRELL | August 15, 1924 to January 1, 1939 | |
| (succeeded William W. Splawn) | ||
| LON A. SMITH | January 29, 1925 to January 1, 1941 | |
| (succeeded N.A. Nabors) | ||
| PAT M. NEFF | January 1, 1929 to January 1, 1933 | |
| (succeeded Clarence Gilmore) | ||
| ERNEST O. THOMPSON | January 1, 1933 to January 8, 1965 | |
| (succeeded Pat M. Neff) | ||
| JERRY SADLER | January 1, 1939 to January 1, 1943 | |
| (succeeded C.V. Terrell) | ||
| OLIN CULBERSON | January 1, 1941 to June 22, 1961 | |
| (succeeded Lon A. Smith) | ||
| BEAUFORD JESTER | January 1, 1943 to January 21, 1947 | |
| (succeeded Jerry Sadler) | ||
| WILLIAM J. MURRAY, JR. | January 21, 1947 to April 10, 1963 | |
| (succeeded Beauford Jester) | ||
| BEN RAMSEY | September 18, 1961 to December 31, 1976 | |
| (succeeded Olin Culberson) | ||
| JIM C. LANGDON | May 28, 1963 to December 31, 1977 | |
| (succeeded William J. Murray, Jr.) | ||
| BYRON TUNNELL | January 11, 1965 to September 15, 1973 | |
| (succeeded Ernest O. Thompson) | ||
| MACK WALLACE | September 18, 1973 to September 22, 1987 | |
| (succeeded Byron Tunnell) | ||
| JON NEWTON | January 10, 1977 to January 3, 1979 | |
| (succeeded Ben Ramsey) | ||
| JOHN H. POERNER | January 2, 1978 to January 1, 1981 | |
| (succeeded Jim C. Langdon) | ||
| JAMES E. (JIM) NUGENT | January 4, 1979 to January 2, 1995 | |
| (succeeded Jon Newton) | ||
| BUDDY TEMPLE | January 2, 1981 to March 2, 1986 | |
| (succeeded John H. Poerner) | ||
| CLARK JOBE | March 3, 1986 to January 5, 1987 | |
| (succeeded Buddy Temple) | ||
| JOHN SHARP | January 6, 1987 to January 22, 1991 | |
| (succeeded Clark Jobe) | ||
| KENT HANCE | September 23, 1987 to January 2, 1991 | |
| (succeeded Mack Wallace) | ||
| ROBERT KRUEGER | January 3, 1991 to February 10, 1993 | |
| (succeeded Kent Hance) | ||
| LENA GUERRERO | January 23, 1991 to October 1, 1992 | |
| (succeeded John Sharp) | ||
| JIM WALLACE | October 2, 1992 to January 4, 1993 | |
| (succeeded Lena Guerrero) | ||
| BARRY WILLIAMSON | January 5, 1993 to January 3, 1999 | |
| (succeeded Jim Wallace) | ||
| MARY SCOTT NABERS | February 10, 1993 to December 9, 1994 | |
| (succeeded Bob Krueger) | ||
| CAROLE KEETON RYLANDER | December 10, 1994 to January 3, 1999 | |
| (succeeded Mary Scott Nabers) | ||
| CHARLES R. MATTHEWS | January 3, 1995 to January 31, 2005 | |
| (succeeded James E. Nugent) | ||
| TONY GARZA | January 4, 1999 to November 18, 2002 | |
| (succeeded Barry Williamson) | ||
| MICHAEL L. WILLIAMS | January 4, 1999 to March 31, 2011 | |
| (succeeded Carole Keeton Rylander) | ||
| VICTOR G. CARRILLO | February 19, 2003 to January 3, 2011 | |
| (succeeded Tony Garza) | ||
| ELIZABETH AMES JONES | February 9, 2005 to Present | |
| (succeeded Charles R. Matthews) | ||
| DAVID PORTER | January 5, 2011 to Present | |
| (succeeded Victor G. Carrillo) | ||
| BARRY T. SMITHERMAN | July 8, 2011 to Present | |
| (appointed by Gov. Perry to succeed Michael L. Williams) |
Contact information
Main Office:
1701 N. Congress Austin, Texas 78701
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 12967 Austin, Texas 78711-2967
Phone:
(877) 228-5740
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Railroad Commission of Texas, "Commissioners", accessed November 30, 2011
- ↑ State Impact, "Meet the New Chairman of the Railroad Commission," February 28, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Texas Natural Resource Code, "Chapter 81" accessed November 30, 2011.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Railroad Commission of Texas, "Commissioners", accessed December 1, 2011
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