In order to ensure the protection of public safety and the environment, the Railroad Commission maintains rigorous inspection programs over the various industries it regulates, and the Legislature holds the agency to those high standards by setting annual performance goals.
In fact, the RRC, which has district offices throughout the state, exceeded the Fiscal Year 2021 legislative goals for a broad range of inspection categories concerning oil and gas; intrastate pipelines, the alternative fuels LNG, CNG, and LPG; and surface mining of coal.
Inspections are critical to ensuring compliance with statewide rules designed to prevent pollution and dangerous situations that could affect residents and communities or provide a safety net to allow us the luxury of such activities as weekend barbecuing with the use of propane.
RRC has managed to exceed the Texas Legislature’s goals for inspections despite the global pandemic that impacted the agency’s operations and its regulated community.
“I am proud to say that our dedicated staff continues to meet these challenges and others that have come our way and have excelled,” said Wei Wang, RRC Executive Director. “Throughout all of this, lawmakers have maintained their high expectations for the Railroad Commission to protect all Texans, and we would not want it any other way.”
Many of RRC’s success measures for division and inspector levels are highlighted below:
| Category | Legislative Target | Achieved |
| Number of oil and gas well and facility inspections performed | 189,367 | 308,922 |
| Number of LPG/CNG/LNG safety inspections performed | 20,000 | 20,604 |
| Number of standard and follow-up comprehensive pipeline safety and inspections performed | 3,129 | 3,598 |
| Number of pipeline accident investigations and special investigations performed | 1,200 | 2,043 |
| Number of Coal Mining Inspections | 400 | 416 |
| Average number of oil and gas well and facility inspections performed by district office staff | 1,199 | 1,816 |
| Average number of LPG/CNG/LNG safety inspections per inspector | 1,350 | 1,386 |
