Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) Environmental Programs

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) regulates environmental impacts to land water, groundwater, and air associated
with oil and gas activities, including exploration, production, transportation, and related waste management.

26 TAC Chapter 4

Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) environmental regulations, primarily found in Title 16, Chapter 4 of the Texas
Administrative Code, govern oil and gas waste management, pit usage, and pollution prevention, with major updates
effective July 1, 2025. Key rules include strict prohibitions on unauthorized waste discharge, mandatory waste
characterization by generators, and requirements for permitting oil and gas waste pits.

Additional RRC environmental assessment and cleanup Rules can be found at here:

• Federally Funded (IIJA) Well Plugging
• State Managed Site Cleanup
• Operator Cleanup Program
• VCP & Brownfield Sites

RRC Environmental Jurisdiction Includes:

• Oil and gas exploration and production sites
• Tank batteries and production facilities
• Oilfield waste handling, storage, and disposal
• Releases associated with pipelines and production equipment

Environmental assessment and remediation under RRC oversight may involve:

• Soil and groundwater investigations
• Cleanup of hydrocarbon-impacted media
• Closure of oilfield pits and legacy sites
• Coordination with landowners and operators

When oil and gas activities are the source of contamination, the RRC maintains primary regulatory authority, even when
impacts extend to soil and groundwater. CRG Texas Environmental Services works directly with clients to determine
regulatory jurisdiction, coordinate agency communication, and develop compliant investigation and corrective action
strategies.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Programs

The TCEQ regulates environmental releases primarily at properties where operations are not directly associated with oil and
gas exploration and production activities

Leaking Petroleum Storage Tank (LPST) Program

30 TAC Chapter 334

TCEQ's 30 TAC Chapter 334 governs the registration, installation, operation, and removal of underground storage tanks
(USTs) and certain aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) in Texas to prevent environmental contamination. It includes
stringent requirements for leak detection, spill prevention, operator training, and financial responsibility for petroleum and
hazardous substance storage.
The LPST program governs investigation and corrective action for releases from regulated underground and aboveground
petroleum storage tanks.

Key guidance documents include:

• RG-411 - Investigating and Reporting Releases from Petroleum Storage Tanks
• RG-523 - Risk-Based Corrective Action for LPST Sites
• RG-428 - Preparation of a Drinking Water Survey Report

Corrective action may include:

• Plan A screening for site closure
• Plan B site-specific risk evaluation
• Development of Corrective Action Plans (CAPs)

Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP)

30 TAC Chapter 350

30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 350, known as the Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP), promulgates
TCEQ regulations for responding to environmental contamination, covering assessment, cleanup, and reporting
requirements. It utilizes a tiered, risk-based approach to determine protective concentration levels (PCLs) for human health
and ecological receptors, allowing for Remedy Standards A or B. TRRP establishes consistent procedures for evaluating
and remediating environmental releases that impact soil, groundwater, surface water, or sediment.
Key components include:

• Protective Concentration Levels (PCLs)
• Remedy Standard A (cleanup)
• Remedy Standard B (exposure prevention)

Programs regulated under TRRP include:

• Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP)
• Innocent Owner/Operator Program (IOP)