Texas Railroad Commission Board candidate Steve Brown visits Eagle Pass

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal

Democratic Party candidate Steve Brown for the Railroad Commission of Texas visited Eagle Pass and Maverick County on Thursday, August 14, 2014, meeting supporters and touring the area surrounding the Eagle Pass Mine by Dos Republicas Coal Partnership.

Brown met with Hellen Martinez of State Senator Carlos I. Uresti’s Office, Cynthia Martinez of Congressman Pete P. Gallego, local oil and gas people, farmers, ranchers, landowners, and members of the Maverick County Environmental and Public Health Association

Brown toured the densely populated subdivisions and area that would be adversely affected by the controversial open surface coal mine permitted by the Texas Railroad Commission to Dos Republicas Coal Partnership in Eagle Pass, Texas.

After the tour, Brown met with supporters and concerned Texans at a local hotel meeting room to learn about their concerns and needs concerning the Texas Railroad Commission.

Local citizens expressed their concerns regarding the pollution and contamination that the Eagle Pass Mine by Dos Republicas Coal Partnership will have to their sole source of potable water, the Rio Grande River, the air, the school children, the public health issues, and the environment.

Brown listened attentively to Maverick County citizens’ concerns regarding the contamination and pollution that will be caused by the controversial Eagle Pass Mine in Eagle Pass and Maverick County as well as to downstream Texas-Mexico border residents.

“You would figure that at what point does the concerns of the community outweigh everything else that is at play,” said Brown to Maverick County citizens.

Brown noted that the “Texas Railroad Commission was created to be a consumer advocacy agency. It was founded to protect landowners and the communities. Today, the Texas Railroad Commission’s mission has changed but the foundation of the agency is still supposed to protect Texans. It is supposed to be your agency. It is not supposed to be theirs. Money has allowed that to change, turning the agency on its head and instead of the agency being there to protect and represent you. And not making you feel as if you are the enemy and allowing you to carry the burden of proof for them. It’s turned on its head and that is one of the fundamental problems with what the agency has become. An agency that was created to speak and represent us has now abandoned us,” said Brown.

Brown gave an example of a similar situation he in Karnes County where an injection well was stopped from being installed but that the opponents had spent a sizable amount of money to fight against the injection well. Brown referred to the reality of what happens when the next problem arises and that communities should not be spending valuable funding because of unreasonable actions taken at the Texas Railroad Commission.

“What happens when the next one comes? That’s a burden that you shouldn’t have to bear. That is why I say that this whole model has turned on its head. It is wrong sided at this point. They are fighting taxpayers with taxpayer monies,” said Brown.

Brown then asked questions and discussed the health issues and concerns that could arise and worsen by the effect of the open pit coal mine in Eagle Pass and also heard a bevy of concerns from landowners in and around the area that is to be immediately affected by the open pit coal mine.

Brown stated that his main focuses as a candidate for the position of Railroad Commissioner is to find ways to keep the industry growing but figuring out how to manage its less desirable impacts by reforming the agency and where it stands at the moment.

“I think this election is less about the candidates and more about the agency. This is an election to reform the agency. Who is willing to go in and reform this agency and get it to work like it was intended to work? Every 12 years or so every agency has to come under review through a legislative process. The legislature has the ability to restructure the agency so that it works and so they will continue to fund the agency as well. It is called the sunset review process. The Railroad Commission will be up for this review. This in turn is important in pushing forth a change to the commission legislatively as well,” said Brown.

Another issue Brown discussed was the influence of oil and gas industry money influencing the election process.

“We have to limit the influence of oil and gas dollars on these campaigns. We have to shut that down because it is shutting down the voices of the communities. We have to reform this agency so that you have a voice and it is placed right – square in the middle of the decisions that are being made there,” said Brown.

Brown also stated that he is offering that an office of public advocacy be create to represent the public landowner interest at the Texas Railroad commission.   “There is not one office in that agency that works for you,” said Brown.

Brown concluded by stating that the Texas Railroad Commission needs to be reformed to represent the consumers while growing the oil and gas industry in Texas in a responsible and ethical manner.