This is a new blog feature.
Texas Republican Party Platform:
- We oppose government restrictions such as windfall profits and severance taxes, and regulations that restrict construction of refineries, power grids and location of gas and oil drilling, or mandating alternative fuel use for vehicles.
- We support an immediate end to the deep water drilling moratorium in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico
- the state should not abridge or deny our inalienable property and mineral rights. (Is it just me or does one often conflict with the other? How does Rule 37 play out here?)
Texas Democratic Party Platform:
- the development of Texas’ abundant and low carbon footprint natural gas resources with environment-compatible technologies in the transition period from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources;
- the reduction and remediation of all forms of pollution from power generation
- state minimum standard distances as a requirement for oil & gas wells, collection, and condensate tanks in relation to schools, hospitals, parks, and other vulnerable community locations.
I’ve heard rumblings from the Flower Mound Shiloh folks about a statewide ordinance that would replace city ordinances and that was echoed HERE.
Some drilling advocates have called for replacing city ordinances with a statewide drilling ordinance.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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"the state should not abridge or deny our inalienable property and mineral rights. (Is it just me or does one often conflict with the other? How does Rule 37 play out here?" —- you're close here, but it is more the MIPA as part of the Texas Natural Resources Code that conflicts. Proponents love to trumpet their right to sell their minerals – okay, we'll go with that, don't mineral owners then have an equal right NOT to sell their minerals? Seems logical, unless your 2/3 of the RRC. Commissioner Williams has stated he believes force pooling violates private property rights in Texas. Well, one REAL Republican out of 3 isn't bad, I guess. So, what would make the other 2 not echo this long-lasting traditionally Republican idea? There's a great little piece of legislation that was added to the Texas Constitution, you can read about it here http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Texas_Proposition_11_(2009) It passed with over 81% of the vote and limits the taking of private property (namely my mineral rights I do NOT wish to sell) to either the state or the public at large or an entity with eminent domain powers. Gas operators (not pipeline companies) take minerals through the MIPA (Mineral Interest Pooling Act). Gas operators are neither "the State" nor are they "the public at large" and they do NOT have eminent domain powers. Private property, under the passed Prop 11, cannot be taken to give to another private entity (namely a gas operator) for the purpose of economic development (royalties and their bottom line) or enhanced tax revenue. This old, mis-interpreted law, is now unconstitutional under Texas law. I am looking forward to challenging this. Of course, the gas company will try to "cut out" my lot and remove my standing, but do they know how many other lots they will need to cut out. Will one of those be on the critical bore path of one or multiple wells? Do they want to be the operator who ruins it for the rest of the operators in this area?
This is good information. But, let's see if the WP's (Worthless Politicans) in Austin will do anything about the situation. Be it known that most, if not all, of them are BBO's of O&G.
Well, they can't change what is current law, so I would be more worried about the judges.