Amidst record oil prices, red tape prevails

With the price of gasoline skyrocketing across the nation, Texas has once again found itself at the center of an oil boom. According to state statistics, since 1999 the number of drilling permit applications received by the Railroad Commission has doubled, however the same Commission charged with overseeing the oil and gas industry has cut nearly 20 percent of it's workforce. The result: an estimated 29,000 permits will be issued this year, with an overall average wait time of 40 days. The Texas Railroad Commission is asking the Legislative Budget Board for $750,000 to hire contractors to fill the gaps left open over the past nine years. Although the Legislature does not convene until January, the Legislative Budget Board - composed of top elected officials, including Lieutenant Gov. Dewhurst - has authority to relocate State funds during an emergency. Signs that this issue will be resolved came from the Lt. Gov. himself, admitting "we've got a problem," while Rep. Warren Chisum (chairman of the House Appropriations Committee) agreed to convene a special panel on October 6th to discuss the matter.

This article demonstrates the process by which the Texas Legislature can accomplish tasks (sometimes) even when not convened. It also may introduce the reader (as it did for me) to the fact that Texas is once again in an oil boom that is already poised to be as big as the one of the 1970's. See here for the full Austin American-Statesman article.