Williams Sues Texas Agency Over Inaction on Gas Flaring

摘要

Midstream giant Williams is taking the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) to court,alleging that the regulator has shirked its duty to rein in the flaring of gas that would otherwise flow through Williams'and other companies'pipelines and processing plants.The lawsuit said the RRC's inaction on flaring has"eviscerated"the state's ability to protect its natural resources,including oil and gas."Gas flaring has long been recognized as wasteful and environmentally harmful,"the company said in its petition to the 345th District Court in Travis County.The RRC"is vested with the duty to prevent the waste of oil and gas.In practice,however,for some years now the commission has effectively disregarded its rule in the granting of flaring exceptions."