Why The Texas Railroad Commission Matters
Contrary to its name, The Railroad Commission of Texas has nothing to do with trains (at least not anymore). Instead, this state agency is critically important as it oversees the oil and gas industry.
The Commission is comprised of three members, which were initially appointed by the governor, but now are elected officials. Each commissioner serves for six years in overlapping terms. This year Texans will find a race for the RRC between incumbent Christi Craddick and Democratic challenger Katherine Culbert on their November ballot.
Culbert, who has worked in the oil and gas industry for over twenty years as a process safety engineer, spoke to Texas Signal about her decision to run and why her background makes her a uniquely qualified candidate for the state’s oldest regulatory agency. For starters, she explains that a process safety engineer means she is proactive about keeping highly hazardous chemicals “where they are supposed to be” rather than spilling and injuring the environment, workers, or other entities.
Throughout her career Culbert has worked in a variety of places. Recently, when she was working for a midstream company (a pipeline) she was the point of contact with the RRC and saw what they did, or as she also puts it “didn’t do.” She left that experience with a lot of questions. “It sparked my interest, what is going on here?”
Because of her passion for her work, Culbert began considering running for a place on the RRC. Her principal motivation was wanting to make it better. “I want to help all of us here in Texas, and really honestly the RRC also effects everybody across the country and around the globe,” she says.
If she were to win in November, Culbert would be one member on a three-person commission (and the two others are staunch Republicans who deny the human toll of climate change). Though she acknowledges working together might be difficult on the RRC, she understands the challenge. “One of my strengths in life is asking questions, and I think that’s a big part of this.”
Culbert then notes that many RRC meetings are less than an hour. If she had the opportunity to start asking the right questions in front of the right people, there can be a lot more awareness around the state when it comes to the all-important oil and gas sector.
And the actions and inactions of the RRC are being felt almost every day throughout Texas. Two weeks ago a series of earthquakes rattled many parts of West Texas, and even caused damage to an elementary school in San Angelo. Culbert cites the direct link between fracking companies with deep wastewater injection wells and the seismic activity in Texas. Whereas states like Oklahoma has been proactive in shutting down these wells, the RRC has restricted permits in just a few areas of Texas. Culbert calls that move “reactionary” and not forward-thinking.
The importance of having a robust RRC that takes climate change seriously is also on Culbert’s mind as she has been reading the 900-page behemoth known as Project 2025. Under that scenario, the EPA would be essentially gutted and giving way to a more supportive role to the states. “What that means in Texas is that it’s going to push everything out [to our] state legislature and organizations like the RRC.” That would mean the RRC would have even more of an impact on things like clean water or clean air.
But for the moment, Culbert remains committed to her time on the campaign trail. She has had productive conversations with many Texans (once they get past this role having nothing to do with trains). She also likes to stress that her current job is at an upstream company with no contracts in Texas. Culbert is running with no conflicts of interest, but simply a desire to improve one of the most consequential state agencies.
