EPA to Review Texas Oversight of Oil and Gas Wastewater Disposal Wells

By Valerie Volcovici

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to examine the state of Texas’ management of wells that are utilized for injecting wastewater from oil drilling and carbon dioxide underground. This decision follows significant concerns raised by environmental organizations regarding a series of well blowouts, sinkholes, and instances of seismic activity linked to these operations.

The EPA’s review was communicated in a letter dated May 23, which was shared with environmental groups.

A representative from the EPA did not immediately provide comments regarding the situation.

In March, nine Texas-based environmental and watchdog organizations, led by Commission Shift and Clean Water Action, called for the review. Texas is responsible for issuing permits for "class II" injection wells, which dispose of drilling wastewater and inject carbon dioxide to enhance extraction in oil fields.

According to the petitioners, regions of Texas, particularly the Permian oil basin in the west, have experienced a troubling number of incidents, including blowouts from unplugged wells and increased seismic activity associated with wastewater injection.

The groups have urged the EPA to assess whether the Texas Railroad Commission— the state agency overseeing oil production, exploration, and transportation— is compliant with federal standards established under the Safe Drinking Water Act, aimed at protecting both public health and the environment.

In response, a representative of the Railroad Commission stated that they had not yet heard from the EPA and emphasized their strong regulatory history. "The RRC has a long-standing history of regulating underground injection that is protective of the environment and public safety," the spokesperson noted.

There are around 180,000 Class II injection wells across the nation, with the majority located in Texas.

The petitioning groups expressed concern that the Railroad Commission provides no recourse for reports of mismanaged Class II wells and has not investigated the underlying causes of leaks and blowouts or made permitting decisions transparent to the public.

Virginia Palacios, executive director of Commission Shift, commented, "We believe that a rigorous and transparent evaluation by the EPA will ultimately lead to stronger protections for our water resources and greater accountability for regulatory practices."

Furthermore, the Railroad Commission has sought "primacy" from the EPA to independently manage its permitting program for the underground storage of carbon dioxide. However, Commission Shift has raised alarms about the commission’s oversight of wastewater disposal and carbon management for oil recovery, questioning its capability to regulate carbon sequestration effectively.