Environmental Issues and the Railroad Commission of Texas
The stewardship of natural resources and the environment is an important part of the Railroad Commission of Texas’ (RRC) mission. On the evening of November 8, 2017, Mr. Peter Fisher and Mr. Peter Pope discussed the environmental issues and regulations related to activities under the jurisdiction of the RRC, with a focus on regulation of oil and gas exploration and production activities, as well as such related topics as reclamation, remediation, the EPA hydraulic fracturing study, and seismicity, among other topics during their presentation during the Houston Geological Society Environmental & Engineering Dinner Meeting & Seminar. The HGS announcement (here). See PDF of presentation (here).
Peter Fisher, P.G., has a B.S. in geology from the University of Texas at Austin, and serves as the Houston District Director in the Field Operations Section of the Oil and Gas Division of the Railroad Commission of Texas. Mr. Fisher was promoted to Houston District Director on August 1, 2015, where he had been the Houston Assistant District Director since June 1, 2011. He is responsible for the overall operations of the Houston District office ensuring that all Commission Rules, procedures, and policies are enforced in the District. Before moving to Houston Peter worked for 11 years in the Site Remediation Section of the Oil and Gas Division of the Railroad Commission of Texas in Austin coordinating site assessments and cleanup of abandoned oil and gas surface sites using State funds. Prior to working in Site Remediation, he worked three years in Technical Permitting of the Environmental Permits and Support Section. Prior to joining the Railroad Commission of Texas Mr. Fisher worked at Fluor Daniel GTI environmental engineering consulting firm where he managed several underground storage tank sites and helped assess and prepare surface mining studies and applications for lignite in east Texas.
Peter Pope, P.G. attended Purdue University in the mid-1980s and then Rice University from 1987 to 1991 where he performed graduate-level research in Antarctic glacial marine sedimentation. He began his career in environmental consulting in 1991. After 10 years in the private sector, he took a position in the Site Remediation Section of the Railroad Commission of Texas using his knowledge and experience with contaminant fate and transport modeling and risk assessment to regulatory oversight of oil field cleanups. Mr. Pope currently manages the Site Remediation Section.