Private property rights proponents say the RRC common carrier rules do not go far enough to protect private proeprty rights. 10 years ago, maybe this wouldn’t be a big deal. But, there’s an oil and gas boom in a state that has 97% of its land privately owned. If a private company wants to build a pipeline to move the oil and gas; it’s going to have to deal with private landowners.
Property rights proponents say the common carrier rules are:
- too vague
- might not require substantial proof from pipeline operators that their pipelines would be open for hire
- Texas needs to establish standards of proof for common-carrier status
Commissioner Craddick called the rules “vibrant, transparent permitting process for pipelines operating in the state of Texas.”