To: Barry Smitherman, Chairman, Railroad Commission of Texas, Christi Craddick, Commissioner, Railroad Commission of Texas, and David Porter, Commissioner, Railroad Commission of Texas

TX Oil and Gas Regulators: Let your staff speak to the media

Reverse your policy barring staff from doing media interviews.

Why is this important?

On June 15, 2014, the Associated Press reported that Texas' regulator of the oil and gas industry, the Railroad Commission, has adopted a policy to prevent its staff from doing media interviews. Instead, media may only speak with the commission's PR staff.

Oil and gas production has contributed to air and water pollution, reduced property values and perhaps even earthquakes. With so much at stake, it's critical that the media be able to speak with the taxpayer-funded staff responsible for regulating the oil and gas industry.