Holiday Office Closure

In observance of the Christmas holidays, Railroad Commission of Texas offices will be closed December 23-27. The offices will re-open at 8 a.m. on Monday, December 30 for regular business. Expedited Drilling Permits will be processed within standard processing times. If assistance is needed, please email Drillingpermits-info@rrc.texas.gov.
RRC maintains a 24-hour emergency phone line to report any leaks or spills. That number is 844-773-0305

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Jim Wright Staff Appointments

January 06, 2021

AUSTIN – Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright is pleased to announce the names and roles of his personal office staff.

Kate Zaykowski will serve as Director of Public Affairs, Christopher Hotchkiss will serve as General Counsel, and Megan Moore will serve as Executive Assistant.

“It’s an honor to have Kate, Christopher, and Megan join my team,” said Commissioner Wright. “We have a lot of work to do, and I know these three will play a critical role in helping me ensure all Texans are aware of and continue to benefit from Texas’ plethora of natural resources. It’s clear we make a great team, and I look forward to working with each of them.”

Zaykowski has over 10 years of experience in public affairs in both the corporate and public sectors. Most recently, she served as the Director of Public Affairs at Parsley Energy. She has worked at both the state and federal Capitols and earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Texas Tech University and her master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in communications.

Hotchkiss has been practicing administrative energy law for over 15 years. Most recently, he was in private practice, focusing almost exclusively on Commission matters. Additionally, he formerly served the Commission as a Staff Attorney in the Enforcement Section, and as an Administrative Law Judge in the Hearings Division, presiding over surface mining as well as oil and gas cases. Hotchkiss earned his Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of Law and earned his Bachelor of Science in journalism from the University of Kansas.

Moore joins the team with several years of organizational experience. She is a graduate of Texas State University with a degree in anthropology.

 

Jim Wright was elected to the Railroad Commission of Texas in November 2020. He created a group of environmental services companies that work in the energy industry. He and his wife, Sherry, live in Orange Grove and have five children.

About the Railroad Commission:
Our mission is to serve Texas by our stewardship of natural resources and the environment, our concern for personal and community safety, and our support of enhanced development and economic vitality for the benefit of Texans. The Commission has a long and proud history of service to both Texas and to the nation, including more than 100 years regulating the oil and gas industry. The Commission also has jurisdiction over alternative fuels safety, natural gas utilities, surface mining and intrastate pipelines. Established in 1891, the Railroad Commission of Texas is the oldest regulatory agency in the state. To learn more, please visit https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/.