Texas Pipeline Damage Prevention Statistics
Pipeline Safety ANNOUNCEMENTS
Notice to Oil & Gas and Pipeline Operators
Critical Fire ConditionsFebruary 17, 2026
According to the National Weather Service, elevated fire weather conditions are forecast for parts of Texas today due to dry fuels, strong winds and above-average temperatures. The weather pattern is setting up for critical fire weather conditions across the High Plains, South Plains, Permian Basin, Big Bend and West Texas regions midweek, particularly on Tuesday, when wind gusts, daytime heating and low relative humidity could significantly increase wildfire risk. This heightened fire danger is expected to last at least through the latter half of the week.
Multiple counties have issued outdoor burn ban orders. A map of burn bans can be found at https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/Burnbans/.
Current wildfire status: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/wildfire-and-other-disasters/current-wildfire-status/
The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) advises all operators under the RRC’s jurisdiction in
areas of potential impact to take the following actions:
- Monitor local, state and national weather reports for updates on wildfire danger;
- Heed all watches, warnings and orders issued by local emergency officials;
- Secure all personnel, equipment and facilities to prevent injury or damage; and
- Monitor and prepare operations for potential impacts, as safety permits.
The RRC maintains a 24-hour, toll-free emergency line, 844-773-0305, to report emergencies, including leaks or spills and damage to gas pipelines.
Operators can find weather information, including the latest NWS updates, on the RRC’s Weather Emergency Resources page at https://www.rrc.texas.gov/weather.
To view the full notice, visit the RRC website at https://www.rrc.texas.gov/media/iclduzre/2172026-notice-to-operators-critical-fire-conditions-in-texas.pdf.
Overview
Printable Overview
What we do
The Oversight and Safety Division has responsibility for Alternative Fuels, Gas Services and Pipeline Safety. This reorganization in January 2015 will bring even greater efficiency and consistency to these operations within the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), allowing the agency to better serve the state.
Texas has the largest pipeline infrastructure in the nation, representing about 1/6 of the total pipeline mileage of the entire United States. Texas’ pipelines are divided into the categories of natural gas and LP-gas distribution lines, hazardous liquid and natural gas transmission lines, hazardous liquid and natural gas regulated gathering lines, intrastate production and gathering lines leaving a lease, and interstate lines. The RRC has safety responsibility over the first four categories.
Pipelines that cross between states are considered Interstate and would be under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) - Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The PHMSA southwest regional office located in Houston covers Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The Pipeline Safety department works to enforce compliance with federal and state laws and regulations by pipeline operators. These regulatory responsibilities extend to operators of intrastate gathering, transmission, distribution, and master-metered systems. The RRC continues to lead the nation in adopting and enforcing safety rules to enhance the integrity of pipelines throughout the state.
Pipeline Safety rules administered by the RRC are adopted in the Texas Administrative Code, containing State specific requirements and incorporates by reference the minimum Federal safety standards for transportation of gas and hazardous liquids by pipeline and liquefied natural gas facilities.
The RRC also promotes and enforces an underground pipeline damage prevention program for Texas. The Pipeline Safety department is responsible for the enforcement of damage prevention regulations involving the movement of earth (excavation) surrounding pipeline facilities.
The goal of the Pipeline Safety department is to encourage an efficient, economical, and safe pipeline industry; to that end, we oversee pipeline activities to ensure compliance with state and federal safety regulations and promote public safety and awareness.
Commissioners
-
Jim Wright
Chairman -
Christi Craddick
Commissioner -
Wayne Christian
Commissioner
Audiences