Railroad Commission v. Torch Operating Co.

PHILLIPS, C.J., and GONZALEZ, HIGHTOWER, HECHT, CORNYN, ENOCH, OWEN, and BAKER, JJ., join.

In this cause we determine whether the Texas Railroad Commission has the legal authority to exempt an operator from temporary field rules on the basis of lack of notice. We also determine whether the Commission’s contested case decision at issue here is supported by substantial evidence in the record. The trial court affirmed the Commission’s order. The court of appeals reversed, holding that the Commission could not exempt Goodrich from the temporary field rules except on specific statutory factors that…