You cannot have the good-paying jobs and economic growth created by oil and gas production without waste facilities. 

The facility in question is a Stationary Treatment Facility (STF)— the trash collectors of the oil and gas industry. STFs handle solid, non-toxic waste like drill cuttings and oil tank residue. These materials are not hazardous, and they are regulated under environmental rules. 

This facility underwent a five-year review process, during which Commissioner Christian voted to remand the application back to staff for further hearings to address community concerns and consider stronger environmental protections. 

The applicant responded by presenting extensive new evidence, including soil samples from 40 different locations—each confirming the presence of at least two feet of naturally impervious clay above the first groundwater-bearing zone.

They also committed to several enhanced safeguards beyond what was originally proposed:

• 1) a triple-liner system with compacted subgrade,

• 2) 16 groundwater monitoring wells, and

• 3) additional berms and increased stormwater capacity to handle extreme weather events

This project EXCEEDS legal safety requirements. 

Since 1987, the Commission has approved 213 STF permits—including four in Panola County—with no documented cases of widespread groundwater contamination impacting any municipal or county water supply.

Opposition to this permit was manufactured by an anti-oil and gas special interest group, Commission Shift, and their local surrogate, who has aligned with them to advocate for harmful regulations on the oil and gas industry (Source 1, Source 2). 

Commission Shift presents itself as a neutral watchdog, but is really it’s a well-funded special interest group pushing a political agenda to kill the oil and gas industry with a death by a thousand cuts. 

Everyone’s heard of the Sierra Club—they openly oppose oil and gas. At least they’re honest about it. Commission Shift hides behind a friendlier name while pushing the same radical, anti-energy policies Texans have rejected for years.

Commission Shift is bankrolled by out-of-state dark money groups like the Tides Foundation, which has been exposed by Congress and the Trump Administration for pursuing a radical anti-energy agenda through using corrupt USAID grants.

One of their biggest funders, the Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice, openly states that their goal is to "phase out dirty energy in the U.S. South." 

Opposition isn’t about protecting rural Texas. It’s about shutting down oil and gas production in places like Shelby County so your tax dollars can fund more wind and solar subsidies instead.

Special interest groups know that Texans overwhelmingly support oil and gas production, so instead of fighting drilling directly, they attack disposal and infrastructure as a proxy war—knowing full well that the industry cannot survive without it.

If they can block critical waste facilities like this one, they can grind oil and gas production to a halt without ever having to say they oppose drilling.

The current permit holder, McBride, has publicly confirmed he is actively negotiating the sale of the permit to a new owner: “John Hicks, an Austin-based attorney representing McBride, said that McBride is in discussions to sell the Paxton permit and that the new owner would have to comply with all permit conditions.”

Local officials and community leaders report that the prospective buyer has been consistently visiting Shelby County, meeting residents, and working proactively to build community relationships.

Accountability in Action: The Railroad Commission recently denied McBride’s request to renew his permit for a different facility in Waskom due to compliance violations. To continue operating, the company must now go through a thorough, transparent  review process, including hearings, to prove it can operate in a way that is responsible and compliant with all state laws and rules.

Commissioner Wayne Christian is committed to ensuring that all operators follow all state laws and rules. If issues arise at this facility, the Commission will respond swiftly and transparently, keeping the community fully informed.

The facility in question is a solid waste disposal facility / Stationary Treatment Facility (STF). STF’s are the trash collector for the oil and gas industry. It handles solid, non-toxic waste like drill cuttings and oil tank residue. These materials are not hazardous, and they are managed under strict environmental rules.

This facility underwent a five-year review process, during which Commissioner Christian voted to remand the application back to staff for further hearings to address community concerns and consider stronger environmental protections.

The applicant responded by presenting extensive new evidence, including soil samples from 40 different locations—each confirming the presence of at least two feet of naturally impervious clay above the first groundwater-bearing zone. They also committed to several enhanced safeguards beyond what was originally proposed:

• 1) a triple-liner system with compacted subgrade,

  2) 16 groundwater monitoring wells, and

• 3) additional berms and increased stormwater capacity to handle extreme weather events.

This project EXCEEDS legal safety requirements

NO IMPACT TO GROUNDWATER: Since 1987, the Commission has approved 213 STF permits—including four in Panola County—with no documented cases of widespread groundwater contamination impacting any municipal or county water supply.

Like much of Rural Texas, Shelby County is struggling.

Next door, Panola County has eight times more oil and gas production than Shelby County. As a result, they have twice the employment and five times the economic activity.

This facility will help Shelby County catch up. It will make local oil and gas production more viable, attract new investment, and bring in the kinds of jobs that allow families to stay together and communities to grow.

And let’s not forget—the oil and gas industry contributed $27.3 billion in state taxes and royalties last year. That’s a big part of why Texas has a $24 billion budget surplus.

These dollars support our schools, roads, and emergency services. Shelby County deserves a fair share of that prosperity.

The Railroad Commission is NOT a zoning authority.

The idea that this project could have simply been blocked because it is in our local county is a misunderstanding of the law.

If a company meets the legal requirements, we cannot arbitrarily deny a permit.

Commissioner Christian’s job is to ensure projects are safe, meet Texas’ strict environmental standards, and comply with the law.

Commissioner Christian has always followed the evidence—sometimes that means supporting a permit, and sometimes it means standing against one.

In 2022, when an out-of-state company applied to build a similar facility in San Augustine, he opposed the project because the evidence suggested it posed a serious risk to the environment. After a Railroad Commission judge recommended denial, the company withdrew its application, and the project was abandoned.

But Commissioner Christian recognizes that not every facility can be opposed. Texas needs these sites—they serve as the trash collectors of the oil and gas industry. Without them, production comes to a standstill.

The project in Shelby County is not like the one in San Augustine. It includes a triple-liner system, 16 groundwater monitoring wells, and additional berms and increased stormwater capacity to handle extreme weather events. It exceeds the state's environmental standards and has undergone years of technical and legal scrutiny. Across Texas, the Commission has approved 213 similar permits—with no documented cases of widespread groundwater contamination.

Commissioner Christian did not support this project lightly. He did so because it followed the law, protected natural resources, and presents a real opportunity for jobs and investment in Shelby County.

At the Railroad Commission, Commissioners operate like judges when hearing cases. That means that while a case is active—or during the period when it can be reheard (which ended on March 26)—Commissioner Christian was legally prohibited from commenting publicly on the matter, regardless of his personal desire to do so.

This wasn’t about avoiding the issue—it was about respecting the legal process and ensuring fairness for all involved. But just because he couldn’t speak didn’t mean he wasn’t paying attention.

Throughout the process, Commissioner Christian remained fully engaged. He understood the seriousness of the concerns being raised and recognized how important this decision was for the community.

He followed the developments closely and made sure that, once the case was settled, he would be able to address those concerns clearly and transparently—within the bounds of the law and his responsibilities as a Commissioner. Now that the legal restrictions have been lifted, he is finally able to speak freely and correct the record.