ABSTRACT
In the exploration and production of oil and gas, states’ decisions to permit fracking rests upon several factors, including economic and political ones. The oil and gas industry and its lobbyists have always emphasized the economic benefits of this advanced drilling procedure, which many states find difficult to forego, and politics has helped to permit fracking and maintain governmental support with minimal intervention. Since these factors influence states’ decisions to allow unconventional drilling and decide to what extent this activity should be regulated, they have been discussed in this chapter along with Texas regulatory tools and a mechanism for implementation.
