Texas oil regulators are barred from granting new environmental waivers, and from enforcing those already granted over the past seven months because they failed to adequately notify the public. The order, issued by a Texas judge late last week, will remain in effect until the Texas Railroad Commission properly notifies the public or until the case is heard in May. Last May, at the suggestion of the oil industry, the commission waived fees, extended environmental cleanup deadlines, and expanded the types of facilities in which oil companies could store crude oil. The moves were intended to benefit the oil industry in light of the oil price collapse sparked by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Public Citizen, which brought the lawsuit, said the rule changes were a “handout to the oil and gas industry” at the expense of public health and safety. (Bloomberg $, Oil Price, Reuters, Law360)