CORPUS CHRISTI — I am David Porter, Texas' newest Railroad Commissioner, and I've got good news.

In a time when media coverage is dominated by negativity and positive outlooks are scarce, I am pleased to report there is an economic boom under way in South Texas.

The Eagle Ford Shale, a vast oil and gas region, is rapidly becoming one of the largest domestic crude oil and natural gas discoveries in more than 40 years and through hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling technology, we can now reach the oil and gas formations under the Eagle Ford's dense rock. Roughly 50 miles wide and 400 miles long, the Eagle Ford spreads across Texas from the Mexican border covering 24 Texas counties. From San Antonio all the way down to Laredo, Texans are experiencing unprecedented economic growth.

To put this in perspective, the very first well was drilled in the Eagle Ford in 2008; just three short years later, the shale play supports nearly 13,000 full time jobs, paying over $500 million in salaries and can claim almost $3 billion in revenues. In Bexar County alone, close to 700 jobs have been created as a result of increased activity in the Eagle Ford region.

Furthermore, the Eagle Ford underlies mostly privately owned land. So in addition to job creation, there are a multitude of private landowners set to reap massive financial rewards in the form of royalty payments — further stimulating the economy. On top of which, the current rise in oil prices will lead to more drilling and increased productivity.

Let me be clear: This has the potential to be the single most significant economic development in our state's history.

On the other hand, we must not act with haste. We must develop this shale responsibly, finding the proper way to exploit these resources while ensuring environmental protection. We must heed the lessons learned from our neighbors to the North through the development of the Barnett Shale. We must do this the right way. The Railroad Commission has adopted temporary rules to regulate activity in the region and I am closely monitoring the situation. I plan to meet regularly with industry representatives and local government authorities to listen to concerns and make sure our staff is addressing them. My office stands ready to host open forums to discuss the issues facing your communities.

We are looking into creating an Eagle Ford Task Force comprised of representatives from affected communities, state and local government and industry. We need to stay ahead of pressing issues so we don't make the same mistakes we made in the Barnett Shale. I will not let the Railroad Commission be a silent partner in developing this trend.

For example, we know water is scarce in South Texas and we must protect the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer at all costs. Fortunately, the Railroad Commission has a comprehensive regulatory framework in place to protect groundwater. However, we need more boots on the ground and more trucks in the field to ensure our guidelines are being met and our drinking water remains safe. I pledge to focus my efforts in the coming months on bringing more Railroad Commission staff to the region.

The recent development in the Eagle Ford proves yet again the fundamental role the oil and gas industry plays in the Texas economy. Even the most modest projections show that by 2020 the Eagle Ford will support approximately 68,000 full-time jobs. We have an incredible opportunity to bolster our state's economy and it is my goal to ensure we develop this precious natural resource properly.

David Porter was elected to the Texas Railroad Commission last year.