The Texas Oil and Gas Association action could be filed as soon as tomorrow. The feds are flexing their muscles and threatening to take over all permitting in the state. They don’t like Texas’s system of “flex permitting,” which TCEQ and its predecessor agencies have used going back to Ann Richards’ governorship without a formal ruling on its legality by EPA. This is going to be a huge fight with huge implications for the state and its future economic wellbeing. Between Rick Perry’s open hostility toward the federal government and EPA’s apparent eagerness to make an example of Texas, the chances for reasonable negotiations are not good. Did somebody say train wreck?