29 Jan, 2017
By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

Texas State Legislature is Now in Session: Bills of Potential Interest

The State Legislature is now in session.  The following is a list of bills of potential interest to geologists.  New information is listed in bold:

HB 484, by Spring, Relating to training required to qualify for or renew a license issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The TCEQ must provide a location within 100 miles of the place of employment of a person who is required to receive the training, reimbursement for travel and lodging expenses incurred if training isn’t available within 100 miles, or online training. Filed 12/2/2016. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB484

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20 Jan, 2017
By AIPG-TX News

Texas Section of AIPG Announces Availability of Scholarships to Texas Students in 2017

Once again, the American Institute of Professional Geologists in Texas (AIPG-TX) is pleased to announce the availability of geology scholarships to student members of the AIPG. Ted Foss Undergraduate Scholarships of $1,000.00 each will be awarded to three undergraduate majors and $2,500.00 to one outstanding graduate student as a recipient of a Gene Shoemaker Graduate Scholarship for geological students enrolled in a Texas university. Applications should be received by email no later than February 15, 2017 for consideration of one of these four scholarships. For detailed information, see (more).

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14 Jan, 2017
By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

EPA Rescinds Proposed New Rule on Uranium Tailings in the Western U.S., but will Resubmit Soon

The U.S. EPA, rather than finalizing its proposed rule on uranium tailings, opted to rescind its existing proposed rule and re-propose a new rule in 2017. The proposed rule would impose new health and environmental standards around uranium in-situ recovery facilities, including groundwater monitoring requirements.  More information on the planned re-proposal can be found here (more). Once it is published in the Federal Register, the public comment period will be open for 180 days. The rule will likely draw criticism from Republicans in Congress due to potential cost increases on businesses.

A report on the TCEQ Petroleum Storage Tank State-Lead Program, including the status of sites and recommendations on fees, programs, and activities to eventually conclude the program, has been issued by the TCEQ and can be found (here).

Henry M. Wise, P.G., CPG

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14 Jan, 2017
By AIPG-TX News

Report on the Tax Day Flood of April 17-18, 2016 in the Houston, Texas Area

December 14, 2016, Jeff Lindner Meteorologist/Director Hydrologic Operations Division, Harris County Flood Control District presented an outstanding report entitled: “Tax Day Flood of April 17-18, 2016, Houston and Harris County, Texas,” at the Houston Geological Society Environmental & Engineering Dinner Meeting & Seminar, HGS Announcement (here), The PDF was just made available of the presentation slides (more).

07 Jan, 2017
By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

Bills Relating to TCEQ Licenses, Costs & Environmental Effects of New Environmental Rules, and Bill to Require Notice of an Application to Drill Injection Wells within 10 Miles of Groundwater Conservation District

The State Legislature meets starting January 10th and bills are already being filed.  New information is listed in bold (one new bill listed):

HB 484, by Spring, Relating to training required to qualify for or renew a license issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The TCEQ must provide a location within 100 miles of the place of employment of a person who is required to receive the training, reimbursement for travel and lodging expenses incurred if training isn’t available within 100 miles, or online training. Filed 12/2/2016. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB484

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