February, 2017 | AIPG-TX

25 Feb, 2017

The Wise Report

New Rules at the TBPG and an Update on State Legislature Activities

At the last Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) board meeting the following new rules and amendments were adopted by unanimous consent:

Amendment to 851.29, regarding reciprocal licensure
Amendment to 851.31, regarding temporary licensure
Amendment to 851.32, regarding the continuing education program
New rule 851.35, regarding voluntary surrender of a license
New rule 851.113, regarding duty to abide by Board Order and timely pay administrative penalty
New rule 851.203, regarding default proceedings in contested case hearings scheduled with the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH)
New rule 851.204, regarding costs of administrative hearings

The adopted rules can be viewed (here) . They are also on the Rules page of the TBPG website, and in the November 18, 2016 issue of the Texas Register.

19 Feb, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

AIPG Texas Section Survey Results

AIPG-Texas Section Membership:

A survey was conducted of the Texas Section membership during December, 2016 through January, 2017. The attached survey results contain the actual survey questionnaire form, the tabulated data, and the individual responses with comments (Survey with Results).

The survey returned a response of approximately 23% from the total 451 members surveyed in Texas.

18 Feb, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

Texas State Legislature is Now in Session – A List of Bills of Potential Interest to Geoscientists

The State Legislature is now in session. The following is a list of bills of potential interest to geologists. There are two new bills this week. 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

11 Feb, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

The Wise Report: 1) The TCEQ Remediation Division has Issued Revised Guidance for Risk-Based Corrective Action for LPST Sites, 2) News of EPA Re-Proposing 40 CFR Part 192 Involving In-Situ Uranium Mining, and 3) The State Legislature Bills of Potential Interest to Professional Geologists

The TCEQ Remediation Division Issued Revised Guidance for Risk-based Corrective Action for LPST Sites.

The guidance document formerly known as RG-36, Risk-based Corrective Action for Leaking Storage Tank Sites has been renamed and is now known as RG-523/PST-03 Risk-based Corrective Action for LPST Sites. The revised guidance also incorporates components of the 1995 RG-175 “Guidance for Risk-Based Assessments at LPST Sites in Texas. Emphasizing Initial Investigations and Plan A Evaluation” and the following interoffice memoranda:

04 Feb, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

Risk Assessments at Remediation Sites in Texas and Bills of Interest in the Texas State Legislature Introduced

The 2017 version of Conducting Ecological Risk Assessments at Remediation Sites in Texas (ERAG, RG-263) is now available through TCEQ’s ERA Home Page at: www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/era . Links for the new Supporting Documentation for the TCEQ’s Ecological Benchmark Tables and the accompanying Excel file that houses the numeric screening-level benchmarks – the combination of which comprises RG-263B – are also available through the home page. A case study that will include examples of a Tier 1 Exclusion Criteria Checklist, a Tier 2 Screening Level Ecological Risk Assessment, and an Ecological Services Analysis will be RG-263C when it becomes available. TCEQ and its contractor – West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) – have developed an Ecological Protective Concentration Level (PCL) Database that provides default PCLs for soil and sediment for a variety of wildlife receptors and contaminants. A WTAMU link to the database appears on the home page, making it available for public use and citation, as appropriate.