HB 1311, the bill to continue the regulation and functions of the Texas Board of Professional
Geoscientists, has been passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bill now awaits approval from Governor Abbott.
The State Legislature is now in session and bills are being filed and worked on. New information is listed in bold (0 new bills listed):
HB 223, by Reynolds, Relating to the funding through greenhouse gas emissions fees of energy efficiency programs administered by certain utilities; authorizing a fee. Referred to State Affairs, 2/19/2019. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB223
HB 225, by Reynolds, Relating to the analysis of inspection and maintenance requirements for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities. Regulates fugitive emissions from all oil field equipment, the use of venting and flaring, etc. Referred to Environmental Regulation, 2/19/2019. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB225
Because of the problems encountered these days with the Internet, e.g., hacking, phishing, and related fraud, the AIPG-TX webmaster suggested that he post a link on the AIPG-TX News to a MarineBio webpage that provides Internet/computer assistance to his readership:
https://marinebio.org/marinebio/frontline-marine-conservation-support/
Also, consider sponsoring MarineBio.org
See Status of TBPG Legislation:
https://capitol.texas.gov/mytlo/mobile/BillHistory.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB%201311
Bill Language: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/86R/billtext/pdf/HB01311I.pdf
On April 12, 2019, the TCEQ Laboratory Accreditation Program issued a revision to its Fields of Accreditation (FoAs) to include the following analytical methods:
EPA 608.3, EPA 624.1, and EPA 625.1 in Non-Potable Water; and
SM 4500-Cl¯ B, and ASTM D516-11 in Drinking Water.
The fields were revised to incorporate revised methods from the most recent Method Update Rule (MUR) and add methods requested by the TCEQ Drinking Water Program. The additional methods and analytes are shown in Appendix A (https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/compliance/compliance_support/qa/mur_fields.pdf).
All Texas AIPG Members:
The following link is streaming video from hearings on HB-1311, regarding the Texas Board Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) in Austin, Texas:
http://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=45&clip_id=14257
The pertinent testimony begins at 1 hr., 8 minutes, and runs through 1 hr., 32 minutes. See the time bar below the screen to adjust the time into the video.
See Texas House Bill citation:
HB 1311, by Senfronia Thompson, Flynn, Lambert, Paddie, Nevarez, Watson, identical to SB 609, Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists. Scheduled for public hearing on 4/16/2019. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB1311
See Texas Senate Bill citation:
SB 609, by Watson, Birdwell, Buckingham, and Nichols, identical to HB 1311, Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists. Referred to Business & Commerce, 2/21/2019. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=SB609
The State Legislature is now in session and bills are being filed and worked on. See Highlighted HB and SB concerning the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists.
New information is listed in bold (0 new bills listed):
HOUSE BILLS:
HB 223, by Reynolds, Relating to the funding through greenhouse gas emissions fees of energy efficiency programs administered by certain utilities; authorizing a fee. Referred to State Affairs, 2/19/2019. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB223
HB 225, by Reynolds, Relating to the analysis of inspection and maintenance requirements for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities. Regulates fugitive emissions from all oil field equipment, the use of venting and flaring, etc. Referred to Environmental Regulation, 2/19/2019. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB225
HB 245, by Farrar, Relating to a requirement to make certain environmental and water use permit applications available online. “The applicant shall post a copy of the application on a publicly accessible Internet website and provide to the commission the address of that website.” Referred to Environmental Regulation, 2/19/2019. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB245
Sunset Update – Texas Legislature Activities
HGS’s Clint Moore reports that folks should use the following link that takes you to the House bill, and then click the “companions” tab and you will see Senate bill 609, which is still in committee over on the senate side.
https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB1311
HB 1311 was passed with 121 yes, 16 no, with about a dozen absent or not voting. Some absent either did not get to their desk fast enough to vote or were otherwise not pushing the button on their desk. So, check back tomorrow for a final vote tally. The absent dozen can vote long after the initial floor vote is posted.
Now, on to the Senate, Need to get it set on calendar for a committee hearing. The bill’s sponsor Sen. Watson is not on the Bus. & Commerce Committee, whose Vice Chair is Nichols, fortunately Nichols is listed as a co-author of the bill with Watson. Need to ask Nichols to get it on the committee calendar next step.
The Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is under review, as required every five years. This MOU addresses the TCEQ’s environmental reviews of TxDOT highway (transportation) projects. The updated MOU removes unnecessary definitions and simplifies the coordination process, so that coordination is only required on transportation projects that require environmental impact statements, supplemental environmental impact statements, or environmental assessments. The public comment period is April 12 to May 13, 2019. The public hearing date is anticipated to be May 9, 2019. For more information go to: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/
MARCH 31 UPDATE: MONITORING HOUSE BILL ACTIVITIES: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/BillStages.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB1311
Henry M. Wise, President of AIPG Texas Section, has heard from his contacts that now is the time. The final stretch of getting the amended Texas Geoscience Act reauthorized is here. Senate and House Bill 1311 currently being considered by the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee and will be voted on in the immediate future, even as early as tomorrow. As with most of life, timing is everything. TGC has been following the lead of our lobbyist about when the proper time would be for us to call our representatives to tell them we want them to support the bill. They tell us that there are two well known organization opposing the bill. We need 30 Republicans to support the bill, but they are not so unified. So, we are asking all licensed geoscientists who are in republican districts to call and email their representatives asking for them to support the bill.
