Status of TBPG Legislation: So Far, So Good
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
The Wise Report
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). The TCEQ Water Quality Division (WQD) will accept analytical data from accredited and in-house laboratories based on [...]
Texas Legislature Hearing on HB-1311
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 [...]
The Wise Report
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 [...]
Texas House Bill Passes by Wide Majority, Now to Senate
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 [...]
The Wise Report
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: [...]
Update: Monitoring House Bill Activities
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 [...]
The Wise Report
Effective March 22, 2019, the TCEQ PST Program has revised the Plan A Target Concentrations for Leaking Petroleum Storage Tank (LPST) releases. The new Target Concentrations for soil and groundwater reflect the PAH toxicity parameters, as revised by United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) in March 2017 and the chemical/physical factors as posted by the Technical Support Section of the Remediation Division. The seven (7) affected PAH constituents are: Benz(a)anthracene Benzo(a)pyrene Benzo(b)fluoranthene Benzo(k)-fluoranthene Chrysene Dibenz(a,h)anthracene Indeno-1,2,3-cd-pyrene The revised Plan A Target Concentrations apply target risk goals as established in the PST rules (Chapter 334, Subchapter G, Section 203.(1) [...]
SIPES Field Trip to the Palo Duro Canyon – May 3 to 5, 2019
To All AIPG Members: Here is the announcement on the SIPES Dallas Field Trip to the Palo Duro Canyon. Dr. Holbrook (TCU sedimentology professor) has been instrumental in getting this field trip together. He has a graduate student, Grayson Lamb, who has been studying the Dockum Group in the canyon for his master’s thesis. Apparently Grayson has encountered some really interesting aspects of the Dockum Group. See the flyer for this trip (here) and below: Also click here for PDF of flyer. Please note that there are only a limited number of rooms blocked for us because of another [...]
The Wise Report
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): 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 [...]