19 Feb, 2019
By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

The Texas State Legislature is now in session and bills are being filed and worked on.  New information is listed in bold (four new bills listed):

Texas 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.  Filed 11/12/2018.  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.  Filed 11/12/2018.  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB225

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13 Feb, 2019
By AIPG-TX News

AIPG National Executive Committee Meeting Held in San Antonio, Texas

The AIPG National Executive Committee Meeting was held on February 2nd in San Antonio, Texas.

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09 Feb, 2019
By AIPG-TX News

The Texas Sunset Commission’s Work has been Completed, for Now. Waiting on Possible Activities of the 86th Texas Legislature

Jennifer Jones, of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission (TSAC), reports that with the start of the 86th Texas Legislature, the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission’s review work for the current cycle has been completed, and that there will be no further activities regarding current agencies sent through the SAC email lists. Instead, you may follow the Legislature’s progress on Sunset bills at the TSAC 86th Legislature page and through Texas Legislature Online. You can also follow Sunset on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for occasional updates.

At the conclusion of the 86th Legislative Session, Sunset’s website will be updated with information regarding the next set of agencies up for review. At that time, you will need to re-subscribe to relevant lists in the TSAC website to receive information.

You should also monitor information announced by the Texas Geoscience Council on the bills presented to the 86th Texas Legislature regarding the Sunset Commission’s recommendations to the Texas 86th Legislature for possible codifying into law, regulation, or otherwise.

For a historical perspective of the issues involved, see: (here).

19 Jan, 2019
By AIPG-TX News

Texas Energy Profile

In case you didn’t know the details:

  1. Texas leads the nation in energy production, primarily from crude oil and natural gas, providing more than one-fifth of U.S. domestically-produced energy.1
  2. Second only to Alaska in total land area, Texas stretches about 800 miles at its widest points both east to west and north to south.2
  3. Crude oil and natural gas fields are present across the entire state, and
  4. Coal (Lignite) is found in bands that outcrop across the eastern Texas coastal plain and in other coal-producing areas in the north-central and southwestern parts of the state.3,4
  5.  Texas also has abundant renewable energy resources and has rapidly developed its wind energy, becoming first in the nation in wind generated electricity.5,6
  6. With a significant number of sunny days across vast distances, Texas is among the leading states in solar energy potential as well.7,8
  7. Geothermal resources suitable for power generation are present in East  Texas.9 and
  8. Uranium deposits are found in South Texas.10
  9. Overall, Texas is a large state with a wealth of energy resources.

For the rest of the EIA presentation, see: https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=TX , and for the distribution of energy in Texas, see: https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=TX

14 Jan, 2019
By AIPG-TX News

Texas AIPG Team Produces Series of Publications over Past Two Years

Michael D. Campbell (AIPG-TX VP-Eastern Texas), Henry M. Wise (AIPG-TX President), Roger W. Lee (AIPG-TX Councilor-at-Large), Glen Collier (AIPG-TX Councilor-at-Large), M. David Campbell (AIPG-TX Webmaster), and others have produced a number of papers over the past two years.

Some are chapters/sections in papers and some are stand-alone papers for the Energy Minerals Division (AAPG), while others are papers based on earlier I2M-precursor projects involving:

1) brine contamination of rural groundwater in Ohio;

2) uranium, thorium, and REE in Alaska;

3) siderite in Oklahoma-Arkansas;

4) editorials to encourage professional geologists to publish in the new open-access journals involving:

  •     media and academic bias against uranium mining and nuclear power; and
  •    impact of current conditions in the U.S. on natural resource development.

To review the papers in the series, see the list (and associated links) in chronological order (here).

20 Dec, 2018
By AIPG-TX News

AIPG Field Trip to Canyon Dam Gorge & San Pedro Springs – February 3, 2019

NOTICE: FIELD TRIP IS NOW BOOKED UP (FULL) and REGISTRATION IS CLOSED. 

Attention all AIPG Texas Members:

A field trip is to be held to examine the fascinating structural geology, as well as the sedimentology and stratigraphy of the Glen Rose formation, in the Canyon Dam Gorge near New Braunfels.  This will be held in connection with the AIPG National Board Meeting to be held in San Antonio. This field trip offers an opportunity for face-time with your National and local section AIPG Board Members.

We will also visit historic San Pedro Springs, the original site of the settlement of San Antonio

  • Date: Sunday, Feb. 3rd, 2019.
  • Time: 8.00 am to 4.00 pm.
  • Meet: Drury Inn San Antonio Airport:  95 NE Interstate 410 Loop, San Antonio, TX 78216
  • Leader: Dr. Tom Ewing, author of “Texas through Time” and others.
  • Cost: about $50 per person.
  • Clothing: stout walking shoes, a walking stick if needed. Rain gear depending on forecast.
  • Tools: hand lens, penknife, dilute HCl, camera, notebook. Also bring water.
  • Guidebook: included in  field trip price.
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08 Nov, 2018
By AIPG-TX News

UPDATE on SunSet Commission Activities

UPDATE (Details)

New Information (November 19, 2018) from TBPG on the Sunset decision: (here).

Based on information provided by Henry Wise, AIPG Texas Section President, who was present in Austin for the Sunset decision along with members representing the Texas Geoscience Council and the HGS, and others, the following are the details behind the Sunset Advisory Commission’s decision, which also contains 12 recommendations to the TBPG:

1) The first vote, which failed with 8 No to 4 Yes, was to abolish the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) and transfer the regulation of geoscientists to the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE) by September 1, 2020. In the modified proposal that was voted on, geoscientists would have only had an advisory committee to the TBPE, not Board representation.

2) The second vote to continue the TBPG for another 6 years, until September 1, 2025, while implementing 12 recommendations passed by 10 Yes to 2 No.

Here are the recommendations that the TBPG must implement. They seem to be directed at reducing “government interference in business”.  They appear to be tolerable considering the alternatives to either abolish the TBPG, or fold geoscientists into the TBPE.

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07 Oct, 2018
By AIPG-TX News

Bruce Darling has been Appointed District II AIPG Texas Section Representative

Henry M. Wise, P.G., C.P.G., President, AIPG Texas Section, and Rima Petrossian, P.G., Ph.D., Vice-President – Western Texas, AIPG Texas Section, have just announced the appointment of Bruce K. Darling, P.G., Ph.D., C.P.G. as the District II AIPG Texas Section Representative. This District covers the San Antonio and south Texas.

Dr. Darling is well-known in Texas for his work over the years in industry, in teaching, and in consulting for a variety of clients. For more, see (here).

02 Oct, 2018
By AIPG-TX News

Further Information on Defense Donations

As you know, the Texas Geoscience Practice Act is under attack. As a Professional Society, we must respond and defend this very important Professional Credential. Whether you have a Texas PG License or are in a field that is exempt from Licensure, the Texas Geoscience Practice Act is important to our Profession. It is of critical importance to those of us who practice before the public to defend the Texas Geoscience Practice Act. Therefore AIPG Texas is supporting, with money and manpower, the Texas Geoscience Council (TGC), which has been formed to defend the Act.

The Texas Geosciences Council’s mission is to unite the geoscientific community so that we can work together to accomplish three goals:

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01 Oct, 2018
By AIPG-TX News

No Scholarships will be Awarded in 2019 Thanks to the SunSet Commission’s Challenge to our Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists

Glen A. Collier, P.G., C.P.G., Chair of the AIPG Texas Section’s Scholarship Committee announced today that unless funding for scholarships comes in from unanticipated benefactors, there will be no scholarships awarded in 2019 because all of our funds are required to help eliminate the SunSet Commission’s challenge to our Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists.

For more information on this matter, see (here).