The Wise Report

On November 21, 2014 the Governor of New York signed Chapter 475 of the Laws of 2014 which provides for the licensure of professional geologists under Title VIII of the Education Law. The Law does not take effect until November 21, 2016.  Under the provisions of the new law, Geology has been added to the current State Board for Engineering and Land Surveying (State Board). As of November 21, 2016, the State Board will be known as the State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology. To assist the Board of Regents and the Department in implementing geology licensing provisions, the Board of Regents appointed qualified geologists to the State Board. The State Board has assisted the Board of Regents and the Department in developing the regulations that establish the education, experience, examination, age, moral character and fee requirements for applicants seeking licensure as a professional geologist. These regulations were adopted at the July 2016 Regents meeting and will become effective November 21, 2016 and can be found on our web site (http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/geo/geolaw.htm).

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The Wise Report

On July 6, 2016, TCEQ commissioners approved publication of a proposed rule on the use of graywater. The proposed rule implements House Bill 1902, 84th Texas Legislature, which requires the TCEQ to:

  • Develop standards to allow the reuse of graywater for toilet and urinal flushing;
  • Create a new regulatory classification for “alternative onsite water” which the bill defines as “rainwater, air conditioning condensate, foundation drain water, storm water, cooling tower blowdown, swimming pool backwash and drain water, reverse osmosis reject water, or any other source of water considered appropriate by the commission” and develop standards for the reuse of alternative onsite water similar to the standards for graywater;
  • Allow an adjustment in the drainfield size of an on-site sewage facility (OSSF) if used in conjunction with a graywater reuse system; and
  • Develop a regulatory guidance manual to explain the graywater and alternative onsite water regulations.
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Word Puzzles of Geological Terminology from Geological Society Of London

To sharpen your geological vocabulary of terms, we have been given permission to provide you access to the geological word puzzles from the Geological Society of London’s The Geoscientist. The GSL is the world’s oldest geological society (more).

AIPG Texas Section Field Trip to Central Texas a Success!

Aside from dodging a few raindrops, the central Texas field trip was enjoyed by all!

25 participants including members of the Premier Silica mining operations near Brady, Texas joined the field party over the 2-day event. Many photos were taken and new information has been uncovered that will be incorporated in a Post-Field Trip Guidebook revision that will be made available to the participants and the geoscience community online via a PDF in the near future. Participation in the Field Trip by Diane Carrico, a geology student attending the University of Texas, Austin, was sponsored by I2M Associates, LLC (May 20th I2M News Release).

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Houston Geological Society Sponsors Geological and Paleontological Internship/Fellowship at Big Bend National Park, Texas

The Houston Geological Society (HGS) and Big Bend Conservancy are co-sponsoring two internships/fellowships at the Big Bend National Park, Texas for the summer of 2016.

These opportunities are open to teachers, graduate students, educators and others who are interested in on-site learning at Big Bend National Park. These positions are located at Big Bend National Park in southwest, Texas. The Big Bend area is remote, but has a strong small community, great recreational opportunities, terrific scenery and natural and cultural learning opportunities abound. Housing may be available inside Big Bend National Park’s housing community at Panther Junction, park headquarters area.

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Chair of the AIPG Texas Section Scholarship Committee Announces Award Selections — UPDATED May 17, 2016

UPDATED: May 17, 2016

Glen A. Collier, P.G., C.P.G., Chair of the AIPG Texas Section’s Scholarship Committee announced that four Texas Section scholarships have been awarded to the following students in Texas:

2016 Gene M. Shoemaker Graduate Scholarship ($2,500.00)

  1. Anna Mwangi, University of Texas at El Paso; Recommendation by Dr. Laura Serpa, University of Texas at El Paso, Texas, (Essay) (Plaque) To be presented in the Fall, 2016 by Mr. Michael Jacobs, P.G., District I Representative, AIPG Texas Section (more), with Department Chairman James Kubicki, Ph.D.; Photo taken by Ben Brunner, Ph. D.; plus a copy of the book, Shoemaker by Levy: The Man Who Made an Impact, by David H. Levy, with the inscription (here).
  2. William C. Farrell, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Recommendation by Dr. Harold R. Wanless, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida (Plaque). Presentation by Mr. Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H., C.P.G., AIPG Texas Section Vice President – Eastern Texas (more); plus a copy of the book, Shoemaker by Levy: The Man Who Made an Impact, by David H. Levy, with the inscription (here).

2016 Ted H. Foss Undergraduate Scholarship ($1,000.00)

  1. Sarah P. Gerenday, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Recommendation by Dr. Cin-Ty Lee, Rice University, Houston, Texas (Plaque) Presentation by Mr. Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H., C.P.G., AIPG Texas Section Vice President – Eastern Texas,  (more).
  2. Melanie G. Bowen, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; Recommendation by Dr. Andreas Kronenberg, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas (Plaque) Presented by Mr. Glen Collier, P.G., C.P.G., Chair of the AIPG Texas Section’s Scholarship Committee.
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Dates for Field Trip to Central Texas Have Been Fixed: May 14-15, 2016

Dates for the Spring 2016 Central Texas Field Trip have been fixed. The dates will be:

Saturday, May 14, 2016 to Sunday, May 15, 2016

Final editing of the Field Trip Guidebook is also underway.

Registrants from last year’s postponed field trip will be given priority.

For details, see the Field Trip page.

Look forward to seeing you this year.

Henry M. Wise, P.G., C.P.G.
President – AIPG Texas Section

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Free, Low-Cost, and Open Access Data and Software for Petroleum Exploration and Production

Susan S. Nash, Ph.D., AAPG Director of Education and Professional Development, Tulsa, OK, Bryan Flynn, Geophysicist, HGS Continuing Education Committee, Houston, and Thom Tucker, C.P.G., HGS Continuing Education Committee, Houston have prepared a comprehensive list of reports, surveys, databases, maps, and software of use to the petroleum geologist and geophysicist. There are also filings and legal reports which can help in decision-making. The fact that the information is readily available via the Internet, and that there are many free cloud-based collaborative tools, makes it more viable than ever to work in teams to quickly put together ideas, evaluate ideas, and make recommendations (see more).

The Black Labrador

AIPG Texas Section District IV Meet-and-Greet on March 22, 2016 in Houston, Texas

All AIPG Texas Section and prospective members are cordially invited to attend a Meet-and-Greet on March 22, 2016.

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The Wise Report

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists has issued Advisory Opinion AOR #13 (2015).

Is Texas P.G. licensure and/or firm registration required if a P.G. licensed in another state physically moves his or her firm to Texas and engages in the following activities?

  1. Establishes a Texas LLC (is a Texas corp. for at least some tax purposes).
  2. Solicits and engages in work solely within his/her original state of practice and residence, except for the fact that the office-based portion of the work (report preparation, administration, etc.) is done in the new Texas LLC’s office.
  3. Maintains current licensure in the original state.
  4. The LLC advertises that services are offered only in the original state of licensure.
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