AIPG-TX

The Geology of Western Sicily and its Effect on Iron Age (2800-2600 BP) and Modern Societies

September 12, 2023
Please note the new time!
(10:00 am pacific, 11:00 am mountain, 12:00 pm central, 1:00 pm eastern)

Western Sicily is underlain by African basement upon which is piled a series of thrust sheets (the south-verging Maghrebian Orogenic Belt) containing rocks as young as early Pleistocene.  Uplift and large earthquakes continue to the present.  Sediment loads of rivers are high, resulting in extensive alluvial plains: these were historically highly malarial, but are now drained and being dewatered by intensive irrigation.

Iron Age settlements were often on the summits of high mountains, as were Arab settlements.  At other periods, settlements have clustered in or near the fertile but unhealthy plains.

Presenter: John Berry

REGISTER HERE (MORE)

Yes, it’s true that Republic Services is looking for a Field Technician for their Environmental Services Division in their Baytown, Texas office.  Requires two years of experience performing environmental site investigations or a degree in Physical Science or Natural science and one year of experience performing environmental site investigations.  Must have experience in soil and groundwater sampling.

Office Location: Houston, Texas

Contact Henry M. Wise, P.G., C.P.G.
Republic Services,
6503 Thompson Road, Baytown, Texas
hwise@republicservices.com

Henry Wise, President of the AIPG Texas Section, announced at a recent AIPG-TX Board meeting that Bailey Hodakievic has been appointed and will be joining the Board as the new Student Councilor-at-Large for the AIPG Texas Chapter. She is a senior at the University of Houston pursing a bachelor degree in geology, and is expected to graduate in July of 2024. She is driven by a strong interest in blending geology with engineering. By melding these disciplines together she hopes to develop solutions that can address environmental challenges we currently face and will continue to do so in the future. Ms. Hodakievic will also serve on the AIPG-TX Board and serve as President of the Texas Statewide Vitual Student Chapter.

Currently, Ms. Hodakievic is an intern with APTIM Environmental and Infrastructure as a part of the Site Assessment and Remediation Division. She has also conducted research analyzing polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) in groundwater samples from the Edwards Aquifer, San Antonio, and surface-water samples Guadalupe Rivers under the supervision of a Ph.D. student.

In addition to her interest in developing sustainable infrastructure to account for flooding, drought, and contamination of vital resources, Ms. Hodakievic is also  interested in aerospace and currently works as a project investigator and biofilm team lead for a group of graduate and undergraduate students awarded NASA grant funded under the LSPACE program. Through the group’s work in astrobiology and nanofibers research, they aim to reduce biofilm contamination on International Space Station systems.

The Wise Report
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
June 25, 2023

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) has proposed two amendments and approved two others.

Proposed amendment to 22 TAC 851.21; licensing requirements to reflect the changes in TBPG procedures due to the transition to computer based testing for the ASBOG Examinations.  For more information go to:  https://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/June232023/Proposed%20Rules/22.EXAMINING%20BOARDS.html#24.

Proposed amendment to 22 TAC 851.22: Waivers and Substitutions: Policy, Procedures, and Criteria to edit, at Sunset Committee direction, language that applies to evaluating an applicant’s “Good and ethical character” as a required qualifier for licensure.  For more information go to:  https://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/June232023/Proposed%20Rules/22.EXAMINING%20BOARDS.html#25.

The current rule, 22 TAC 851.43; GIT certification period and renewal, allows for GITs to renew their certification yearly for up to eight years, and requires renewals past the eighth year to be granted at the discretion of the appointed Board. This amendment allows for a GIT to renew indefinitely without requiring action by the Appointed Board when all other renewal requirements are met.  This rule was posted in the Texas Register on March 17, 2023 for public comment. No public comments were received and it has been adopted.

The TBPG recently received public comment asking that the TBPG clarify its rules on digital signatures, 22 TAC 851.156; professional geoscientist seals. Upon review, the TBPG determined it necessary to include provisions in the rules defining and allowing licensees to use digital signatures to satisfy the signature requirements for electronic geoscience documents. This rule was posted in the Texas Register on March 17, 2023 for public comment. No public comments were received and it has been adopted.

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The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) has approved the agency’s Oil and Gas Monitoring Plan for Fiscal Year 2024. The new plan includes goals to accurately demonstrate the Commission ’s oil and gas monitoring and enforcement activities and to strategically use the oil and gas monitoring and enforcement resources. It focuses on developing a framework to describe the totality of oil and gas monitoring and enforcement efforts, beyond inspections and remediation work the agency does, which would include the extensive work that is done involving technical permit monitoring and administrative compliance enforcement.

The RRC’s well plugging program, which has exceeded goals set by the Legislature for six straight years, will continue its prioritization system to extend its successful work plugging orphaned oil and gas wells throughout the state with state funds. This fiscal year the RRC utilized federal grants to add to the number of wells that were plugged. The agency has submitted comments on draft federal guidance on another set of grants that could be utilized next fiscal year.

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The Texas Legislature 2023 session is over.   I’ve reduced the list to those bills that were sent to the Governor for his signature.   New information is in bold. * is signed by the Governor.  Of the seven bills that were passed this session only one was vetoed.

*HB 2443, by Cody Harris, Relating to the authority of certain persons to petition a groundwater conservation district to change certain rules.  6/10/2023 Signed by the Governor, effective 9/1/2023.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=HB2243.

*SB 604, by Zafirini, HB 1915, identical, Relating to land services performed by a landman.  5/24/2023 Signed by the Governor, effective immediately except Section 3 which takes effect 1/1/2024.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB604.

*SB 786, HB 1777 identical, by Birdwell, Blanco, and Zaffirini, Relating to the regulation by the Railroad Commission of Texas of closed-loop geothermal injection wells.  “The railroad commission has jurisdiction over closed-loop geothermal injection wells and may issue permits for closed-loop geothermal injection wells, including individual permits, general permits, or permits by rule.”  6/2/2023 Signed by the Governor, effective on 9/1/2023.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB786

*SB 1186, by Hughs, Relating to the regulation by the Railroad Commission of Texas of brine mining.  5/27/2023 Signed by the governor, Effective immediately.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB1186

*SB 1659, by Schwertner, Holland, Keith Bell, Canales, Clardy, and Goldman, HB 1570, Identical, Relating to the sunset review process and certain governmental entities subject to that process.  “APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the board is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2033 [2025].”  6/18/2023 Signed by the Governor, effective on 9/1/2023.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB1659

*SB 2196, by Hancock, Schwertner, and Eckhardt, HB 4086 Identical, Relating to the identification and mapping of aggregate production operations by The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.  5/23/2023 Signed by the Governor, effective on 9/1/2023.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB2196

SB 2379, by Schwertner, Caroline Harris, Relating to the definition of the Edwards Aquifer for the purposes of an aquifer storage and recovery project.  6/16/2023 Vetoed by the Governor.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB2379

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The Texas Legislature is back in session for an additional session.   I’m currently checking for bills of general interest to geologists in Texas and will be updating this list as things change.   New information is in bold.

HB 11, by Reynolds, Relating to the creation of the Climate Change Impact Assessment Council.  5/30/2023 Filed.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=881&Bill=HB11.

HB 13, by Reynolds, Relating to the establishment of the Texas Environmental Justice Advisory Council.  “shall meet at least four times a year   and select a presiding officer from its membership.         (c)  The review board shall advise the council about issues  related to environmental justice and the action plans developed  under Section 428.0107.   Sec. 428.0105.  STATE PROGRAM REVIEW. (a)  The council shall  review each state agency and state program that serves to protect the environment to evaluate the agency’s or program’s positive”.  5/30/2023 Filed.  For more information go to:  Texas Legislature Online – 88(1) History for HB 13.

Henry M. Wise, P.G.
The Wise Report
6/25/2023

_______________________________________________________

The Wise Report
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
June 17, 2023

At its open meeting on June 13, 2023, the Railroad Commission proposed amendments to various rules in Chapter 5 relating to Carbon Dioxide. The proposed amendments concern enforcement primacy for the federal Class VI Underground Injection Control program.  Comments on the proposal will be accepted until 5:00 pm, Monday, July 31, 2023.  For more information on this, or to access the online comment form, please see the Proposed Rules page at:

http://www.rrc.texas.gov/general-counsel/rules/proposed-rules/

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The Texas Legislature 2023 session is over.   I’ve reduced the list to those bills that were sent to the Governor for his signature.   New information is in bold. * is signed by the Governor.

*HB 2443, by Cody Harris, Relating to the authority of certain persons to petition a groundwater conservation district to change certain rules.  6/10/2023 Signed by the Governor, effective 9/1/2023.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=HB2243

*SB 604, by Zafirini, HB 1915, identical, Relating to land services performed by a landman.  5/24/2023 Signed by the Governor, effective immediately except Section 3 which takes effect 1/1/2024.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB604.

*SB 786, HB 1777 identical, by Birdwell, Blanco, and Zaffirini, Relating to the regulation by the Railroad Commission of Texas of closed-loop geothermal injection wells.  “The railroad commission has jurisdiction over closed-loop geothermal injection wells and may issue permits for closed-loop geothermal injection wells, including individual permits, general permits, or permits by rule.”  6/2/2023 Signed by the Governor, effective on 9/1/2023.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB786

*SB 1186, by Hughs, Relating to the regulation by the Railroad Commission of Texas of brine mining.  5/27/2023 Signed by the governor, Effective immediately.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB1186

SB 1659, by Schwertner, Holland, Keith Bell, Canales, Clardy, and Goldman, HB 1570, Identical, Relating to the sunset review process and certain governmental entities subject to that process.  “APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the board is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2033 [2025].”  5/26/2023 Sent to the Governor.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB1659

*SB 2196, by Hancock, Schwertner, and Eckhardt, HB 4086 Identical, Relating to the identification and mapping of aggregate production operations by The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.  5/23/2023 Signed by the Governor, effective on 9/1/2023.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB2196

SB 2379, by Schwertner, Caroline Harris, Relating to the definition of the Edwards Aquifer for the purposes of an aquifer storage and recovery project.  6/16/2023 Vetoed by the Governor.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB2379

———————————————————————————————————————

The Texas Legislature is back in session for an additional session.   I’m currently checking for bills of general interest to geologists in Texas and will be updating this list as things change.   New information is in bold.

HB 11, by Reynolds, Relating to the creation of the Climate Change Impact Assessment Council.  5/30/2023 Filed.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=881&Bill=HB11.

HB 13, by Reynolds, Relating to the establishment of the Texas Environmental Justice Advisory Council.  “shall meet at least four times a year   and select a presiding officer from its membership.          (c)  The review board shall advise the council about issues   related to environmental justice and the action plans developed   under Section 428.0107.          Sec. 428.0105.  STATE PROGRAM REVIEW. (a)  The council shall   review each state agency and state program that serves to protect   the environment to evaluate the agency’s or program’s positive”.  5/30/2023 Filed.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=881&Bill=HB13.

Henry M. Wise, P.G.
The Wise Report
6/17/2023

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The Wise Report
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
June 10, 2023

The Texas Legislature 2023 session is over.   I’ve reduced the list to those bills that were sent to the Governor for his signature.   New information is in bold. * is signed by the Governor.

HB 2443, by Cody Harris, Relating to the authority of certain persons to petition a groundwater conservation district to change certain rules.  5/25/2023 Sent to the Governor  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=HB2243

*SB 604, by Zafirini, HB 1915, identical, Relating to land services performed by a landman.  5/24/2023 Signed by the Governor, effective immediately except Section 3 which takes effect 1/1/2024.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB604.

*SB 786, HB 1777 identical, by Birdwell, Blanco, and Zaffirini, Relating to the regulation by the Railroad Commission of Texas of closed-loop geothermal injection wells.  “The railroad commission has jurisdiction over closed-loop geothermal injection wells and may issue permits for closed-loop geothermal injection wells, including individual permits, general permits, or permits by rule.”  6/2/2023 Signed by the Governor, effective on 9/1/2023.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB786

*SB 1186, by Hughs, Relating to the regulation by the Railroad Commission of Texas of brine mining.  5/27/2023 Signed by the governor, Effective immediately.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB1186

SB 1659, by Schwertner, Holland, Keith Bell, Canales, Clardy, and Goldman, HB 1570, Identical, Relating to the sunset review process and certain governmental entities subject to that process.  “APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the board is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2033 [2025].”  5/26/2023 Sent to the Governor.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB1659

*SB 2196, by Hancock, Schwertner, and Eckhardt, HB 4086 Identical, Relating to the identification and mapping of aggregate production operations by The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.  5/23/2023 Signed by the Governor, effective on 9/1/2023.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB2196

SB 2379, by Schwertner, Caroline Harris, Relating to the definition of the Edwards Aquifer for the purposes of an aquifer storage and recovery project.  5/23/2023 Sent to the Governor.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB2379

———————————————————————————————————————

The Texas Legislature is back in session for an additional session.   I’m currently checking for bills of general interest to geologists in Texas and will be updating this list as things change.   New information is in bold.

HB 11, by Reynolds, Relating to the creation of the Climate Change Impact Assessment Council.  5/30/2023 Filed.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=881&Bill=HB11.

HB 13, by Reynolds, Relating to the establishment of the Texas Environmental Justice Advisory Council.  “shall meet at least four times a year   and select a presiding officer from its membership.          (c)  The review board shall advise the council about issues   related to environmental justice and the action plans developed   under Section 428.0107.          Sec. 428.0105.  STATE PROGRAM REVIEW. (a)  The council shall   review each state agency and state program that serves to protect   the environment to evaluate the agency’s or program’s positive”.  5/30/2023 Filed.  For more information go to:  https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=881&Bill=HB13.

Henry M. Wise, P.G.
The Wise Report
6/10/2023

The happy geologists shown in the above photo have indicated that the AIPG-TX West Texas Field Trip was a success all around. The field trip was under the able leadership provided by Bruce Darling, Ph.D., P.G., C.P.G., Michael Jacobs, MS, P.G., and Phil Goodell, Ph.D., UTEP Dept. of Geological Sciences, supported by Bruce Handley, P.G., C.P.G., the Health & Safety Manager for the trip. The weather was outstanding; the accommodations were fine; the food was as expected; and the guidebook materials that were distributed will be consolidated into a publication by AIPG in the next few months.

Henry Wise, P.G., C.P.G., President of the AIPG Texas Section provided general oversight for the field trip (here).

All accounts are that the field trip was not only a practical success, it was also deemed by the AIPG-TX Treasurer, Boyd Handley, P.G., JD, C.P.G., as a financial success. Therefore, there will scholarships awarded in early 2024 (the AIPG-TX Shoemaker Scholarship (for Texas Graduate Students) and the Foss Scholarship (for Texas Undergraduate Students). Students should apply in January, 2024 or before (more).

Planning has begun for the 2025 West Texas Field Trip.

Regina M. Capuano, Ph. D., P.G., CPG, Chair of the AIPG Texas Section’s Scholarship Committee announced that the Gene M. Shoemaker Graduate Scholarship ($2,500.00) has been awarded for 2023 to the following student in Texas:

For those of you who haven’t heard or received the announcement, over the past 8 months, Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H., CPG has been working on his memoirs. He said, “It’s better now than never.” Titled: “Anecdotes of a Lifetime: Memoirs of a Professional Geologist,” the book is now available. He said that his primary objective was to make a print and digital record for his grandchildren and their grandchildren of the life of their grandfather, his family, friends, and professional associates who lived in the mid-late 20th Century and worked well into the 21st Century as a Professional Geologist.

Dr. Jonathan Arthur, PG, has served as the Executive Director of the American Geosciences Institute since August 2021.  He served as the Director of the Florida Geological Survey from 2009-2021  emphasizing the need for student and professional courses and webinars on business strategy, fiscal planning, communications, applied geoscience, data access, innovation, and survey sustainability. He also serves on the Water Science Technology Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Dr. Arthur has served the geoscience community in leadership posts as President of the Association of American State Geologists (AASG) and President of the Florida Association of Professional Geologists (FAPG). As a former member of the AGI Board of Directors, he served on various committees, including the Strategic Outlook Committee. He has received recognition for research, leadership, and public service from geoscience organizations including the AASG, the Geological Society of America (GSA) and the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG). He earned his Ph.D.in Geology from Florida State University.

Although you may have missed his lecture, here is a PDF containing his talking points:

https://cdn.ymaws.com/aipg.org/resource/resmgr/documents/members_only/2023next-generation_arthur.pdf

“USING ALTERATION AS A HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION TOOL:

REMOTE SENSING AT LISBON VALLEY REVISITED”

The Lisbon Valley, UT, area is one of the classical locations for the study of surface mineral alteration associated with the presence of an underlying hydrocarbon field. The Wingate sandstone at surface over the Lisbon Valley field is bleached and kaolinized.  However, the geology at Lisbon Valley is complicated: hydrothermal copper and uranium deposits, and clay alteration occur along the Lisbon Valley Fault, and the Lisbon Valley field lies beneath several thousand feet of bedded evaporites, casting some doubt on the alteration being due to microseepage from the oilfield.  On the other hand, relatively recent soil surveys suggest that hydrocarbon gases are still moving vertically upward from the field.  The speaker discusses how he attempted to resolve these issues by quantitatively estimating the amount of seepage required to create the observed alteration, and by examining the stratigraphic, structural  and thermal history of the area to determine when the field matured and when the trap formed.

 SPEAKER

John Berry has over 50 years of geological experience in metals and hydrocarbon exploration on six continents and in deep-water basins offshore.  During the latter part of his career he specialized in the application of remote sensing techniques to on- and offshore hydrocarbon exploration as well as base and precious metals exploration.  He holds an AB degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in geology and geophysics from Columbia University, where he workd in the Arctic Section at Lamont-Docherty Observatory.

LINK: Register at https://aipg.org/default.aspx. On the lower right hand side of the page is a box “CALENDAR”.  This event is in the list. Click on it to register

COST (Includes certificate for 0.1 ceu/1.0 PDH; please request this via the Zoom chat facility):

AIPG Members: $10.    Non-Members:     $25   AIPG Student Members: Free         Other Students:  $5.00

AIPG-TX SCHOLARSHIP FUND All moneys generated by this series go to the AIPG-TX Scholarship Fund

 NEXT MONTH’S TALK: February 21^st, 7.00pm:  Brian Hunt, Texas  Bureau of Econ. Geology:  “Integrating Digital and Traditional Field Methods into Geologic Mapping: An Example from Central Texas”