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The Wise Report

The Railroad Commission of Texas proposes amendments to §3.40, relating to Assignment of Acreage to Pooled Development and Proration Units. The amendments are proposed to allow the same surface acreage to be assigned to more than one well in an unconventional fracture treated (UFT) field when mineral ownership is severed at different depths below the surface. Currently, §3.40 prohibits acreage from being assigned to more than one well in a field, except in limited circumstances. The Commission recognizes significant changes have occurred in the exploration and production industry in Texas, and certain rule changes are needed to uphold the [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T15:21:38-05:00November 10th, 2019|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) adopts amendments to 22 TAC §§851.20, 851.22, 851.23, 851.40, and 851.41, concerning the licensure and regulation of Professional Geoscientists in Texas, and also adopts the repeal of 22 TAC §851.24, concerning references. The amendments and repeal are adopted to comply with statutory changes to Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1002, the Texas Geoscience Practice Act (the Act). These amended rules and the repeal are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the July 12, 2019, issue of the Texas Register (44 TexReg 3516), and will not be republished. These changes [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T15:17:39-05:00October 27th, 2019|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The TCEQ’s Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) Program has released updates for two important resources. These resources should be used, as appropriate, for Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP) submittals with an ecological component. Aquatic Life Surface Water Benchmark Tables The aquatic life surface water benchmark tables have been updated and are available on the TCEQ website. These tables can be found at any of the following links: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/eco/eco.html, under “Supporting Documentation for the TCEQ’s Ecological Benchmark Tables.” See the Excel file link associated with RG-263b. https://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/trrp/trrppcls.html, under the subheading “Human Health and Aquatic Life Surface Water RBELs.” See the “aquatic life [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T15:12:26-05:00September 9th, 2019|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) adopts amended §7.119 without changes to the proposed text as published in the April 12, 2019, issue of the Texas Register (44 TexReg 1813). This rule-making will adopt by reference updates to the commission's memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) regarding TCEQ environmental reviews of TxDOT highway (transportation) projects. The updates are required to implement the following statutes and legislation: Texas Transportation Code, §201.607(a) requires TxDOT and each state agency that is responsible for the protection of the natural environment, which includes the TCEQ, to revise their [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T17:21:29-05:00August 18th, 2019|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

Texas Water Code, Section 26.406 requires the annual report to describe the current status of groundwater monitoring activities conducted or required by each agency at regulated facilities or associated with regulated activities. The report is required to contain a description of each case of groundwater contamination documented during the previous calendar year. Also to be included, is a description of each case of contamination documented during previous periods for which voluntary clean up action was incomplete at the time the preceding report was issued. The report is also required to indicate the status of enforcement action for each listed [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T17:22:02-05:00August 11th, 2019|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) proposes amendments concerning the licensure and regulation of Professional Geoscientists in Texas. TheTBPG proposes to repeal 22 TAC §851.24, and proposes amendments to 22 TAC §§851.20, 851.22, 851.23, 851.40, and 851.41, to comply with statutory changes to Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1002, the Texas Geoscience Practice Act (the Act) by the 86th Legislature (2019) when they enacted HB 1311, which amended the Act, effective September 1, 2019. The TBPG now proposes changes to its rules to implement the statutory changes. The proposed repeal and amendments will implement the statutory removal of the [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T17:22:23-05:00July 14th, 2019|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The State Legislature is now out of session. Bills that have been passed and are awaiting the Governor’s decision are listed below, along with their current status. New information is listed in bold (3 signed by the Governor and 1 becomes effective without his signature). All will take effect on 9/1/2019): HB 720, by Larson and Guillen, Relating to appropriations of water for use in aquifer storage and recovery projects. Sent to the Governor, 5/26/2019. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB720 HB 721, by Larson, Relating to the duty of the Texas Water Development Board to conduct studies of and prepare and submit reports [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T17:23:51-05:00June 3rd, 2019|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

Editorial comment: The Texas legislative session is drawing to a close and bills are being sent to the Governor for his signature. Once sent to him, he has 10 days to sign, veto, or allow to pass without his signature. The most closely watched bill this year was HB 1311 (relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG)), which passed without the Governor’s signature. I want to thank the Texas Geoscience Council (TGC) for taking on and leading the herculean task of assuring the continuation of the TBPG (full disclosure, I am on [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T17:24:18-05:00May 25th, 2019|AIPG-TX News|

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): 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, [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T17:24:56-05:00May 12th, 2019|AIPG-TX News|

Good News: HB 1311 passes!

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.

By admin|2025-08-04T17:26:02-05:00May 8th, 2019|AIPG-TX News|

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