Editor - AIPG-TX

AAPG Total Solar Eclipse Seminar & K-T Boundary/Impact Crater Field Trip Guide, Casper, Wyoming – August 18-22, 2017

This Seminar and Field-Trip Guide was compiled by Doug Cook who gathered the materials discussed during this Seminar and Field Trip. The primary objective of the seminar was to observe the total solar eclipse that passed over the Casper, Wyoming area. Side field trips were also taken to observe impact craters and K-T boundary in outcrop. Jack Schmitt and Jim Reilly, whose tireless participation and enthusiasm in AAPG's Committee on Astrogeology, provided their professional perspectives and expertise on the subjects at hand. Kent Sundell, Casper College, and staff and students contributed to the organizing, guiding, and operations of the field [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T20:24:05-05:00September 25th, 2017|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) adopts amendments to 22 TAC §§851.10, 851.20, 851.23, 851.25, 851.30, 851.80, 851.157, and 851.203; adopts the repeal of §851.158; and adopts new rules §§851.158, 851.159, and 851.220 concerning the licensure and regulation of Professional Geoscientists. The amendments to §§851.10, 851.20, 851.23, 851.25, 851.30, 851.80, 851.157, and 851.203; the repeal of §851.158; and new rules §851.159 and §851.220 are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the July 7, 2017 issue of the Texas Register (42 TexReg 3549). New rule §851.158 is adopted with changes to the proposed text. The [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:00:16-05:00September 23rd, 2017|AIPG-TX News|

FactSheet on Geoscience in Texas

Workforce in Texas 59,000: geoscience employees (non-federal/self-employed) in 20151 $103,500: average median geoscience employee salary1 270,000: jobs in extractive industries in 20152 80: academic geoscience departments3 Water in Texas 7.7 billion gallons/day: total groundwater withdrawal4 17 billion gallons/day: total surface water withdrawal4 4 billion gallons/day: public water supply withdrawal4 6.8 million gallons/day: irrigation water withdrawal4 680 million gallons/day: self-supplied industrial fresh water withdrawal4 90% of the population is served by public water supplies4 174 counties in 2015, and 11 counties in 2016, designated as primary natural disaster areas caused by drought5 275 USGS stream gages in Texas6 Energy and Minerals Production in Texas $4.8 [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:02:26-05:00July 26th, 2017|AIPG-TX News|

Petrossian & Team Release TWDB Transborder Aquifers Report

Rima Petrossian, Ph.D., P.G., C.P.G., Manager of the Groundwater Technical Assistance Group of the Texas Water Development Board and her team just released: Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Management Report 17-01; TWDB Trans-Border Aquifers Report: A Summary of Aquifer Properties, Policies, and Planning Approaches for Texas, Surrounding States, and Mexico (here). Dr. Petrossian also serves as Vice President - Western Texas, of the American Institute of Professional Geologists. Groundwater in Texas is a valuable natural resource shared with eight national and international states: New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, in the United States; and Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila de Zaragoza, [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:04:50-05:00July 22nd, 2017|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) proposes amendments to §851.10 and §851.30 to clarify the definition and role of an "Authorized Official of a Firm" (AOF). Proposed amendments to §851.80 amend language to establish a proctored review of a Texas Geophysics Examination for a fee, and provide a reduction of the renewal fee to half price for a person who has a medical disability. Proposed amendments to §851.20 clarify that an applicant who is not a citizen of the United States must provide a copy of a VISA or a Social Security Number. Proposed amendments to §851.23 provide [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:05:26-05:00July 10th, 2017|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The State Legislature is now out of session. Two of the bills we've been following were passed and the Governor has vetoed both of them: HB 2377, by Larson and Lucio III, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. A landowner may drill and operate a well for a single-family dwelling, a landowner may drill and operate a well if, among other things, the well is used only for outdoor watering of landscape plantings on the property. 6/15/2017 Vetoed by the Governor. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB2377 SB 1525, by Perry, Relating to a study by the Texas Water [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:06:06-05:00June 22nd, 2017|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Railroad Commission's Sunset Bill, House Bill 1818 (HB 1818) into law May 22, 2017 reauthorizing the RRC for 12 more years until Sept. 1, 2029. The bill also provides the agency with the authority to assess pipeline safety fees to support its pipeline safety regulatory program; jurisdiction over preventing interstate pipeline damage and a mandate to publish an annual oil and gas monitoring report. Under this legislation, the RRC's Oil & Gas Division is directed to develop and publish an oil and gas monitoring strategic annual plan each fiscal year to ensure the agency's [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:06:32-05:00June 6th, 2017|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The State Legislature is still in session. The following is a list of bills of potential interest to geologists. There are no new bills of interest this week. New information is listed in bold: House Bills HB 484, by Spring, Relating to training required to qualify for or renew a license issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The TCEQ must provide a location within 100 miles of the place of employment of a person who is required to receive the training, reimbursement for travel and lodging expenses incurred if training isn't available within 100 miles, or online training. 3/14/2017 Left [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:07:14-05:00May 27th, 2017|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The State Legislature is still in session. The following is a list of bills of potential interest to geologists. There are no new bills of interest this week. New information is listed in bold: HB 484, by Spring, Relating to training required to qualify for or renew a license issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The TCEQ must provide a location within 100 miles of the place of employment of a person who is required to receive the training, reimbursement for travel and lodging expenses incurred if training isn't available within 100 miles, or online training. 3/14/2017 Left pending [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:07:44-05:00May 23rd, 2017|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The State Legislature is still in session. The following is a list of bills of potential interest to geologists. There are no new bills of interest this week. New information is listed in bold: HB 484, by Spring, Relating to training required to qualify for or renew a license issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The TCEQ must provide a location within 100 miles of the place of employment of a person who is required to receive the training, reimbursement for travel and lodging expenses incurred if training isn't available within 100 miles, or online training. 3/14/2017 Left [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:08:26-05:00May 14th, 2017|AIPG-TX News|

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