AIPG-TX News | AIPG-TX

23 Sep, 2017

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 repeal of §851.158 will be effective as of the date the new §851.158 takes effect.

Adopted amendments to §851.10 and §851.30 clarify the definition and role of an “Authorized Official of a Firm” (AOF). Adopted 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. Adopted amendments to §851.20 clarify that an applicant who is not a citizen of the United States must provide a copy of a current visa or something equivalent.

26 Jul, 2017

By 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

22 Jul, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

Petrossian and 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, and Chihuahua, in Mexico. Of the 30 Texas aquifers that provide groundwater, 23 are shared with one or more other states. Internationally, Mexico and Texas share four major aquifers and three minor aquifers, based on the Texas definition of aquifers.

10 Jul, 2017

By 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 an alternate process for applicants who cannot provide a professional reference to verify qualifying work experience.

22 Jun, 2017

By 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 Development Board of water needs and availability in this state. 6/15/2017 Vetoed by the Governor. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SB1525

Henry M. Wise, P.G.

06 Jun, 2017

By 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 resources are used to protect public safety and the environment. The RRC is directed to publish this report on its website by July 1, 2017 preceding each state fiscal year.

27 May, 2017

By 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 pending in committee. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB484

23 May, 2017

By 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 815, by Burkett, Dale, Rick Miller, and Paul, Relating to the regulatory analysis of rules proposed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. “Before adopting an environmental rule, the commission shall conduct a regulatory analysis that considers the costs and environmental effects and benefits expected to result from implementation of and compliance with the rule.” 3/14/2017 Withdrawn from schedule. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB815

14 May, 2017

By 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:

11 May, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

IET Guide to Houston Growth Faulting and Subsidence Reaches 1,000 Views

According to Academia.edu, as of this date, the publication has been reached by 1,000 interested persons through that venue in the Houston area and in counties up and down the Gulf Coast, but also including Arizona, and California where similar problems exist, and in some 48 countries, including China, Russia, India, many African countries and others where over-pumping of groundwater from unconsolidated and consolidated sediments exist along with similar geological conditions where growth faulting is a dominant structural feature within soft sediments.