AIPG-TX News | AIPG-TX

18 Mar, 2017

2017 AIPG Texas Section Field Trip Postponed to Spring, 2021 – Planning Underway

Final Announcement of the 2017 AIPG Texas Section Field Trip to Uranium Country in South Texas / West Texas to Visit REE Mine

Henry M. Wise, P.G., C.P.G., President of AIPG Texas Section, announced today that after detailed discussions with the five uranium mining companies having exploration/recovery operations in south/west Texas, the AIPG Texas Section Board has decided to postpone the uranium field trip to south Texas indefinitely (circa spring of 2022?). The companies and Board concluded that it would be more interesting to field trip participants if all of the companies’ operations were in production of yellowcake, or the REE mine is ready to provide visit to their mine operations. Other geological sites in west Texas are also being considered.

Invitations will be extended to the Chair, Vice-Chairs, and Advisory Group of the Uranium (Nuclear and Rare Earth) Committee of the Energy Minerals Division (AAPG) to join us in sponsoring and participating in the field trip. Invitations will also be extended to the members of the South Texas Geological Society and other local geological societies.

HMW

18 Mar, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

The State Legislature is now 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 in committee. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB484

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environmental effects and benefits expected to result from implementation of and compliance with the rule.” 3/14/2017 Withdrawn from schedule.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

HB 1515, by Elkins, Relating to the expiration of the dry cleaner environmental response program. “A corrective action, including any administrative duties associated with the action, for which remediation of a contaminated site has begun before September 1, 2050, shall be completed in accordance with this chapter using money from the fund, to the extent possible, but money may not be collected for or added to the fund on or after that date.” Scheduled for public hearing on 3/21/2017. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB1515

13 Mar, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

The State Legislature is now in session. The following is a list of bills of potential interest to geologists. There are 15 new bills of interest this week. The deadline for the unrestricted filing of bills and joint resolutions other than local bills, emergency appropriations, and bills that have been declared an emergency by the governor was Friday, March 10, 2017. Therefore, few new bills are anticipated this session, but we will continue to look for new bills of interest in case they come up. 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. Scheduled for public hearing on 3/14/2017. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB484

03 Mar, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

Recent Survey Brings Response to Membership: Sources of Training for the Big Three Fields of Interest in Texas

In December, 2016, the Texas Section of AIPG began an online survey of Texas membership about career opportunities and choices. We asked Texas members to tell us what subjects they needed most to improve/broaden their careers. We indicated that we would then search for online resources addressing the top three areas of interest. For more on the survey, click here.

The results of the survey indicated the top three interest areas were:

Petroleum Geology – Principally concerned with the evaluation of seven key elements applicable in the search for hydrocarbons: source, reservoir, seal, trap, maturation and migration.
Hydrogeology / Groundwater Resource Evaluation – Groundwater quality and availability issues. Before water resources can be developed and managed, they must be evaluated, i.e., what portion of those resources can be sustainably developed for various uses, after setting aside a proportion for environmental or ecological needs.
Unconventional Hydrocarbon Resources – Distribution and production of oil and gas from shale (fracking) and gas from coal bed methane. Unconventional hydrocarbon deposits are very diverse and difficult to characterize overall, but in general are often lower in resource concentration, dispersed over large areas, and require well stimulation or additional extraction or conversion technology.

We generated a list of online courses (with links), webinars and resources, all of which address the above three career paths.

02 Mar, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

Bills of Potential Interest to Texas Geologists

The State Legislature is now in session.

The following is a list of bills of potential interest to geologists. There one new bill 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. 2/20/2017 Referred to Environmental Regulation. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB484

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.” 2/21/2017 Referred to Environmental Regulation. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB815

25 Feb, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

New Rules at the TBPG and an Update on State Legislature Activities

At the last Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) board meeting the following new rules and amendments were adopted by unanimous consent:

Amendment to 851.29, regarding reciprocal licensure
Amendment to 851.31, regarding temporary licensure
Amendment to 851.32, regarding the continuing education program
New rule 851.35, regarding voluntary surrender of a license
New rule 851.113, regarding duty to abide by Board Order and timely pay administrative penalty
New rule 851.203, regarding default proceedings in contested case hearings scheduled with the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH)
New rule 851.204, regarding costs of administrative hearings

The adopted rules can be viewed (here) . They are also on the Rules page of the TBPG website, and in the November 18, 2016 issue of the Texas Register.

19 Feb, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

AIPG Texas Section Survey Results

AIPG-Texas Section Membership:

A survey was conducted of the Texas Section membership during December, 2016 through January, 2017. The attached survey results contain the actual survey questionnaire form, the tabulated data, and the individual responses with comments (Survey with Results).

The survey returned a response of approximately 23% from the total 451 members surveyed in Texas.

18 Feb, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

Texas State Legislature is Now in Session – A List of Bills of Potential Interest to Geoscientists

The State Legislature is now in session. The following is a list of bills of potential interest to geologists. There are two new bills 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. Filed 12/2/2016. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB484

11 Feb, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

The Wise Report: 1) The TCEQ Remediation Division has Issued Revised Guidance for Risk-Based Corrective Action for LPST Sites, 2) News of EPA Re-Proposing 40 CFR Part 192 Involving In-Situ Uranium Mining, and 3) The State Legislature Bills of Potential Interest to Professional Geologists

The TCEQ Remediation Division Issued Revised Guidance for Risk-based Corrective Action for LPST Sites.

The guidance document formerly known as RG-36, Risk-based Corrective Action for Leaking Storage Tank Sites has been renamed and is now known as RG-523/PST-03 Risk-based Corrective Action for LPST Sites. The revised guidance also incorporates components of the 1995 RG-175 “Guidance for Risk-Based Assessments at LPST Sites in Texas. Emphasizing Initial Investigations and Plan A Evaluation” and the following interoffice memoranda:

04 Feb, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

Risk Assessments at Remediation Sites in Texas and Bills of Interest in the Texas State Legislature Introduced

The 2017 version of Conducting Ecological Risk Assessments at Remediation Sites in Texas (ERAG, RG-263) is now available through TCEQ’s ERA Home Page at: www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/era . Links for the new Supporting Documentation for the TCEQ’s Ecological Benchmark Tables and the accompanying Excel file that houses the numeric screening-level benchmarks – the combination of which comprises RG-263B – are also available through the home page. A case study that will include examples of a Tier 1 Exclusion Criteria Checklist, a Tier 2 Screening Level Ecological Risk Assessment, and an Ecological Services Analysis will be RG-263C when it becomes available. TCEQ and its contractor – West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) – have developed an Ecological Protective Concentration Level (PCL) Database that provides default PCLs for soil and sediment for a variety of wildlife receptors and contaminants. A WTAMU link to the database appears on the home page, making it available for public use and citation, as appropriate.