The USEPA is proposing new groundwater protection standards at facilities that extract uranium using the in-situ recovery (ISR) method. The EPA will be holding a public meeting to discuss these new standards on March 10, 2015. For more information go to: http://www.epa.gov/radiation/tenorm/40CFR192.html
The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geologists have been filed. New information is listed in bold (four new bills listed):
The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) proposes to amend §3.16, relating to Log and Completion or Plugging Report, to change the deadline for operators to file well completion reports to 90 days after completion of the well or within 150 days after the date on which the drilling operation is completed, whichever is earlier. mission.
For more information go to: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/February132015/
Google Earth Pro
If you use Google Earth, you can now use Google Earth Professional for free. To download, go to: https://support.google.com/earth/answer/176160?hl=en
Interviews
If you find yourself looking for a job, here is some of what to expect in job interviews (here).
Bills in Texas Legislature:
The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geologists have been filed:
The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geologists have been filed. New information is listed in bold (two new bills listed):
HB 30, by Larson, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. Filed 1/21/2015. For more information go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB30
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Petroleum Storage Tank (PST) program has revised the “Release Determination Report” Form (TCEQ-00621, Rev. 1/15) to be used to report the results from the investigation of a suspected or confirmed release from an underground storage tank (UST) or above ground storage tank (AST), or permanent removal from service of a UST or any routine environmental site assessment at PST sites. This form (TCEQ-00621, revised 1/15) replaces all prior versions and effective July 1, 2015, the TCEQ will only accept information submitted on the revised form. Previous versions are considered obsolete and information received by the TCEQ on or after July 1, 2015 on previous versions of the form will need to be resubmitted on the current version.
The RDR Form (TCEQ-00621, Rev. 1/15) is now interactive and is able to be completed electronically. The revised RDR form is available on the TCEQ webpage:
https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/remediation/rpr/documents/00621.pdf
The USGS has assessed water quality from 6,600 wells in regionally extensive aquifers that supply most of the groundwater pumped for the nation’s drinking water, irrigation, and other uses. A series of new USGS reports highlight how geology, hydrology, geochemistry, and chemical use affect the concentrations of individual contaminants in groundwater. Regional summaries of where and why groundwater is vulnerable to contamination now are available. The report that includes the Texas Gulf Coast can be found at:
During the mid-1990s, the Institute of Environmental Technology (IET), consisting of associates of the Environmental Litigation Associates (ELA) and other senior environmental professionals in the Houston area, taught a 4-month program designed to cross-train professional refugees from a depressed oil and gas industry for the purpose of finding employment in an expanding environmental industry. Over more than 5 years, some 400 geologists, engineers, and other professionals graduated from that program, most of whom found meaningful professional employment.
The EPA is proposing new rules for in situ mining. A number of states, including Texas, already have many or all of these rules in place. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy signed a draft of the proposed rules on Dec. 31. A 90-day public-comment period on the new “Health and Environmental Protection Standards for Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings” opens when the final draft is published in the Federal Register. The publication date is uncertain.
The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) proposes amendments to clarify the definition of “Geoscience Firm” and remove the Geoscience Firm registration requirements currently applicable to a Professional Geoscientist who offers or performs non-exempt geoscience work for the public in Texas as a sole proprietor; remove the restriction that requires a new licensee to report to the TBPG within 60 days of becoming licensed the name of the firm or organization with which the licensee is employed if the employment includes the practice of geoscience; remove the registration and renewal fees for sole-proprietorships; and remove the restriction that a business entity, unless registered, may not represent to the public that it is engaged in the non-exempt public practice of geoscience by using the terms “geoscientist,” “geoscience,” “geoscience services,” “geoscience company,” or “geoscience, inc.” because usage of these terms does not require that a business entity be registered by the TBPG.
The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) proposes amendments to clarify the definition of “Geoscience Firm” and remove the Geoscience Firm registration requirements currently applicable to a Professional Geoscientist who offers or performs non-exempt geoscience work for the public in Texas as a sole proprietor. TBPG proposes amendments to remove the restriction that requires a new licensee to report to TBPG within 60 days of becoming licensed the name of the firm or organization with which the licensee is employed if the employment includes the practice of geoscience.
