HB - AIPG-TX

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|2025-08-04T17:26:37-05:00May 7th, 2019|AIPG-TX News|

Status of TBPG Legislation: So Far, So Good

See Status of TBPG Legislation: https://capitol.texas.gov/mytlo/mobile/BillHistory.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB%201311 Bill Language: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/86R/billtext/pdf/HB01311I.pdf

By Editor|2025-08-04T17:37:01-05:00April 30th, 2019|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is under review, as required every five years. This MOU addresses the TCEQ's environmental reviews of TxDOT highway (transportation) projects. The updated MOU removes unnecessary definitions and simplifies the coordination process, so that coordination is only required on transportation projects that require environmental impact statements, supplemental environmental impact statements, or environmental assessments. The public comment period is April 12 to May 13, 2019. The public hearing date is anticipated to be May 9, 2019. For more information go to: [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T20:25:37-05:00March 31st, 2019|AIPG-TX News|

Update: Monitoring House Bill Activities

MARCH 31 UPDATE: MONITORING HOUSE BILL ACTIVITIES: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/BillStages.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB1311 Henry M. Wise, President of AIPG Texas Section, has heard from his contacts that now is the time. The final stretch of getting the amended Texas Geoscience Act reauthorized is here. Senate and House Bill 1311 currently being considered by the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee and will be voted on in the immediate future, even as early as tomorrow. As with most of life, timing is everything. TGC has been following the lead of our lobbyist about when the proper time would be for us to call our representatives to [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T17:48:23-05:00March 31st, 2019|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 TCEQ has received a “Petition for Rulemaking to simplify regulatory burdens to the State of Texas and its citizens” from Mr. Jed Anderson. His complaint is, basically, that the TCEQ rules are too complex and need to be simplified. The document can be found at: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/legal/rules/rule_lib/petitions/17023PET_petition.pdf 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 [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:14:51-05:00April 16th, 2017|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The TCEQ Remediation Division issued revised guidance and reporting requirements for selecting and developing engineered Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) for LPST sites. The guidance document formerly known as RG-41, Corrective Action Plans for LPST Sites has been reissued as RG-523/PST-10, Corrective Action Plans for LPST Sites. The Remedial Technology Screening Form (RTS) (TCEQ-00695), Notice of Remediation System Installation (NRSI) (TCEQ-00694) and CAP Worksheets (TCEQ-00707) used in conjunction with the guidance have also been revised. The forms and worksheets are required when submitting a CAP for LPST sites. The guidance document is available on the TCEQ webpage: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/publications/rg/rg-523-pst-10 The forms and [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:20:01-05:00March 27th, 2017|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 [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:23:22-05:00March 13th, 2017|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, [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:24:03-05:00March 2nd, 2017|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 [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:24:30-05:00February 25th, 2017|AIPG-TX News|