The Wise Report

Senate Bill (SB) 1532 was passed during the 83rd Texas Legislature in 2013. The intent of the legislation was to provide a statutory and regulatory basis to promote research that could make desalination of brackish groundwater and aquifer storage and recovery more viable in the Edwards Aquifer. Within the geographic aea circumscribed by the external boundaries of the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District but not within the district’s territory, Texas Water Code (TWC), §27.0516 allows the commission to authorize, by rule or general permit, certain injection wells that transect or terminate in the Edwards Aquifer while providing a statutory and regulatory basis that is protective of the freshwater aquifer and supportive of desalination and aquifer storage and recovery. A summary of the rulemaking by the TCEQ can be found at: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/legal/rules/rule_lib/adoptions/13056037_aex.pdf

A copy of the proposed rule can be found at: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/legal/rules/rule_lib/adoptions/13053331_ado.pdf

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The Wise Report

The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geoscientists have been filed. New information is listed in bold:

HB 30, by Larson, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. 45/8/2015 Passed. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB30

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The Wise Report

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. 4/22/2015 Reported favorably as substituted. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB30

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The Wise Report

The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geologists have been filed. New information is listed in bold (No new bills listed):

HB 30, by Larson, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. 4/15/2015 Left pending in committee. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB30

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The Wise Report

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. 3/30/2015 Left pending in subcommittee. For more information go to:

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB30

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The Wise Report

The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geologists have been filed. New information is listed in bold (One new bill listed):

HB 30, by Larson, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on 3/30/2015. For more information go to:

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB30

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The Wise Report

The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geologists have been filed.  New information is listed in bold (No new bills listed):

HB 30, by Larson, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. 3/4/2015 Referred to directly to s/c on Special Water Districts by Chair. For more information go to:

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB30

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The Wise Report

The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geologists have been filed. New information is listed in bold (seven new bills listed):

HB 30, by Larson, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. 3/4/2015 Referred to directly to s/c on Special Water Districts by Chair. For more information go to:

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB30

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The Wise Report

The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geologists have been filed. New information is listed in bold (No new bills listed):

HB 30, by Larson, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. 4/29/2015 Committee report sent to calendars. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB30

HB 163, by Larson and Workman, Relating to interstate cooperation to address regional water issues. Sets up the Southwest Water Commission to discuss water needs of the region with other states and Mexico. 4/202015 Senate received from the House. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB163

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The Wise Report

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.

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