The Wise Report

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists has issued Advisory Opinion AOR #13 (2015).

Is Texas P.G. licensure and/or firm registration required if a P.G. licensed in another state physically moves his or her firm to Texas and engages in the following activities?

  1. Establishes a Texas LLC (is a Texas corp. for at least some tax purposes).
  2. Solicits and engages in work solely within his/her original state of practice and residence, except for the fact that the office-based portion of the work (report preparation, administration, etc.) is done in the new Texas LLC’s office.
  3. Maintains current licensure in the original state.
  4. The LLC advertises that services are offered only in the original state of licensure.
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The Wise Report

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) is proposing rule amendments to Chapters 850 and 851 concerning the licensure and regulation of Professional Geoscientists. Many of the changes are for consistency and clarity.

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The Wise Report

The following information was provided by the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG):

On September 18, 2015 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to amend the new source performance standards (NSPS) for the oil and natural gas source category by setting standards for both methane and volatile organic compounds (VOC) for certain equipment, processes and activities across this source category.

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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; three bills have been sent to the Governor.):

HB 30, by Larson and Vilalba, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. 5/22/2015 Senate Testimony taken 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

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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