We all know to call 811 to mark underground lines before digging or drilling below 16 inches. House Bill 1818, the Commission’s Sunset Bill passed by the 85th Legislature last year, gives RRC authority over damage incidents on interstate pipelines that cross state boundaries. Previously, the Commission’s damage prevention authority was limited to intrastate pipelines that begin and end in Texas.
The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) adopts an amendment to 22 TAC §851.21 to establish guidelines for applicants requesting to sit for a licensing examination. Adopted changes add language to provide that an applicant who does not fully meet the education requirement for licensure may sit for a licensing examination as long as the applicant has submitted certain documents and has acknowledged that the applicant does not meet the education requirement. The applicant will then need to resolve the education deficit once the applicant has received passing scores on the licensing examination in order to obtain a Professional Geoscientist license.
Geologic guidebooks tell stories about the history of our continent’s beautiful natural landscapes, but to date they have not been easily obtained by today’s researchers. To facilitate greater access to these guidebooks, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) and the Geoscience Information Society (GSIS) have jointly launched a free database, which catalogs decades of these guidebooks from across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Geologic Guidebooks of North America Database – as it is called – fills a significant gap in existing geoscience information. Many parts of North America are not sufficiently mapped by geological surveys, so guidebooks from university field trips and amateur excursions can contain some of the richest information available – or in some cases, the only information available – for a given location. Now, anyone can explore more than 10,000 of these guidebook references with ease using the geographic search option, which was previously not possible.
Due to Hurricane Harvey, the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) has implemented the following for PG licenses, GIT certifications, and Geoscience Firm registrations in a Governor-designated disaster county that were scheduled to expire between August 31, 2017 and November 30, 2017 shall expire on December 31, 2017.
The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) adopts amendments to 22 TAC §§851.10, 851.20, 851.23, 851.25, 851.30, 851.80, 851.157, and 851.203; adopts the repeal of §851.158; and adopts new rules §§851.158, 851.159, and 851.220 concerning the licensure and regulation of Professional Geoscientists. The amendments to §§851.10, 851.20, 851.23, 851.25, 851.30, 851.80, 851.157, and 851.203; the repeal of §851.158; and new rules §851.159 and §851.220 are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the July 7, 2017 issue of the Texas Register (42 TexReg 3549). New rule §851.158 is adopted with changes to the proposed text. The repeal of §851.158 will be effective as of the date the new §851.158 takes effect.
Adopted amendments to §851.10 and §851.30 clarify the definition and role of an “Authorized Official of a Firm” (AOF). Adopted amendments to §851.80 amend language to establish a proctored review of a Texas Geophysics Examination for a fee, and provide a reduction of the renewal fee to half price for a person who has a medical disability. Adopted amendments to §851.20 clarify that an applicant who is not a citizen of the United States must provide a copy of a current visa or something equivalent.
The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) proposes amendments to §851.10 and §851.30 to clarify the definition and role of an “Authorized Official of a Firm” (AOF).
Proposed amendments to §851.80 amend language to establish a proctored review of a Texas Geophysics Examination for a fee, and provide a reduction of the renewal fee to half price for a person who has a medical disability.
Proposed amendments to §851.20 clarify that an applicant who is not a citizen of the United States must provide a copy of a VISA or a Social Security Number.
Proposed amendments to §851.23 provide an alternate process for applicants who cannot provide a professional reference to verify qualifying work experience.
The State Legislature is now out of session. Two of the bills we’ve been following were passed and the Governor has vetoed both of them:
HB 2377, by Larson and Lucio III, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. A landowner may drill and operate a well for a single-family dwelling, a landowner may drill and operate a well if, among other things, the well is used only for outdoor watering of landscape plantings on the property. 6/15/2017 Vetoed by the Governor. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB2377
SB 1525, by Perry, Relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board of water needs and availability in this state. 6/15/2017 Vetoed by the Governor. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SB1525
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 resources are used to protect public safety and the environment. The RRC is directed to publish this report on its website by July 1, 2017 preceding each state fiscal year.
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:
House Bills
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
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 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
