The Wise Report

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) is proposing changes in Permit fees for coal mining facilities. The current annual mined acreage fee of $84 per acre would be eliminated, the annual bonded acreage fee of $12 would be increased to $13.05 per bonded acre, and the current annual permit fee of $6,540 will be increased to $6,600. For more information, see: http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/media/29847/prop-amend-12-108-fees-aug2015-sig.pdf To comment online go to: http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/legal/rules/comment-form-for-proposed-rulemakings Henry M. Wise, P.G. The Wise Report

By admin|2025-08-04T20:05:55-05:00August 30th, 2015|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

Beginning January 1, 2016, the TCEQ Remediation Division will require the use of United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) SW846 Method 5035A, Purge-and-Trap and Extraction for Volatile Organics in Soil and Waste Samples, as amended, for the collection and preparation of solid samples for volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis using purge-and-trap technology. After December 31, 2015, the TCEQ Remediation Division will reject VOC data reported for solid samples, such as soil samples, collected and prepared using another method when the data are intended to demonstrate compliance with the rules in 30 Texas Administrative Code Chapters 334 (Underground Storage Tanks), [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T20:06:17-05:00July 26th, 2015|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

This legislative session is now closed. The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geologists have been sent to the Governor for his signature. Seven were signed by the Governor, two were vetoed, and one was filed without the signature of the Governor. HB 30, by Larson and Vilalba, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. 6/19/2015 Signed by the Governor. 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 [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T20:07:34-05:00June 21st, 2015|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geologists have been filed. New information is listed in bold. Seven bills have been sent to the Governor this week, and a total of three bills have been signed (listed with an *): HB 30, by Larson and Vilalba, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. 6/1/2015 Sent to the Governor. 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. [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T20:08:12-05:00June 2nd, 2015|AIPG-TX News|

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 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. 5/23/2015 Signed in the House. For more information go [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T20:08:31-05:00May 23rd, 2015|AIPG-TX News|

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 [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T20:08:52-05:00May 17th, 2015|AIPG-TX News|

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 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 HB 190, by Burkett, Relating to the regulatory analysis of rules proposed by the Texas [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T20:09:09-05:00May 10th, 2015|AIPG-TX News|

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 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 the House. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB163 HB 190, by Burkett, Relating to the regulatory analysis [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T20:09:27-05:00April 25th, 2015|AIPG-TX News|

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 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. 4/16/2015 Reported engrossed. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB163 HB 190, by Burkett, Relating to the regulatory analysis of rules proposed by [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T20:09:47-05:00April 19th, 2015|AIPG-TX News|

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 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. 4/1/2015 Committee report sent to Local & Consent Calendar. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB163 HB 190, by Burkett, Relating [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T20:10:02-05:00April 5th, 2015|AIPG-TX News|