The Wise Report
The USGS has assessed water quality from 6,600 wells in regionally extensive aquifers that supply most of the groundwater pumped for the nation’s drinking water, irrigation, and other uses. A series of new USGS reports highlight how geology, hydrology, geochemistry, and chemical use affect the concentrations of individual contaminants in groundwater. Regional summaries of where and why groundwater is vulnerable to contamination now are available. The report that includes the Texas Gulf Coast can be found at:
http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1356/. Links to the other reports can be found on the same page.
Michael D. Campbell, with I2M Associates, LLC announced the release of “Houston Faulting and Subsidence in the Houston, Texas Area.” During the mid-1990s, the Institute of Environmental Technology (IET), consisting of associates of the Environmental Litigation Associates (ELA) and other senior environmental professionals in the Houston area, taught a 4-month program designed to cross-train professional refugees from a depressed oil and gas industry for the purpose of finding employment in an expanding environmental industry. Over more than 5 years, some 400 geologists, engineers, and other professionals graduated from that program, most of whom found meaningful professional employment.
When the oil and gas activity returned a few years later, the graduates offered a better background to potential employers than before they were laid off. One of the objectives of the IET program was to provide continuing support after graduation. The publication is the result of more than 10 years of research and discussions on the subject of interest to professionals in the Houston area and elsewhere in the U.S.A. The guide can be found at: http://ela-iet.com/HouFaultGuideDecember2014.pdf
Because the current Editor for the Wise Report that appears regularly in the HGS Bulletin and is member of the Planning Committee of the HGS Engineering and Environmental Committee, Henry M. Wise, P.G., and Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H, also a member of the HGS E & E Committee, played significant roles in the generation of this guide, they are making the guide available via the AIPG-TX website to those who have an interest in Houston faulting and associated subsidence and related issues.
Rima Petrossian, with the Texas Water Development Board, passes on a link to the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology’s Texas Mineral Resources Map:
http://igor.beg.utexas.edu/txmineralresources
It’s an interesting, interactive map that shows areas of Texas with economic minerals.
The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geologists have been filed. New information is listed in bold (four new bills listed):
HB 30, by Larson, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. Filed 1/21/2015. For more information go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB30
HB 163, by Larson, 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. Filed 11/10/2014. 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 Commission on Environmental Quality. Sets up guidelines for TCEQ analyses. Filed 11/10/2014. For more information go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB190
HB 201, by Leach, Identical to companion bill SB 109, Relating to the procedure for action by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on an application for a water right. The bill sets up deadlines for reviews of applications by the TCEQ. Filed 11/10/2014. For more information go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB201
HB 281, by Simmons, Relating to a limitation on the expansion of certain landfills. This is for Type I municipal solid waste landfills that are located in a municipality in a county with a population of more than 600,000 persons and not more than 500 feet from another municipality. Filed 11/12/2014. For more information go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB281
HB 835, by Larson, Relating to research, development and utilization of brackish groundwater resources. Filed 1/21/2015. For more information go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB835
HB 836, by Larson, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. Filed 1/21/2015. For more information go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB836
HB 898, by Larson, Relating to the confidentiality of certain water well reports. Filed 1/23/2015. For more information go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB898
SB 77, by Ellis, Relating to the development of a climate adaptation plan by certain entities. By 9/1/2016 twelve governmental entities, including the TCEQ, General Land Office, and the Texas Water Development Board, and every four years thereafter, shall publish a climate adaptation plan that will assess the entity’s role with respect to climate change. Filed 11/10/2014. For more information go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB77
SB 78, by Ellis, Relating to the procedure for action by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on an application for a water right. The bill sets up deadlines for reviews of applications by the TCEQ. Filed 11/10/2014. For more information go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB78
SB 109, by Taylor and Van, Identical to companion bill HB 201, Relating to the matters to be considered in developing the state water plan. Future water availability and water use must be considered. Availability includes conservation, purification and reuse. Filed 11/10/2014. For more information go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB109
SB 118, by Taylor and Van, Relating to unit operations for oil, gas, or oil and gas production from depleting reservoirs or carbon dioxide storage; authorizing a fee. Filed 11/10/2014. For more information go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB118
SB 253, by Ellis, Relating to applications for permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain new or expanded facilities in certain low-income and minority communities. Filed 12/19/2014. For more information go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB253
I’ll be updating this list in the future, throughout the upcoming legislative session.
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
The Wise Report