The Wise Report
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
April 14, 2007
The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) met on Marcy 30, 2007. Besides the swearing in of their new members, to two more interesting topics related to the possible requirement for a professional geoscientist to seal reserve reports and compliance.
The TBPG received a request from the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) requesting the TBPG’s requirements for the sealing of reserve reports. The TBPG recommended that the SEC submit a complaint about non-Professional Geoscientists signing these reports to be given to investors and they will ask the Attorney General’s office to provide guidance for the appropriate action, if any. The TBPG is aware of the original intent to exclude oil and gas geologists. However, public offerings are currently a gray area and will probably need to be addressed eventually. The TBPG will not address it until they receive a complaint.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) reported the misuse of the initials PG after a person’s name to the TBPG. A Colorado geologist submitted a TCEQ report and had PG after his name on the cover, although he did not seal the report. The report was also signed and sealed by a Texas registered Professional Geoscientist. Texas currently has no reciprocity with other states, so, even though he may be registered in Colorado, he can’t use the initials PG after his name on a Texas report. The TBPG is currently looking into reciprocity, but until such time, the Colorado geologist was issued a cease and desist letter.
Video of each agenda item discussed at the meeting is downloadable at:
http://www.texasadmin.com/cgi-bin/agenda.cgi?location=txgeo&savefile=TBP...
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In 2001, the 77th Legislature passed House Bill (HB) 2912, commonly referred to as the Sunset Bill. That bill, as amended in 2003 and codified in the Texas Water Code ?5.134 and ?5.801 through ?5.807, requires the TCEQ to limit its acceptance of environmental data to only data generated by a laboratory NELAC accredited under the Texas Laboratory Accreditation Program. That requirement comes into full effect on July 1, 2008, and affects the TCEQ and all entities submitting data to the agency unless one of the exemptions allowed by the law is met.
Please review the Remediation Division''s web page and fact sheet at:
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/remediation/HB2912.html. For questions regarding laboratory accreditation, please contact the Texas Laboratory Accreditation Program at 512-239-3754. For questions on Remediation program implementation, contact Ann Strahl at 512-239-2500.
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The following is an update of current Texas Legislation that may be of interest to Geologists.
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