The Wise Report

The Wise Report
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
August 13, 2007
 
The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) proposes amendments to 22 TAC §850.1 (regarding the Board''s authority), 22 TAC §850.10 (regarding definitions), 22 TAC §851.10 (regarding definitions), 22 TAC §851.101 (regarding the code of professional conduct), and 22 TAC §851.107 (regarding the prevention of unauthorized practice). The proposed amendments revises the language to make reference to the Texas Occupations Code.  For more information go to:  http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/sos/PROPOSED/22.EXAMINING%20BOARDS.html#112
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) proposes amendments to §§290.38, 290.39, 290.41, 290.42, 290.44 - 290.47, 290.101 - 290.104, 290.106 - 290.110, 290.112 - 290.114, 290.117 - 290.119, 290.121, 290.122, 290.272, 290.273, 290.275, and the repeal of §290.111. The TCEQ proposes new §§290.111, 290.115, and 290.116. The primary purposes of the proposed amendments and new rules are to implement federal regulations pertaining to the safety of drinking water from groundwater and surface water sources. The proposed amendments also limit the exposure of the public to waterborne disease and enhance the customer''s ability to know if there is something harmful in their drinking water. These amendments and new rules are proposed in response to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBP2) and Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2) promulgated in January 2006; the Ground Water Rule (GWR) promulgated in October 2006; and the Public Notification Rule (PNR) promulgated in 2000. These rules are necessary for the state to maintain primacy for regulating public water systems (PWSs).  For more information go to:  http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/sos/PROPOSED/30.ENVIRONMENTAL%20QUALITY.html#129
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) adopts an amendment to §356.23 to 31 TAC Chapter 356 concerning Groundwater Management, Subchapter B, Designation of Groundwater Management Areas, without changes to the proposed text as published in the June 8, 2007, issue of the Texas Register (32 TexReg 3168) and will not be republished. This section designates and delineates groundwater management areas (GMAs) as required by statute.
The TWDB adopts an amendment to §356.23 to respond to a request to change the boundary lines for the previously designated and delineated groundwater management areas. Additionally, a software update results in seven digital files. The seven updated digital files collectively constituting a data set delineating the corrected groundwater management area boundary lines are adopted by reference. A CD-ROM containing the data is located in the offices of the board and is on file with the Secretary of State, Texas Register. The updated CD-ROM contains all of the geographic information system data used to create the boundaries as well as software and instructions on how to locate a specific area by coordinates or other means on a digital map. The same information can also be found on the TWDB''s web site at http://www.twdb.state.tx.us.
The Wise Report
Henry M. Wise, P.G
8/13/2007