The Wise Report
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
January 7, 2011
The 2011 legislative session will begin on January 11, 2011. I've been compiling a list of proposed bills that may be of interest to geologists. If you have any that I have missed, let me know and I'll include them. Filing of proposed bills has begun and here's the ones I'm currently watching. All new items or updates are in bold:
HB-377, by McClendon, Relating to the expenditure of money from the general revenue fund for rail projects. Filed 12/02/2010. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB377
HB-444, by Creighton, Relating to notification of applications for permits for certain injection wells. "If an application is received in proper form for a permit for an injection well to dispose of industrial and municipal waste and the proposed location of the injection well is in the territory of a groundwater conservation district, the executive director shall submit a copy of the application to the governing body of the groundwater conservation district. The groundwater conservation district may make recommendations to the commissionconcerning any aspect of the application..." For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB444
SB-104, by Davis, Relating to restriction on the release into the air of natural gas and an associated vapors from a gas well. Filed 11/8/2010. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=SB104
SB-105, by Davis, relating to a restriction on the formation in which certain commercial disposal wells permitted by the Railroad Commission of Texas may inject oil and gas waste. "...applies only to a commercial disposal well...proposed to be located in a hydrocarbon-producing geological formation that underlies all or part of two counties: (1) that are adjacent to one another; and (2) each of which has a population of more than 1.4 million.(b) A permit issued by the railroad commission for a commercial disposal well...that authorizes the disposal of oil and gas waste may authorize the disposal of the waste only in the Ellenberger formation or a deeper formation." For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=SB105
SB-274, by Uresti, Relating to the regulation by groundwater conservation districts of certain wells. Pertains specifically to the Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=SB274
SB-301, by Wentworth, Relating to filing a complaint against a person licensed to engage in a business, occupation, or profession; providing civil and criminal penalties. I spoke with George Dunfield, with the TBPG, who told me that the TBPG isn't concerned about this legislation. It's designed to keep the "he said/she said" complaints down, especially in complaints about doctors, etc. In addition, only the city, county or state attorney can prosecute anyone under this legislation because it's a civil offense. The TBPG has no authority to prosecute. It won't affect any self-initiated complaints by the TBPG so you could still complain unofficially. Also, 39 TAC 851.106(e) says that Professional Geoscientists are supposed to report violations, so you've always got the excuse that you felt it was a violation and you reported it as such. Kind of like a good samaritan law. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=SB301
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
The Wise Report
1/7/2011