As many of you are aware, the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) have published proposed new rules which are so broadly stated that they would potentially bring a significant amount of the oil & gas and minerals activity under their jurisdiction. If passed and depending on how these rules are interpreted, a licensed Professional Geoscientist could be required to seal any and all work that is shown outside of one's own shop. The TBPG was established to provide legal stature to geoscience work being done on the environmental and geological engineering side of our profession. Licensure has been critical in the continued success of these geoscientists to function as professionals. When the TBPG was conceived, oil & gas and minerals geoscience work was specifically exempted and it was "promised" that this would always be the case. In the HGS Board's opinion, the proposed rules violate this promise and will add significant regulatory burdens on all oil & gas and minerals companies doing business in the State of Texas. As such there is significant risk of harm to the state's economy. We formed an ad hoc committee to put together a response and have sent a letter to the TBPG. If you agree that these rules constitute an infringement on your ability to fully function as a geoscience professional, I suggest that you also write to the TBPG to voice you objections. Thank you for your time on this issue of great concern to all of us. Steven Earle HGS President