The Wise Report
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
January 23, 2021
The governor of Texas has appointed LaFawn D. Thompson of New Braunfels, Texas to the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists, for a term to expire February 1, 2021. She replaces Lindsey A. Lee of Edna, who resigned.
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The Texas Legislature is now in session and bills are being filed and worked on. New information are shown in bold.
HB 632, by Darby, Relating to the establishment of an advisory committee for the TexNet seismic monitoring program. Filed 11/23/2020. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB632
HB 666, by Harris, Companion bills HB 668 (Duplicate) and SB 152 (Identical), Relating to the regulation of groundwater conservation districts. A person with groundwater ownership and rights may petition the district to adopt modify a rule. This bill lists what the petition must contain. Filed 11/30/2020. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB666
HB 668, by Harris, Companion bills HB 666 (Duplicate) and SB 152 (Identical), Relating to the regulation of groundwater conservation districts. A person with groundwater ownership and rights may petition the district to adopt modify a rule. This bill lists what the petition must contain. Filed 11/30/2020. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB668
HB 714, by Reynolds, Relating to the establishment of the Texas Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Filed 12/3/2020. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB7814
HB 858, by Dutton, Relating to the carcinogenic risk level used in the development of certain environmental remediation benchmarks. "The commission shall set each carcinogenic risk level used by the commission in the development of a protective concentration level, risk-based exposure limit, or any other remediation standard used in connection with this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter, including the Texas Risk Reduction Program (30 T.A.C. Chapter 350) or a similar program established by the commission, at a rate not greater than one in one million." Filed 12/17/2020. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB858
HB 860, by Collier, Relating to changes to an application for an environmental permit before a contested case hearing on the application. Filed 12/17/2020. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB860
HB 896, by Reynolds, Relating to air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities. Filed 12/21/2020. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB896
HB 897, by Reynolds, Relating to the analysis of inspection and maintenance requirements for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities. Filed 12/21/2020. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB897
HB 1044, by Anchia, Relating to establishing the Texas Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to study and address the impacts of climate change in this state. Filed 1/11/2021. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB1044
HB 1191, by Goodwin, Relating to the creation of the Office of Environmental Justice within the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Filed 1/19/2021. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB1191
HB 1284, by Paddie, Relating to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas over the injection and geologic storage of carbon dioxide. Filed 1/22/2021. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB1284
HB 1289, by Reynolds, Relating to notice of certain accidental discharges or spills to local government officials by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Filed 1/22/2021. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB1044
SB 152, by Perry, Companion bills HB 665 (Identical) and HB 668 (Identical), Relating to the regulation of groundwater conservation districts. A person with groundwater ownership and rights may petition the district to adopt modify a rule. This bill lists what the petition must contain. Filed 11/10/2020. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=SB152
SB 388, by Eckhardt, Relating to the reduction of methane gas flaring on land dedicated to the permanent university fund. Filed 1/22/2021. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=SB388
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
The Wise Report
1/23/2021