The Wise Report

The Wise Report

Henry M. Wise, P.G.

March 17, 2007

The Texas Senate has unanimously confirmed the appointment of H. S. Buddy Garcia of Austin to serve as a Commissioner of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Prior to his appointment to the TCEQ, Garcia served as Texas’ Deputy Secretary of State. His term will expire August 31, 2011.

 The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) adopts amendments to the Texas Risk Reduction Plan (TRRP).  The initial rulemaking of Chapter 350 was originally adopted on September 2, 1999, and became effective September 24, 1999. The purpose of the original rulemaking was to create a unified performance-based remediation program that is risk-based, consistent, streamlined, and that expedites site remediations. Subsequent to the initial adoption, the rulemaking has been readopted under the Quadrennial Review requirements. In August 2003, §350.1 was modified to include a provision to confirm that engineering, geoscience, and surveying information submitted to the agency must comply with the applicable professional licensing and registration acts. Other than the August, 2003 amendment, the rule has remained unchanged since its original adoption. Throughout this preamble, the TRRP rule in existence prior to these adopted amendments will be referred to as the "prior rule" or the "prior TRRP rule."  The TCEQ has gained much experience over the last seven years through intensive implementation of the rule at thousands of contamination sites located throughout Texas. The TCEQ has noticed errors (misspellings, typographical, mathematical) in the rule that need to be corrected, as well as provisions that either need clarification or modification to facilitate consistent and effective rule application. Some rule provisions required updating to reflect the latest scientific information. Additionally, the TCEQ has reevaluated some policy positions and has developed new positions and procedures in guidance that were previously unaddressed by the rules.  Finally, the TCEQ is adopting new rule provisions in support of a new electronic data management system initiative and expanded use of geographical information system technology to increase agency effectiveness and institutional memory as well as to improve the public availability of technical information stored at the agency. For all of these reasons, these amendments are adopted. For more information, go to:  http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/sos/adopted/30.ENVIRONMENTAL%20QUALITY.html#152

The following is an updated list of bills before the Texas legislature of potential Geological interest and their current status.  The time has passed for the introduction of new bills, but amendments are always a possibility.

Bill Number

Companion Bills

Author(s)

About

Quote

Comments

Last Action

More Information

H.B. 1376

Chisum

Relating to the name, administration, powers, and duties of the Collingsworth County Underground Water Conservation District.

(7)  have made by registered professional engineers surveys of the underground water of any underground water reservoir in the district and of the facilities for the development, production, and use of that underground water and determine the quantity of the underground water available for production and use and the improvements, developments, and recharges needed for those underground water reservoirs

Needs to add Professional Geologist

Transmitted to Governor 3/5/07

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=...

H.B. 3

Puente

Relating to the management of the water resources of the state, including the protection of instream flows and freshwater inflows.

None

Referred to Natural Resources 3/12/07

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB3<