The Wise Report

The Wise Report
May 9, 2009
Henry M. Wise, P.G
 
Bryan Shaw, Ph.D. of Bryan has been appointed to serve as a Commissioner of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Shaw is an associate professor in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department of Texas A&M University. Many of his courses focused on air pollution engineering. His term will expire August 31, 2013.

The majority of Shaw’s research at TAMU concentrates on air pollution, air pollution abatement, dispersion model development and emission factor development. In addition, he was Associate Director of the Center for Agricultural Air Quality Engineering and Science, and formerly served as Acting Lead Scientist for Air Quality and Special Assistant to the Chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Shaw is a member of several committees for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board, including the Environmental Engineering Committee, Committee on Integrated Nitrogen, and Ad Hoc Panel for review of EPA's Risk and Technology Review Assessment Plan. Additionally, he is a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Air Quality Task Force.
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The following is a list of new legislation that may be of interest to Texas geologists.  Those bills listed with an "*" are new listings, those in bold are updated information.

S.B 136.  Author:  Ellis.  2/10/2009-Referred to Natural Resources.  Relating to the Texas Global Warming Solutions Act; imposing a fee and providing a penalty. For full details go to:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB136

S.B. 273 (same as H.B. 177).   Author:  Nichols, Williams.  4/7/2009-Left Pending in Committee.  Relating to testing requirements for certain commercial injection wells.  This bill allows for additional soil testing and groundwater monitoring.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB273
 
H.B. 177 (same as S.B. 273, above).   Author:  Creighton.  3/24/2009-Left Pending in Committee.  Relating to testing requirements for certain commercial injection wells.  This bill allows for additional soil testing and groundwater monitoring.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB273
 
S.B. 274 (same as H.B. 178).  Author:  Nichols.  3/24/2009-Left Pending in Committee.  Relating to limitation on the location of injection wells.  Prohibits injection wells near faults, in recharge zones, and within 0.5 miles of water supply wells, residences, schools, churches, etc.  Doesn't say what type of injection wells and therefore has the potential to shut down ISR mining.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB274
 
H.B. 178 (same as S.B. 274, as above).  Author:  Creighton.  3/24/2009-Left Pending in Committee.  Relating to limitation on the location of injection wells.  Prohibits injection wells near faults, in recharge zones, and within 0.5 miles of water supply wells, residences, schools, churches, etc.  Doesn't say what type of injection wells and therefore has the potential to shut down ISR mining.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB178
 

source: 
Henry M. Wise
releasedate: 
Saturday, May 9, 2009
subcategory: 
Government Update