The Year that was and Grateful Acknowledgement 2008-2009

 
Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.
HGS Editor
 
It has been a tumultuous year for Houston and the Houston Geological Society. It was a year that saw wild swings in energy prices, a powerful hurricane, an economic collapse, and a historic and often rancorous presidential election.
 
When the HGS’s administrative year kicked off in July 2008, the price of a barrel of oil was riding high, surging to a record price of more than $147. There seemed to be no stopping the upward trend. Record oil company profits and boom times were here again. Raise your hand if you thought we would see $200 per barrel oil by the end of 2008. I see a few hands, but the rest of you who did not raise your hand are just in denial. See the Editor’s column in the September 2008 HGS Bulletin for some perspective on the price of energy from the distant historical viewpoint of nearly a year ago.
Since those bygone giddy days of last summer, the price of oil fell to less than $35 per barrel by the end of 2008. It turns out that the spike in the price of oil in 2008 really was due to speculation after all. By May 2009, the price of oil had recovered somewhat to around $54 per barrel. Forecasts for future prices are now more moderate, but likely more realistic.

The slide in the price of oil has had a predictable impact on petroleum exploration and production activities. The North American drilling rig count was cut in half in the past year. In April 2009, Apache Corporation announced the layoffs of 200 workers or about six percent of the company’s 3,600-person workforce. "When you are not as active, you don't need as many people," said Apache spokesman Bill Mintz. ConocoPhillips, El Paso Corporation, and oilfield services companies Baker Hughes, Halliburton, and Schlumberger also announced layoffs in April. ConocoPhilips eliminated 1,350 jobs and Schlumberger cut 5,000 jobs worldwide.

There have been other oil booms, notably during the period between 1982 and 1985 when workers from around the United States surged into a burgeoning Houston. These heady times are inevitably followed by a downturn. The mid-1980s downturn lasted many years. In retrospect, the year 2008 may be notable for having one of the briefest oil boom-bust cycles.
As summer slid towards autumn, the Gulf of Mexico turned violent, unleashing Hurricane Ike. On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike roared across the Texas coastline and raked Houston and neighboring municipalities. While life returned to normal for most Houstonians shortly after power was restored, coastal communities were devastated and may take many years or decades to recover, if ever. See the Editor’s column in the December 2008 HGS Bulletin for a discussion of the merits of the Galveston seawall.
The autumn and winter tumble in the price of oil coincided with the slide in the stock market and the disintegration of the global economy. The real estate market in many parts of the country crumbled leading to record foreclosures and toxic debt. We are now facing the worst economic situation at any time since the great depression. The federal government has had to provide tens of billions of dollars in TARP and stimulus funds to prop up profligate banks and financial institutions.
A full economic recovery may be years away, but there are hopeful signs that the crisis is ebbing. Houston has fared better through this economic whirlwind than many parts of the country. Because Houston real estate prices did not rocket they way they did in Florida, Arizona, and California from 2001 to 2007, the fall here has been less severe.
At the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009, America participated in the ideals of founding fathers by electing a president and witnessing the peaceful transition of our government to a new administration, a new administration with a stated goal of restoring "science to its rightful place." Science and politics have not always been companionable. See the Editor’s column in the November 2008 HGS Bulletin about this sometimes contentious relationship.
With this issue of the HGS Bulletin, my term as Editor draws to a close. Hopefully, you found some worthwhile reading in these pages. It has been a great experience and I have learned a lot. I have had the pleasure of meeting many dynamic people who donate their time to make the HGS a great organization. I encourage all members to get involved with some part of the society even if you just come out to the technical meetings.
My thanks go to the fine HGS editorial board of Charles Revilla, James Ragsdale, and editor-elect Gordon Shields. Their insightful and timely editorial reviews and comments kept me on the right path often through some tough sledding. Good luck to Mr. Shields as he dons the editor’s mantle for 2009 - 2010.
Thanks also to Lisa Kruger for her patience and skill each month assembling the Bulletin and producing a great looking publication. Prime Source Office Solutions did a fine job as the Bulletin printer and mailer. Gratefully acknowledgement also goes to Lily Hargrave in the HGS office who managed the flow of advertisements from diverse sources and the financial aspects of the Bulletin.
Thank you to our advertisers for your support throughout the year and to the authors who contributed the items presented in the Bulletin.
Be well, do good work, and stay in touch.
Happy trails.
 

 
Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.
HGS Editor
hgs.forlenza@gmail.com
 
 

Editor’s Column
June 2009

Days of Terroir:

Geology in a Glass

 
Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.
HGS Editor
 

                        Wine is the most civilized thing in the world.

                        Ernest Hemingway
 
The cabernet sauvignon shimmers garnet-red in the glass. The grapes for this wine were grown on vines rooted in the calcareous loamy soils formed on the Quarternary alluvium on the Texas High Plains. The taste of ripe red and black fruit is lush and distinct with hints of licorice and tobacco and a bite of tannins. But there are other tastes in the glass as well, something else. Is that something else a taste of the earth, maybe a taste of geology?
In the oldest wine-grape-growing regions in Europe, oenophiles speak of something called terroir, pronounced "teh-RWAHR." The term has its roots in the Latin word terratorium, from terra meaning land or earth. The same root used for the words terrain and territory. The French often use the phrase goût de terroir (taste of the soil) to refer to the earthy flavor of some wines.
In 1831, Dr. Denis Morelot, a wealthy landowner in Burgundy, observed in his Statistique de la Vigne Dans le Département de la Côte-d’Or that nearly all of the producers in the area made wine essentially the same way, so the reason that some tasted better than others must be due to the terroir — specifically, the substrata underneath the topsoil of a vineyard. Wine, Dr. Morelot claimed, derived its flavor from the site’s geology: in essence, from rocks.
When viniculture experts use the term terroir, it not only includes reference to the type of soil (chalky, claylike, gravelly, sandy), but also to other geographic factors that might influence the quality of the finished wine like altitude, position relative to the sun, angle of incline, water drainage, prevailing wind direction, and climate. The concept of terroir embodies a sense of place and a connection to the land and to the geology. In the United States, wine producers use the term microclimate to encompass the same considerations.
 In Bordeaux and Burgundy, the top wine growing regions of France, premium wines from the well-respected domains (estate vineyards) sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars per bottle, while nearby vineyards, often less than a mile away, produce wine categorized as vin ordinare that sells for less than five dollars per bottle. Decades of research by French geologists and other scientists, such as American James Wilson, author of the classic 1998 book Terroir: The Role of Geology, Climate, and Culture in the Making of French Wines, has shown that vineyard boundaries, in many cases dating back centuries, mirror underlying faults, facies changes, and other variations in geological properties.
Wine enthusiasts will say the characteristic minerality of wines produced in the Chablis region in France comes from the limestone beds underlying the vineyards. Eric Asimov, wine critic for the New York Times, describes wines from Chablis as having a taste and aroma of "crushed rocks" and "fossilized oyster shells" in a May 5, 2009 article.
Wines grown in the Champagne province owe their desirable characteristics to the Cretaceous chalk underlying northeastern France writes the Pulitzer Prize-winning author John McPhee in his article Season of the Chalk in the March 2, 2007 issue of The New Yorker magazine. The Cretaceous period gets its name for the French word for chalky. McPhee notes that the Cretaceous is the only geologic period named for a rock (with the debatable exception of the Carboniferous). The deep fertile chalk soils of Champagne are a natural moisture regulator for the chardonnay and pinot noir vineyards which are the source of the grapes used in the méthode champagnoise. The chalky soil absorbs an amount of water equal to up to 40 percent of its volume yet remains sufficiently well drained for good vine health. The soft chalk has also allowed vintners to excavate hundreds of miles of tunnels where more than a billion bottles of champagne are cellared.
Coarse glacial deposits and outwash gravels are the setting for some of the finest wine-producing areas of the world found in California, Oregon, Washington, New York, New Zealand, and France. In France, sediments from periods of glaciation in the Pyrenees Mountains and the Massif Central overloaded the Garonne and Dordogne rivers producing a series of gravel terraces where the best vineyards (so-called First Growth) occupy the same type of gravel. The well-known estates Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Haut-Brion, and Latour are located on a particular stratigraphic unit identified as the Günz gravel.

The Rise of the "Terroirists"

The general topic of terroir is of growing international interest among viticulturists and wine lovers as shown by the numerous recent publications and symposia. Earth scientists are no less smitten with the concept devoting sections of academic conferences to the topic such as at the 2003 Geological Society of America meeting in Seattle, the 2004 Geological Association of Canada meeting in Ontario, and the 2004 meeting of the International Geological Congress in Florence, Italy.
The allure of terroir has been lovingly embraced of wine writers, distributors, marketers, and sommeliers. Some of the language related to this new-found passion has become quite poetic: "Wines express their source with exquisite definition," asserts Matt Kramer in his 1989 book Making Sense of Wine. "They allow us to eavesdrop on the murmurings of the earth." Of a California vineyard’s highly regarded chardonnays, he writes, there is "a powerful flavor of the soil: the limestone speaks." In his monthly newsletter, Kermit Lynch, one of the most respected importers of French wine, returns repeatedly to the stony flavors in various

Geologic Website of the Month

June 2009

British Geological Survey

www.bgs.ac.uk

Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.
Editor - Houston Geological Society
 
 
The modern study of geology was founded in Britain based on the work of James Hutton, Charles Lyell, Charles Darwin, William Smith, and others. One of the places where this legacy can be appreciated is at Siccar Point.
Siccar Point is one of the world's most famous geological sites, yet it lies hidden at the foot of a remote sea cliff in Berwickshire, Scotland. It was here in 1788 that James Hutton, the 'father of modern geology,' accompanied by John Playfair and Sir James Hall, recognized the vast extent of geological time that went far beyond the then accepted age of the earth of 6000 years. He saw that the near-vertical greywackes of the Silurian Gala Group were unconformably overlain by the younger, gently-dipping sandstones of the Devono-Carboniferous Stratheden Group (Upper Old Red Sandstone). He reasoned that the vertical layers were originally laid down as horizontal beds of sediment on an ocean floor, and that it must have taken a very long time — perhaps millions of years — for these sediments to be lithified, folded, uplifted, and then eroded by earth processes before the younger sandstones could be laid down on top.

Siccar Point is just one of the ten ‘Secret’ geology places featured on the website [www.bgs.ac.uk/education/secretGeology/home.html] of the British Geological Society (BGS). The website of the BGS has the familiar "newspaper" format of a banner above several columns of items.  The left column has links to sections about the BGS and what types and areas of research they conduct.  The center two columns provide graphics, links, photographs, and capsule summaries to recent or ongoing areas of research and investigation. A series of larger photographs and illustrations are rotated through the primary space at the top of the center columns pertaining to the featured items.  The right column is a list of links to news items, feature items, and related geoscience websites.
 
Founded in 1835, the BGS is the world's oldest national geological survey and is the United Kingdom's premier center for earth science information and expertise.  According to the website, the BGS is the nation's principal supplier of objective, impartial, and up-to-date geological expertise and information for decision making by governmental, commercial, academic, and public users.  The BGS carries out research in strategically-important areas including energy and natural resources, vulnerability to environmental change and hazards, and earth system science. This work is often conducted in collaboration with the national and international scientific academic community.  The BGS maintains and develops understanding of earth sciences to improve policy-making, enhance national wealth, and reduce risk. The BGS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is the United Kingdom's primary agency for funding and managing research, training, and knowledge exchange in the environmental sciences.

The BGS website strikes a good balance between content for a general, non-technical audience and content for a professional, technical audience. Topics on the website that might be of interest to a non-technical audience can be found by clicking on the links labeled ‘Homeowners,’ ‘Popular geology,’ ‘Teachers & students,’ and ‘For everyone.’ The Homeowners page has a nifty link where property owners or prospective buyers can order a "GeoReport’ for any postal address or grid reference location. GeoReports are custom reports for which the user can request pertinent information on the assessment of on-site building stone, radon protection, ground stability and subsidence potential, and groundwater availability.

For the casual visitor, the Popular geology link offers some interesting areas for browsing. These include: "Britain beneath our feet,’ an interactive atlas of geology; "Fossil focus,’ a primer on common fossils; ‘Holiday Geology Guides,’ information on the geology of popular tourist areas of England; and ‘Secret’ geology places.
 The Popular geology webpage also features a selection of historic documents and photographs from the BGS archives. These documents include the National Archive of Geologic Photographs with more than 100,000 fully-described images. The BGS archive is where you can learn about William Smith. William Smith was the subject of Simon Winchester’s 2002 book titled The Map that Changed the World.
William Smith was born in Oxfordshire in 1769, the son of the village blacksmith. As a boy he developed an interest in the exposures of rock and the fossils which were to be found locally. Later as a surveyor, his work for canal construction and for the sources of building stone and coal led to a great increase in his knowledge and awareness of various geological features. As he travelled, he observed that the familiar strata he recognized from the south of England were repeated in other areas, with some outcrops stretching right across the country.
Coal miners were already aware of the occurrences of regular successions of workable coal seams. But on a larger scale, Mr. Smith began to recognize that sedimentary rocks could be identified by the fossils they contained, and that these rocks were always arranged in the same sequence. His discovery that strata can be distinguished by fossil assemblages was a concept virtually unrecognized by geologists of that period. Working on this principle, Mr. Smith was able to draw up a table of successive strata which could be applied in any other locality—an early version of the geological column.
By 1799, Mr. Smith, using both his skills as a surveyor and the knowledge gained from his field observations, developed a geological map. His first geologic map was circular in form covering the area around Bath and was exhibited at the Bath Agricultural Society.  In 1801, Mr. Smith produced a small geological map of England and Wales which illustrated the outcrops of seven geological formations. He prepared other maps for exhibition at various meetings, but

We’ve come to the end of another HGS year, and it has been a good one. The HGS runs on volunteers, and I would like to thank everyone who has worked with us this year for being part of it.
The HGS Board this year has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the organization work. Special thanks go to Michael Forlenza, Editor, whose calm patience I’ve tried more than once. The Editor has by far the most demanding job in the HGS, and Michael has done it beautifully. He’s been ably supported by Editor-elect Gordon Shields, associate editors Jim Ragsdale and Charles Revilla. Lilly Hargrave has handled advertising, and Lisa Krueger has designed and laid out the publication. Thanks to them all for a superb Bulletin.
Special thanks also go to the diligent John Tubb and Matt Boyd who have handled our finances, and Joe Lynch, who has organized our budget and overseen our reserve funds. Sandra Babcock handles the day-to-day accounting and gracefully got us through a multi-year audit. Our office accounting and financial control system is much more streamlined than in previous years and should be easier to maintain from here on. Additional thanks go to Ken Nemeth who has overseen the office committee for several years now.
We’ve had an excellent technical program this year, thanks to VP Art Berman and his committee chairs, Justin Vandenbrink, Steve Getz, Matthew Cowan, Tony D’Agostino and Dave Tonner, and their committees. The technical program is the lifeblood of the HGS and we are grateful to them for consistently finding great speakers. Frank Walles and Dave Tonner organized the very successful Mudstones Conference and Deborah Sacrey produced a terrific Technofest last summer (and has another great one in store for August). Paul Babcock put together Vendor’s Corners at many of our technical events, raising funds for our scholarship programs, and Dianna Phu stepped up to help with hotel contracting arrangements.
Thanks go to Gary Moore, Richard Howe, Cecelia Baum, Dave Lazor, Dee Ann Cooper, and Tom Miskelly for putting together a great series of field trips this year. Tom Tucker, Ken Schwartz, and Cheryl Desforges organized excellent short courses. Cecelia Baum and Rachel Czechowskyj ran a successful NeoGeos program.
Tarek Ghazi did a terrific job taking over the HGS website from long-time web manager Bill Osten with help from Webmaster Lilly Hargrave. He has also put together a great newsletter notification system and streamlined the website for etter usability. Peter Welch maintains the HGS Jobs Hotline, a valuable member service for which he is rarely thanked but is ery much appreciated.
Alison Henning was a member of the State of Texas Board of Education committee to develop the earth science high school curriculum and fought valiantly to keep valid earth science in our schools. Matthew Cowan and Dave Rensink traveled to Austin to testify before the Texas Senate and House about the Texas Board of Professional Geology.
Bill Osten, Chuck Caughey, and Bonnie Milne-Andrews organized Guest Night at the downtown aquarium. It was different and a lot of fun. Kudos also go to Mark Dennis, who had to deal with canceling and re-scheduling the HGS Golf ournament due to Hurricane Ike, and to Ross Davis for the Tennis Tournament and Tom McCarroll for the Skeet Shoot.
Special thanks to Tom Mather and John Tubb for sorting and cleaning out the HGS storage room after it was flooded in April. This was a nasty job, but Tom managed to save our history bydrying out Board minutes and annual reports from the pre-90s years which we will scan and preserve so this won’t happen again. Board member Walter Light organized community service events and has been a great asset to the board with his common sense ideas. Board members Ianthe Sarrazin and Mike Jones have contributed many hours and ideas.
I also want to personally thank past-president Linda Sternbach for her work on nominations and her reminders to me of what needed to be done next, and to past-presidents Charles Sternbach, Dave Rensink, Steve Levine, Steve Brachman, Craig Moore, Jim Ragsdale, and Sandi Barber for always being available to provide advice when I asked for it.
Please help me welcome the 2009-2010 Board of Directors: Gary Coburn, President, John Tubb, President-elect, Art Donovan, Vice-president, Amy Sullivan, Secretary, Matt Boyd, Treasurer, David Meaux, Treasurer-elect, and Directors Walter Light, Ianthe Sarrazin, Robert Pledger, and Tarek Ghazi. I am delighted to leave the HGS in such capable hands, and I hope they enjoy their year as much as I have enjoyed mine.
Thank you all for making this a great year for HGS, and a memorable year for me.

May 2009
HGS Bulletin
 

Peak Water?
 
The Limits of a Resource

Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.
HGS Editor
 
 

 We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. 
 
~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732
 
 
When you turn on the faucet at your kitchen sink what do you expect to happen? You expect to get an unlimited supply of fresh potable water to use as you choose in your daily activities such as cooking, cleaning, drinking, flushing, and watering. In most of the developed world, this availability is hardly considered.  But just where does that water come from and is it really unlimited or is the earth headed for a crisis?
 
Water is the ultimate renewable resource. It falls from the sky and a vast reservoir covers 70 percent of the globe.  There is no less water today than there was 100 years ago, 1000 years ago, or even a million years ago.  Water cycles through the biosphere in a matter of months or years. Surely there is no shortage of water. Yet, each week the media reports on another region in the United States or the world where insufficient water is causing economic hardships, human and ecological suffering, or conflict.
It turns out, that for a large part of the world, there is a shortage of usable, fresh, clean water. Whether due to climate change, poor resource management, over population, reckless use, or willful neglect, more than one billion people do not have access to an adequate supply of potable water and more than 2.5 billion do not have water for basic sanitary needs.  Does this scarcity mark the limit of the resource?  If water is the new oil, have we reached "Peak Water?"

Reaching the Limits

Approximately 97.5 percent of all the water on Earth is salty or polluted and unsuitable for human use.  Of the remaining 2.5 percent, nearly 70 percent is frozen in the ice caps of Greenland and Antarctica. Large amounts of the unfrozen fresh water are found in soil moisture, trapped in deep water-bearing formations, or present as atmospheric water vapor.  Only about one percent of the world’s fresh water, less than 0.01 percent of all of the world’s water, is available for direct human use in lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and easily accessible aquifers.

Like oil, water is not equitably distributed, respectful of political boundaries, or found in abundance where the demand is greatest.  Just as some nations have great oil resources and others do not, so it is with water.  About 50 percent of the world's fresh water lies in just a half-dozen lucky countries led by Russia and Brazil. In the last one hundred years, worldwide demand for fresh water has increased six-fold – twice the rate of population growth.  This has created a fierce competition for this fluid treasure.
The ultimate source of all available fresh water is precipitation that falls on the continents. This amount is estimated be approximately 40,000 to 50,000 cubic kilometers per year.  With annual population increases of about 85 million per year, the availability of fresh water per person is diminishing rapidly. And, this assumes that the amount of continental rainfall remains constant despite evidence that climatic shifts may be altering long-term precipitation patterns.
Agricultural uses put tremendous stress on available fresh water resources. Approximately 70 percent of all fresh water is used for agricultural purposes worldwide.  Largely arid Pakistan uses 97 percent of its fresh water for agriculture, and China, with 20 percent of the world's population but only 7 percent of its water, uses 87 percent of its fresh water to irrigate crops.
 
Globally, many regions are facing water crises. A few of these are:
 
Australia. Australia is the most arid continent after Antarctica. Even with a population less than one-tenth of the United States, water resources are stretched to the breaking point. The worst drought in history is ravaging the nation. Rainfall has declined to 25 percent of the long-term average and is projected to plummet another 40 percent by 2050. Every major city in Australia has severe water restrictions in place and agriculture is crippled. In 2008, huge unchecked wildfires swept across the desiccated landscape.
 
Middle East. A 2008 report by the World Bank estimates that the amount of water available per person in this arid and politically volatile region will halve by 2050.

Africa. Desertification has allowed the Sahara to claim large stretches of the surrounding countries. Lake Chad, one of the largest lakes in the world when first surveyed in 1823,

 
                                      CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD JUNE BULLETIN
 
 
 

The Wise Report
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
June 12, 2009
 
The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) proposes an amendment to 22 TAC §851.30, regarding firm registration. The proposed amendment cleans up wording related to firm registration; clarifies exemptions for engineering firms; and allows the TBPG to issue certificates of registration on a non-annual basis. The proposed amendment also exempts from registration an engineering firm that performs service or work that is both engineering and geoscience as long as the geoscience work performed is incidental and specific to their work as an engineering firm.  For more information go to:  http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/sos/PROPOSED/22.EXAMINING%20BOARDS.html#337
 
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
The Wise Report
6/12/2009

The Wise Report
June 5, 2009
Henry M. Wise, P.G
 

This Texas legislative session is officially over.  The following is the final list of new legislation that has been sent to the Governor for his signature or are now effective.  If the Governor calls a special session, I'll be watching to see if anything of interest developes.

S.B. 448.  Author:  Carona.  6/1/2009-Sent to the Governor.  Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Transportation to mitigate adverse environmental impacts resulting from the construction, improvement, or maintenance of state highways or state highway facilities.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB448

S.B. 480.  Author:  Carona.  6/1/2009-Sent to the Governor.  Relating to the authority of the Texas Transportation Commission to enter into a covenant for environmental remediation of real property owned by the Texas Department of Transportation.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB480
 

H.B. 469 (same as S.B. 483, above).  6/3/2009-Sent to the Governor.  Authors:  Phil King, Anchia, and Hughes.  Relating to the establishment of incentives by this state for the implementation of certain projects to capture and sequester in geological formations carbon dioxide that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere.  60% of carbon emissions from clean coal will be sequestered.  Sequestration will be monitored by the Bureau of Economic Geology at UT Austin, and there will also be tax incentives for sequestration used by O&G for enhanced oil recovery.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB469
 

S.B. 940 (same as H.B. 2821, below).  Author:  Wentworth.  5/29/2009-Sent to the Governor.  Relating to the regulation of the public practice of geoscience.  Defines geoscience firm, geoscientist-in-training, and professional geoscientist, strengthens the ability of the TBPG to deal with complaints and allows for staff-initiated complaints, and allows the TBPG to make advisory opinions.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB940
 
H.B. 2820 (Same as S

The Wise Report
May 30, 2009
Henry M. Wise, P.G

This Texs legislative session ends on Monday, June 1, 2009.  The following is a list of new legislation that may be of interest to Texas geologists.  Those bills listed with an "*" are bills that have been sent to the Governor for his signature or are now effective, 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
 
S.B. 275 (same as H.B. 179).  Author:  Nichols.  5/22/2009-Placed on General State Calendar.  Relating to the application of new requirements for commercial underground injection control wells to be adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB273
 
H.B. 179 (same as S.B. 275, above).  Author:  Creighton, Eisser.  5/11/2009-Placed on General State Calendar.  Relating to the application of new requirements for commercial underground injection control wells to be adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  Full details can be found at: 

The Wise Report
May 23, 2009
Henry M. Wise, P.G

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) has adopted an amendment to 22 TAC §851.30, regarding firm registration. It is adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the February 6, 2009, issue of the Texas Register (34 TexReg 785). The adopted amendment clarifies procedures for renewing an expired firm registration. Firms that have expired registrations may renew by submitting a completed firm renewal statement with the applicable fees. For more information go to:  http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/sos/adopted/22.EXAMINING%20BOARDS.html#933

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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
 
S.B. 275 (same as H.B. 179).  Author:  Nichols.  5/22/2009-Placed on General State Calendar.  Relating to the application of new requirements for commercial underground injection control wells to be adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB273
 
H.B. 179 (same as S.B. 275, above). 

Congratulations to the 2009 HGS Board Election Winners!
 

The results are in!  Thanks to everyone who participated in the election, and congratulations to the winning candidates.  Click on their names below for more information about them.
 

President-Elect

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer-Elect

John Tubb

Art Donovan

Amy Sullivan

Dave Meaux

Editor-Elect

Directors

Barry Katz

Tarek Ghazi

Robert Pledger

Geologic Website of the Month
May 2009 HGS Bulletin
 
 

Earth Science World


www.earthscienceworld.org

 
 
Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.
HGS Editor

The Earth Science World website calls itself the "Gateway to the Geosciences." The homepage has a clean look with large white areas and no advertisements. The homepage banner has bold graphics, four photographs of geologic features, and links to the five primary subject areas of the website. The content on the homepage is lean with only a few images and clickable links in the body that mostly duplicate the links in the banner. At the bottom of the homepage are some additional links that connect to the parent American Geological Institute website and related webpages.
The American Geological Institute (AGI), based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a nonprofit federation of 45 geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 120,000 geologists, geophysicists, and other earth scientists. Among the member societies are the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the American Institute of Professional Geologists, the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists, and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in the use of resources, mitigation of natural hazards, and the health of the environment. The website states that Earth Science World is a service of AGI and a place to explore interests in the earth sciences.
The five main links from the homepage are Book Center, Image Bank, Earth Science Week, Geoscience Careers, and Games. During the preparation of this article, the webpage for the Book Center was unavailable but visitors were asked to "check back soon." The Image Bank, designed to provide quality geoscience images to the public, educators, and the geoscience community, is fairly impressive. With over 6,000 geology-related photographs and diagrams, it is one of the largest sources of earth science imagery available on the Internet. Sophisticated search functions allow the visitor to browse the archive of images by category, by geologic feature, by location, or by keywords. A new feature also allows searching by geographic coordinates.
The Earth Science Week link opens the www.earthsciweek.org website which has a similar appearance to the Earth Science World website. The Earth Science Week webpage has numerous links to features and resources related to annual activities surrounding Earth Science Week that is held in October to encourage people to explore the natural world and learn about the geosciences. These features and resources include a newsletter, teaching materials, class room activities, contests, information on scholarships and internships, photograph gallery, and a calendar of events.
The Geoscience Career link connects to the AGI geoscience workforce page. This page provides some useful information for students considering studies or careers in the geosciences. On the Data and Reports page are links to original reports pertaining to the career outlook for professionals in the geosciences. These AGI reports include the March 2009 "Effects of the Global Economic Crisis on Geoscience Departments" concerning the viability of academic programs and the "Status of the Geoscience Workforce Report" released in February 2009. This workforce report is a fascinating, extensively researched, and comprehensive evaluation of the geoscience profession.  The workforce report  is  based  on  copious original  data  collected  by  the  AGI  as  well  as on  data from  existing  sources such as federal  agencies, professional  organizations,  and  industry.  The  report  synthesizes  the  available  data and presents an examination of subjects ranging from  the  supply  and  training  of  new  geoscience students,  to  workforce  demographics  and  employment  projections,  to  trends  in  geoscience  research  funding  and  economic  indicators.  The report is a worthwhile read to see where our profession is headed. And, for people who like graphs and bar charts, the report is a treasure. Also useful is the list of links on the Related Sites page to geoscience societies and geosciences career-related websites.
  
 
A text box on the Earth Science World homepage with a graphic of a nautilus shell connects the visitor to and "Interactive Geologic Time Scale." This is a disappointing feature. After selecting a time period, a rather simple geologic time scale appears with the selected time interval slightly highlighted. In the age of stunning computer graphics, this is hardly an interactive feature.

 
Do not miss the Games section of the website. Clicking on Games in the banner or on photograph of the pump jack near the bottom of the homepage will open the virtual oil well interactive game. Running the game requires Java software which can be downloaded. The interactive virtual oil well game is the primary reason to visit the website to test your hydrocarbon exploration skills and your luck in the swamps of southern Louisiana. The game provides a back story: your late Aunt Thibodeaux purchased the mineral rights to an eight mile square of land where there is a good chance that oil can be found. She has also left you $2,000,000 and mineral rights to that land. You must use this inheritance to explore for gas or oil on that land.
Just as in non-virtual hydrocarbon exploration, everything costs money. Hiring consultants, shooting seismic, drilling, and well completions will cut into your aunt’s stake so be sure to budget wisely. You can identify potential exploration targets after acqu

Geological Website of the Month
"I’ve Looked at Life from Both Sides Now"

The Discovery Institute (www.discovery.org)
and
Understanding Evolution (www.evolution.berkeley.edu)
 
Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.
HGS Editor
 

With apologies to Joni Mitchell, this month’s Geologic Website of the Month features a look at both sides of the evolution issue by reviewing the Internet sites for the Discovery Institute and the Understanding Evolution. Two centuries after Charles Darwin's birth on February 12, 1809, people still argue passionately about his theory of evolution. A Harris poll conducted in November 2008 found that slightly more Americans believe in Darwin's theory of evolution (47 percent) than in creationism (40 percent).

There is hardly a more contentious issue in the grade school science curriculum than the teaching of evolution. This contentious issue has hit the front pages of the Texas and national newspapers again in recent months due to the hearings before the Texas State Board of Education regarding the public school science curriculum for the next ten years. In a close vote on January 23, 2009, the Texas State Board of Education approved a revision of the state's science standards without the controversial "strengths and weaknesses" language. The vote was only preliminary; a final vote on the standards is expected at the board's March 26-27, 2009 meeting.
This month’s column features the websites of two prominent voices in the debate representing opposing sides of the issue of teaching evolution.

The Discovery Institute
The Discovery Institute website homepage is clean and well-organized with refined tones of gray and blue and high-quality graphics. The lower half of the homepage features three columns of clickable lists of events, articles, and news. The homepage has one small rotating advertisement for books that links to Amazon.com. The homepage lists the seven projects areas of the Discovery Institute along the left side and three columns of events, fellows’ articles, and news in the lower half.
The Discovery Institute, a public policy think tank founded in 1990 and based in Seattle, Washington, is funded by philanthropic foundation grants, corporate and individual contributions and the dues of Institute members. The Discovery Institute has become a leading voice for the teaching of intelligent design in American schools. According to the website, the "Discovery Institute's mission is to make a positive vision of the future practical. The Institute discovers and promotes ideas in the common sense tradition of representative government, the free market and individual liberty. Our mission is promoted through books, reports, legislative testimony, articles, public conferences and debates, plus media coverage and the Institute's own publications and Internet website."
 

 
 
 
The Science & Culture link on the homepage of the Discovery Institute opens the sub-homepage for the Center for Science and Culture. This page, with the same clean and high-quality look as the homepage, presents content pertaining to intelligent design and evolution. Topics areas listed on the left side of the page are: Dissent from Darwinism, Blog: Evolution.org, CSC Discovery Society, Essential Readings, Academic Freedom, Intelligent Design, and Frequently Asked Questions. In the lower part of the page are three columns providing extensive links to books, articles, papers, and news items featuring original content and related materials.
According to the website, the Center for Science and Culture is a program which:

• supports research by scientists and other scholars challenging various aspects of neo-Darwinian theory;
• supports research by scientists and other scholars developing the scientific theory known as intelligent design;
• supports research by scientists and scholars in the social sciences and humanities exploring the impact of scientific materialism on culture.
• encourages schools to improve science education by teaching students more fully about the theory of evolution, including the theory's scientific weaknesses as well is its strengths.

The Center for Science and Culture has more than 40 Fellows, including biologists, biochemists, chemists, physicists, philosophers and historians of science, and public policy and legal experts. The Center's Director is Dr. Stephen Meyer, who holds a Ph.D. in the history and philosophy of science from Cambridge University. Dr. Meyer worked as a geophysicist with the Atlantic Richfield Company after earning his undergraduate degrees in physics and geology. Dr. Meyer participated in the hearings before the Texas State Board of Education in January 2009. The Center's Associate Director is Dr. John G. West, who holds a Ph.D. in government from Claremont Graduate University and a B.A. in communications from the University of Washington.
The Dissent from Darwin link and the Intelligent Design link open new websites with a different format that is not quite as polished as the Discovery Institute’s site. The Dissent from Darwin website presents a position statement and list of signatories. The position statement reads: "We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged."
The webpage provides a link for persons interested in signing the statement. Signers must hold a Ph.D. in a scientific field or hold an M.D. and serve as a professor of medicine. The list of signatories includes 32 professors and 23 Ph.D. holders who have associations with Rice University, Texas A&M, or the University of Texas.
The Discovery Institute and the Center for Science and Culture websites provide a portal to a wide ranging network of content and affiliated websites. The polished appearance of the webpages present the impression of a well-organized and well-funded enterprise. But the websites have a rather flat, one-tiered, structure with the homepage presenting links to numerous text-heavy articles with few graphics or illustrations.

Understanding Evolution
The homepage for Understanding Evolution is rather plain consisting primarily text in pleasant tones of blue and green. The homepage is divided into sections with navigational items at

Geologic Website of the Month

National Park Service - Geology

 www.nature.nps.gov/geology/
Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.
HGS Bulletin Editor
Most geologists are great fans our National Parks. There are few places in the world where the geologic features are more spectacular than the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Bryce Canyon, Mount Rainier, and many other special places protected in our national park system.
The world’s first national park was established on March 1, 1872 when an act of Congress designated Yellowstone National Park in the Territories of Montana and Wyoming "as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people" and placed it "under exclusive control of the Secretary of the Interior." The founding of Yellowstone National Park began a worldwide national park movement. Today more than 100 nations contain some 1,200 national parks or equivalent preserves.
On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service, a new federal bureau in the Department of the Interior. An Executive Order in 1933 transferred 56 national monuments and military sites from the Forest Service and the War Department to the National Park Service. This action was a major step in the development of today’s comprehensive national system of parks—a system that includes areas, monuments, and sites of historical, as well as scenic and scientific, importance.
The National Park Service still strives to meet its original goals, while fulfilling its many other roles. These roles include: guardian of our diverse cultural and recreational resources; environmental advocate; world leader in the parks and preservation community; and pioneer in the drive to protect America’s open space. According their mission statement:

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

The National Park system is vast and now comprises 390 areas covering more than 84 million acres (3.6 percent of the total United States) in 49 States, the District of Columbia, and territories. The assets of the Nation Park Service are extensive and include: 27,000 buildings and structures; 776 campgrounds, 8,505 monuments and statues; 505 dams, 24 national battlefields; 10 national seashores; 8,500 miles of paved roads, and 1,804 bridges. But it is primarily the scenic beauty and the chance to be closer to nature that draws the more than 270 million visitors to the parks each year.
The homepage the National Park Service (www.nps.gov/) is designed to serve the broad needs of the general public that is looking for information and planning visits to the parks. Along the left side of the NPS homepage are clickable categories that include one for Nature & Science. On the left side of the Nature & Science webpage there are clickable categories that include one for Geology (www.nature.nps.gov/geology/).
The geology page has the same basic layout as the National Park Service homepage with a black logo bar at the top, small inset photographs, and lists of links. The muted color palate of brown, tan, ochre, sage, and black is familiar to park visitors as is the arrowhead logo located in the upper right. I am always glad to see the National Park Service logo; to me, sighting the stylized bison and sequoia means that I am on the way to someplace special.
The geology webpage has several photographs and a newspaper look with headlines and snippets of topics and items as lead-ins to continuing pages. Along the left side is an index of 16 clickable links under the heading Explore Geology. Clicking one these categories opens a subject-specific geologic webpage. Some of these site-specific webpages are full of useful and interesting geologic information. Others are more spare and outdated. Based on the information in the footers, some of these webpages have not been updated in more than five years.
The Caves & Karst webpage is particularly well done with many wonderful photographs and plenty of pertinent geologic information. This webpage also provides links to many caving organizations throughout the United States.
There is not much of interest on some of the topic-specific geology webpages such as Paleontology or Minerals until you drill down through several links to reach the webpages that are specific to certain National Parks. However, drilling down through the trail of links does not always yield satisfying geologic nuggets. In some cases, the trail ends at the Code of Federal Regulations (www.nature.nps.gov/geology/oil_and_gas/9b_text.htm) or the 2001 National Park Service Management Policies (www.nps.gov/refdesk/mp/chapter8.htm).

The Park Geology Tour link on the geology webpage opens a page with some historic photographs and a series of topical logos that are cross-indexed to the parks. Clicking on the Basin and Range logo opens a page that provides a brief description of that characteristic topography and the origins of this landscape. Links to six national parks or monuments where basin and range features can be observed are also provided.
Perhaps the most interesting area of the website is by click the link from the geology webpage labeled Student & Teachers. The teacher’s resources and lesson plans available on the Students & Teachers page are wide ranging and entertaining. This is an area of good browsing. The Geologic Glossary here is extensive and provides through descriptions of terms. Do not miss the geology of hydrocarbons teaching animations illustrating salt dome formation, horizontal drilling, and discovery of an oil field (www.nature.nps.gov/geology/usgsnps/oilgas/oilgas.html).
The geology webpage on the National Park Service website an interesting refresher on the wonders in our parks with some good areas for browsing. However, the organization of the website seems patched together and is frustrating. Promising trails of links fail to lead to the an

Geologic Website of the Month

Geology.com

 
Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.
HGS Bulletin Editor
Typing the word "geology" into the Google Internet search engine will return more than 25 million results. Typing "geology" into the Yahoo search engine will return more than 87 million results. At the top of both of these lists is the link to Geology.com.
Geology.com is a lively website with a broad approach to the earth sciences and related subjects and presents material drawn from many sources. The Geology.com homepage has a clean, straightforward, newspaper-type layout. A header bar allows access to area of the website such as News, Articles, Careers, and World Maps. The body of the homepage is arranged in four columns with lists on the left and right and introductions to articles in the middle two columns. Each article introduction has a title, a brief summary, and thumbnail photograph. Larger photographs of featured articles are located at the top of the columns. The list of articles provided on the homepage is quite extensive with more than 45 selections displayed.

 
 
The articles are the heart of Geology.com. These articles cover a wide range of geological topics and timely subjects including such items as: Hurricane Ike damage photographs, the Phoenix Mars Lander, the geology of bottled water, blood diamonds, and the Marcellus shale. The articles are accompanied by excellent illustrations, graphics, and photographs. The interesting article on East African rifts has several excellent maps and beautiful photographs [http://geology.com/articles/east-africa-rift.shtml].
The homepage is dense with hundreds links in the lists that connect to the extensive resources throughout Geology.com. The most popular links are listed on the left and the constantly-updated list of geology items in the news is on the right. The well-organized access to a wide selection US and World maps and satellite images available on the website is useful.
The Careers page on Geology.com does not list job openings but provides articles on the job market for geologists and links to employers that typically hire geoscientists. The links are grouped into several categories including: headhunters, oil and gas companies, oil field services companies, environmental/engineering companies, government agencies, mineral companies, and academic institutions. The online Geology.com store sells the popular Roadside Geology books, other earth science texts, and some supplies for field geologists such as waterproof notebooks and pens.
Geology.com is published by Dr. Hobart King. Dr. King holds a BS in geology from California University of Pennsylvania and an MS and PhD in geology from West Virginia University and is a licensed professional geologist.
He worked as a geologist at the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey from 1980 until 1994 where he held positions as a coal geologist, economic geologist, and head of the Economic Minerals and Geologic Hazard Section. In 1994, he joined the faculty of Mansfield University and taught the school’s first online course. He was the director of Mansfield University's Center for Effective Teaching and is the author of Hazard City: Assignments in Applied Geology, a CD that accompanies geology textbooks published by Prentice Hall.

According to Dr. King, the content for the articles on Geology.com comes from three sources in approximately equal proportions: guest authors, republication of public domain content, and articles that he writes himself. "Most of the content on the site is written for the non-geologist and entry-level geology student," said Dr. King. "The goal is to provide content that they will find interesting and hopefully useful, presented at a level that they will understand."
Geology.com, which has thousands of visitors each day, tries to provide content that is of interest to both the layman and the professional. "I have two hopes," said Dr. King. "First, I hope that many people who are not geologists arrive at the site and find something that deepens their interest in the subject. Second, I hope that the site offers some resources that geologists use regularly. Many practicing geologists have subscribed to our daily news email."
Dr. King acquired the Geology.com domain in an auction in 2005, which, at that time, was a domain with about six pages of content. He retired from Mansfield University in 2008 to work full time on Geology.com. "The main reason that I started Geology.com is that I enjoy learning about geology and sharing that information with other people," said Dr. King.
The content of the website is continually adjusted based on the popularity of the articles. The continuous maintenance and updating of the website represents a significant level of effort by the limited staff at Geology.com. In addition to Dr. King, the website has a full-time webmaster and cartographer, and a half-time artist and researcher.
Geology.com is a commercial website supported by advertising. However, the advertisements themselves are very unobtrusive. On the homepage there are no visible advertisements. Most of the linked pages have several small sponsored areas along the side or at the bottom. The entire website is thankfully free of banner ads, pop-up ads, or flashing and dancing advertisements.
 
Michael F. Forlenza. P.G.
hgs.forlenza@gmail.com
HGS Editor

The room was packed with explorationists who were ready to learn about the frontier oil and gas potential of northern Mozambique in East Africa. Carol Law of Anadarko, the speaker, shared regional perspective and fielded dozens of questions during the dinner meeting.  Thanks, Carol!
 

 
Pictured above from left: Kara Bennett (HGS President), Carol Law (speaker, Anadarko)
and Justin Vanden Brink (International Explorationists chairman)
 

 
Pictured above from left: Robert Bertagne(?), Kara Bennett,
Don Rusk, and Martin Cassidy
 
Thanks to Linda Sternbach for this article and pictures.

The Wise Report
May 16, 2009
Henry M. Wise, P.G
 
The TCEQ held their annual Trade Fair in Austin this past week.  There are always way too many seminars going on at the same time to attend them all.  Of the ones I attended, here's some of what I think may be of general interest.
 
Due to the switch from the TRRP rules back to the RBCA rules for petroleum storage tanks (PSTs), the TCEQ's been updating all forms and guidance documents.  You should check the TCEQ website for all forms used for PST work to assure that you've got the most recent version.  In addition, RG-411 is being revised and should be available in a couple of weeks.  I had an opportunity to see part of a draft version of RG-411.  The guidance for disposal of the backfill material (place back into the tank hold or dispose at a landfill) has been updated.
 
Guidance document RC-428, Preparation of a Drinking Water Survey (AKA HB 3030 survey) is also being revised.  The 30-day clock for the TCEQ to notify well owners of a potential problem has traditionally started when a state agency is first notified of contamination at a site.  Because of the amount of time it takes for the this information to get to the TCEQ, there is often insufficient time for the water well survey to be completed and the notifications to be sent out in the allotted time.  Therefore, one of the changes is that the 30-day clock will start when the TCEQ has received the water well survey information.  The TCEQ also prefers that all of the water well information be submitted in a standardized MS Access format, but will accept Excel spreadsheets.  MS Word or .pdf files will not be accepted.  This will help the TCEQ decrease the amount of time required to send out the notifications.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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
 
S.B. 275 (same as H.B. 179).  Author:  Nichols.  5/14/2009-Reported Favorably Without Amendments.  Relating to the application of new requirements for commercial underground injection control wells to be adopted by the

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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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
 

Creativity, Experience, and Enthusiasm
I recently attended a reception for the students and faculty sponsors of teams in the Imperial Barrel Award competition (HGS is a sponsor). Started at Imperial College, this competition consists of teams of mostly graduate geology students who are given a data set including well logs and seismic data and a summary of information about a prospective basin. They have six weeks to develop a viable prospect, which must then be presented to a committee of industry judges. The competition provides an excellent simulation of a real-world exploration problem, and it has become increasingly popular over the last several years.
I was very impressed with the quality of the students participating in our regional competition. These students were bright, personable and enthusiastic, and best of all, they were excited about the oil and gas industry.
During the reception, I spoke to another attendee who was chief geologist for a division of a large local company. His company planned to bring in a number of summer interns this year, and we chatted about the high quality of the students at the competition. “The great thing about students is that they don’t know what can’t be done, so they just go ahead and do it. I wish there was a way to restore that mindset to my staff,” he said.
I think he’s got a point. After you’ve been in the business for a while, it is easy to know what can and cannot be done. This is usually called “experience,” and it’s the reason experienced geologists are valuable to a company. But it’s also easy to fall into a pattern of doing what you know works, and after a decade or two, that can become complacency. How can we maintain a creative mindset, and remain open to possibilities? How can we reframe what we know into a new set of ideas?
Summer interns have an advantage in that they generally have a finite project. Their data have generally been gathered before they arrive, and they are presented with a problem that needs to be solved. They have few distractions and one deadline, the end of the summer. They are encouraged to venture far and wide in a company, to ask advice of experts, to follow their curiosity down new paths of thought, and to bounce their ideas off their advisors. The projects they work on tend to be things that their companies want to know, but aren’t urgent enough to place a staff member onto full time. Often the projects come from an idea a staffer has wanted to follow but hasn’t had time because other projects have higher priority.
Why not set out the same set of circumstances for the geological staff, in a structured manner? Develop a 3-month “in-house sabbatical” program available to staff geologists every few years, to encourage the creative application of experience to reframe a problem, or to come up with some new ideas. Some of us are able to do this regularly, but others may need to step out of the day-to-day press of business into a more protected environment to rediscover their own creativity. Providing a protected environment to encourage creative thinking says that creativity is valued, and we all know that in geology, creativity can provide concrete economic results.
May brings us some excellent talks, beginning with Dr. Lesli Wood (TBEG) speaking at the May 11 General Dinner about the processes, sources and sinks for sediments moving along the eastern Mexico margin. May 14 we will hold a Continuing Education class on “Reservoir Engineering Tools for Geologists,” and at the International Dinner May 18, we’ll hear Carol Law (Anadarko) speaking about opening a new exploration frontier in Mozambique. May 19, Bob Hardage (UT Austin, Distinguished Speaker) speaks at the Northsiders’ lunch about deepwater hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico as an exploration target, and at the Environmental and Engineering dinner, Anton Rozsypal and Paul Lewis (TCEQ) will discuss rule changes to the TRRP and above- and underground storage tanks. I hope to see you there.

The Wise Report

Henry M. Wise, P.G.

May 2, 2009

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
 
S.B. 275 (same as H.B. 179).  Author:  Nichols.  5/1/2009-Received From the Senate.  Relating to the application of new requirements for commercial underground injection control wells to be adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB273
 
H.B. 179 (same as S.B. 275, above).  Author:  Creighton, Eisser.  4/28/2009-Committee Report Sent to Calendars.  Relating to the application of new requirements for commercial underground injection control wells to be adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB273
 
S.B. 448.  Author:  Carona.  4/14/2009-Referred to Transportation.  Relating to the authority of the

Geologic Website of the Month

Geology.About.com

Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.
HGS Bulletin Editor
 The Geology.About.com website is an approachable and light introduction to the science, lore, and cultural aspects of geology. The content is aimed at the general public of non-geologists or students, still a geologist will find some interesting browsing among the articles. The website provides an explanation of the basic concepts such as of geologic time, rocks and minerals, evolution, and plate tectonics. An introduction to geology is presented through a series of articles with titles such as: What is a Rock?, What is a Mineral?, What are Volcanoes?, or What Builds Mountains?
The Geology.About.com homepage has four tabs to access the four main pages of the website. These are: Geology, Basics, Quakes & Other Events, and Explore Geology.
The four main pages provide lists of articles about related topics. Most of the website content is original. While the articles on a wide range of geologic related topic are interesting and well-written, there is shortage of accompanying photographs and a dearth of informative illustrations. The photograph galleries of rock and mineral hand specimens contain some interesting shots.
Geology.About.com is extensively cross linked within its content. This means that surfers will almost never come to a dead end, but may end up going around the same block a few times. While most of the links on the website are internal, there are some useful and interesting collections of links to external resources. The list of external links under Geologic Maps connect to a wide range of current and developing academic and government research projects such as the Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory’s world bathymetry and topography project, the Scripps Institute of Oceanography’s marine gravity map of the world, or the University of Florida’s airborne laser swath mapping (ALSM). Unfortunately, these links do not always work.
Geology.About.com is part of the much larger About.com. About.com is an online collection, or "neighborhood," of websites each based on a topic ranging from health issues, to music, to travel, to the sciences. Each of these topical websites is hosted by an an expert "guide" to provide visitors and informative experience and to share knowledge. About.com was started in 1996 and was acquired by the New York Times Company in 2005. The website records more than 60 million visitors per month.
Since 1997, the guide for the Geology.About.com website has been Andrew Alden. Mr. Alden is a "science writer, photographer, editor and blogger with a lifelong passion for rocks, minerals, fossils, and the planets they come from." He holds a bachelors degree in earth science from the University of New Hampshire and worked for the United States Geological Survey for six years.
GeologyAbout.com is a commercial website with numerous advertisements. While the banner advertisements and the animated displays are nothing new to experienced websurfers, these features are somewhat distracting compared to the more formal formats that are commonly used for academic, government, or professional society websites.
One of the most amusing sections on the Geology.About.com website is the Fun section on the Explore Geology page. Check out the article on Famous Stones or on Wild and Bemusing Earth Theories. This is where you can learn about "the modern Russian-Ukrainian theory of deep, abiotic petroleum origins."
 
Michael Forlenza
hgs.forlenza@gmail.com

 
            Click here to download the May 2009 Bulletin

Thanks to the 40+ members who helped test the new website.  We will "go live" as soon as we have transitioned our current advertisers to the new format.  Watch for news of the rollout shortly. 
 

The Wise Report

Henry M. Wise, P.G.

April 26, 2009

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
 
S.B. 275 (same as H.B. 179).  Author:  Nichols.  4/27/2009-Placed on Intent Calender.  Relating to the application of new requirements for commercial underground injection control wells to be adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB273
 
H.B. 179 (same as S.B. 275, above).  Author:  Creighton, Eisser.  4/16/2009-Reported Favorably as Substituted.  Relating to the application of new requirements for commercial underground injection control wells to be adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB273
 
S.B. 448.  Author:  Carona.  4/14/2009-Referred to Transportation.  Relating to the authority of the

Geologic Website of the Month
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO)

[www.ldeo.columbia.edu]
Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.
The homepage of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) features a plain white field with icy blue-gray blocks of text and headers. This seems appropriate because the LDEO is one of the leading climate research facilities in the world. A large field presents information on current research projects.
The LDEO research divisions are listed along the right side are Biology and Paleo Environment, Geochemistry; Marine Geology and Geophysics; Ocean and Climate Physics; and Seismology, Geology, and Technophysics. Columns on the lower have of the homepage list upcoming events, pertinent news items, featured researchers and research projects, and videos.
The featured videos found at the links from the homepage could not be more different. The first link presents a page with a series of high-quality, graphic-heavy videos narrated by Tom Brokaw discussing a range of research topics conducted at LDEO and the second link presents a low-quality video of a lecture.
Clicking on the links to the areas of research opens a new page with a stunning photographs and graphics and brief description of three project highlights. The project highlights open additional pages discussing the type of work that the researchers are conducting and some of the findings. Many of the project highlight pages have links to separate websites for specific research groups. For instance, on the Marine Geology and Geophysics page there is a link to the Borehole Research Group website using a variety of information media including YouTube videos. The Borehole Research Group conducts downhole geophysical investigations involving a wide range of applications and participated in all the recently concluded Ocean Drilling Program expeditions.

 
As a leading research institution of marine geoscience, LDEO has operated a series of five research vessels since 1953. One of the most interesting parts of the website is the Office of Marine Operations found by clicking on the Marine Ops link in the homepage header. A history of the LDEO research ships is found here. The links on the left side of this page provide an interesting and detailed discussion of marine seismic methods and seismic sound sources. Here is where you can learn about air bubbles, tuned arrays, free surface reflection, source metrics, and array directivity.
The LDEO is located on a green campus overlooking the Hudson River in Palisades, New York about fifteen miles north of Manhattan and is operated in association with Columbia University. According to the website:

The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) is a leading research institution where more than 200 research scientists seek fundamental knowledge about the origin, evolution, and future of the natural world. LDEO scientists observe Earth on a global scale, from its deepest interior to the outer reaches of its atmosphere, on every continent and in every ocean. They decipher the long record of the past, monitor the present, and seek to foresee Earth’s future. From global climate change to earthquakes, volcanoes, nonrenewable resources, environmental hazards and beyond, the Observatory’s fundamental challenge is to provide a rational basis for the difficult choices faced by humankind in the stewardship of this fragile planet.

LDEO houses the world's largest collection of deep-sea and ocean-sediment cores that have been collected over more than 60 years of research cruises. The collection has more than 13,000 cores from every ocean and sea. The LDEO is a key component of the Earth Institute at Columbia University which links Earth scientists with engineers, economists, and social and political scientists. These cross-disciplinary research teams allow for the building of powerful connections between understanding the Earth's systems and devising applications that benefit humankind directly.
Considering the leading-edge nature of the research conducted at LDEO, the website content is rather shallow. One or two clicks will take the visitor to the end of the line and many of the entries are only at few paragraphs long. Still, with its excellent graphics, maps, and photographs and a chance to find out what kind of work is conducted at a world-class earth science research facility, a visit the LDEO website interesting and informative.
 
Michael F. Forlenza
hgs.forlenza@gmail.com
 
 
 

Geologic Website of the Month

New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources

http://geoinfo.nmt.edu
Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.

The geologic survey of each state has a website. The quality and content of each of these websites varies depending upon the allocated budget and relative importance of geologic resources to the state’s economy. One would expect the website for the Montana geological survey to be more extensive than the website for the Rhode Island geological survey.
The homepage for the website of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR) is rather spare with a plain white background. The attractive banner graphics on the homepage features a palette of southwestern colors, a photograph of shiprock, and a colorful block cross section of the basin and range geology.

A preliminary viewing of the homepage gives the visitor the impression that the website does not have much content. This is somewhat surprising for a state with such a wealth of geologic resources. The homepage has only a colorful geologic map of New Mexico and a few active links. The banner has five subtly integrated links. The links are so understated that the labels are not even capitalized: about us, publications, laboratories, geosciences info, archive & collections. An interesting feature found on the homepage is a choice of settings that allows the viewer to adjust the layout of the website to one of four pre-set formats: accessible, min, default, or full.
The publication page provides access to a sizable list of materials pertaining to New Mexico geology. However, most of the maps, technical publications, field guides, and reports require a fee. There is a list of free downloads under "Free Stuff!"
Across the top of the homepage are the links for: Site Overview, Staff, Announcement, Maps, FAQ, Geologic Tour, and Mineral Museum. Clicking on most of these links does not yield much new territory. Even the Geologic Tour is disappointing. The Geologic Tour page features striking oblique view of the geologic map of New Mexico overlaid on a composite satellite image with the title "Virtual Geological Tour of New Mexico." A visitor might expect the next click would produce a virtual swooping fly-over of geologic features and animated cross sections. However, only after browsing around for a while does it become evident that an additional software download is needed to use the virtual tour.
Most of the interesting browsing on the NMBGMR is found after clicking on "geoscience info" in the homepage banner. The Geoscience Information page includes the clickable subheadings to: Projects, Mapping, Oil & Gas, Coal, Minerals, Water, Environment, Hazards, and Education. The Projects page has a clickable list of current research projects and programs conducted by the NMBGMR. While most of these projects pertain to New Mexico geology, several are based on the study of far-flung locations such as the Tibetian Plateau or the Antarctic ice sheet. The Oil & Gas, Coal, Minerals, and Water links have an abundance of information on these resources vital to the New Mexico economy. On the Coal page you can learn that coal resources underlie 12 percent of the state’s total area. There is an impressive list of Geology Web Links on the "Links" subpage to Geoscience Information.
The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources is a non-regulatory agency that serves as the geological survey for the state of New Mexico. The NMBGMR was established by the New Mexico legislature in 1927 as a service and research division of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech). New Mexico Tech, located in Socorro, was originally founded in 1889 as the New Mexico School of Mines but is a research university, specializing in areas of science, engineering, and related fields. The main goals of the Bureau are to:

· Conduct research and interact with State and Federal agencies and industry to facilitate prudent exploitation of the state's geological resources.
· Distribute accurate information to scientists, decision makers, and the New Mexico public regarding the state's geologic infrastructure, mineral and energy resources, and geohydrology (including water quantity and quality).
· Create accurate, up-to-date maps (using GIS) of the state's geology and resource potential.
· Provide timely information on potential geologic hazards, including earthquakes, volcanic events, soils-and subsidence-related problems, and flooding.
· Act as a repository for cores, well cuttings and a wide variety of geological data. Provide convenient physical and Internet access for New Mexicans to such resources.
· Provide public education and outreach through college teaching and advising, a Mineral Museum, and teacher- and student-training programs.

The NMBGMR and its website serves a diverse audience from elementary school students to research and industry scientists. Some of the best materials on the website are geared towards students. Still, a browse through the website can satisfy a taste for some desert geology.
 
Michael F. Forlenza
hgs.forlenza@gmail.com
 

The Wise Report

Henry M. Wise, P.G.

April 12, 2009

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.  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=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
 
S.B. 275 (same as H.B. 179).  Author:  Nichols.  3/24/2009-Left Pending in Committee.  Relating to the application of new requirements for commercial underground injection control wells to be adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB273
 
H.B. 179 (same as S.B. 275, above).  Author:  Creighton.  3/24/2009-Left Pending in Committee.  Relating to the application of new requirements for commercial underground injection control wells to be adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  Full details can be found at:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB273
 
S.B. 448.  Author:  Carona.  4/2/2009-Recieved from the Senate.  Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Transportation to mitigate adverse environmental impacts resulting from the construction, improvement, or maintenance of

April 2009

Starting at the Beginning:
 
Earth Day Origins

Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.
HGS Editor
 
". . . on April 22, 1970, Earth Day was held, one of the most remarkable happenings in the history of democracy. . . "
-American Heritage Magazine, October 1993
 
 

Most people who have seen the evocative and haunting image of “Earthrise,” the photograph taken from Apollo 8 on Christmas Eve 1968, are struck by the rare beauty of the gem-blue orb of our planet suspended in the black void of space over the barren lunar surface. That image, during those turbulent times, conveyed the message of the precious uniqueness of our Earth.

 
Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 and most people know that it has something to do with the environment and cleanup activities. More importantly, Earth Day is an effective learning opportunity for young people and the wider public audience. Geoscientists should and do play an important role in Earth Day by providing unique perspectives and guidance based on our experience and study of earth systems and processes. But how did Earth Day get started?
Earth Day grew out of the activism and social upheaval of the 1960s. The 1960s were a time of civil rights demonstrations, Vietnam War protests, and generational clashes. Added to this volatile mix was a growing concern about ecological and environmental issues.
“The idea for Earth Day evolved over a period of seven years starting in 1962,” said Gaylord Nelson, United States Senator from Wisconsin and the primary force behind the creation of Earth Day. “For several years, it had been troubling me that the state of our environment was simply a non-issue in the politics of the country,” he continued. “Finally, in November 1962, an idea occurred to me that was, I thought, a virtual cinch to put the environment into the political ‘limelight’ once and for all. The idea was to persuade President Kennedy to give visibility to this issue by going on a national conservation tour.” 

In the 1960s, Americans slurped 30-cent per gallon leaded gasoline through massive and inefficient V8 engines.  Unchecked industry belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of legal consequences, bad press, or protest. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity.  Lifeless waterways were common throughout the nation. Environment was a word that appeared more often in spelling bees than on the evening news. 
           
By 1969, there was an awakening of public environmental concern. Rachel Carson’s seminal 1962 bestseller, Silent Spring, shocked the nation with its description of the devastating effects of pesticide use on wildlife. The title referred to a future without birds and presented in plain language a discussion of the destructive effects of toxic chemicals on the ecosystem and ultimately on mankind. In 1964, Congress passed the sweeping Wilderness Act creating the legal, and poetic, definition of wilderness in the United States:
 
...an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.
 
The Wilderness Act protected more than nine million acres of federal land from development. 

 
A weather inversion in 1965 created a four-day air pollution incident in New York City with 80 deaths. In March 1967, the tanker Torrey Canyon struck Pollard’s Rock spilling 29 million gallons of crude oil and fouling the coastlines of England and France. More than 200,000 gallons of crude from a blowout on a Union Oil platform washed up on Santa Barbara’s beaches in January 1969. And in June 1969, Ohio’s polluted Cuyahoga River burned.
 
The United States Congress passed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 1969 establishing a "national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment."   At a conference in Seattle in September 1969, Senator Nelson, announced a plan for a nationwide grassroots demonstration on the environment in the spring of 1970.  He proposed the event to thrust the environment onto the national agenda and modeled it on the highly-effective Vietnam War protests of the time. Senator Nelson chose April 22 to maximize participation on college campuses for what he conceived as an environmental teach-in. He determined that the week of April 19-25 was the best because the date did not fall during

The Wise Report 

Henry M. Wise, P.G.

April 4, 2009

There have been three new appointment to the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists for terms to expire February 1, 2015.  Kelly Krenz Doe of Friendswood  has been re-appointed.  Benjamin Harris of Plano is replacing Rene Pena of El Paso whose term expired.  Charles Knobloch of Katy replaces Gordon Ware of Corpus Christ whose term expired.

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 The TCEQ has revised several TRRP guidance documents:

• Critical PCLs, RG-366/TRRP-25 (revised)
  Explains the role of the critical protective concentration level (PCL) in the Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP) rule and outlines the steps to determine the critical PCL on a site-specific basis.
  http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/forms_pubs/pubs/rg/rg-366_trrp_25.html
• Human Health Points of Exposure, RG-366/TRRP-21 (revised)
  Describes on-site and off-site locations of the prescribed and alternate human health points of exposure (POEs) to environmental media as presented in Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP) rule 30 TAC 350.37. http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/forms_pubs/pubs/rg/rg-366_trrp_21.html
  
• Monitored Natural Attentuation Demonstrations, RG-366/TRRP-33 (revised)
  Describes the elements and development of demonstrations for monitored natural attenuation at affected properties.
  http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/forms_pubs/pubs/rg/rg-366_trrp_33.html 
   
• Notification Requirements, RG-366/TRRP-17 (revised)
  Describes the process to provide notification as required by the Texas Risk Reduction Program rule.
  http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/forms_pubs/pubs/rg/rg-366_trrp_17.html
• Toxicity Factors and Chemical/Physical Parameters, RG-366/TRRP-19 (revised) 
  Addresses how changes in human toxicity factors will be handled, schedule for updating human toxicity factors table, and procedure for requesting toxicity factors and chemical/physical parameters for COCs not listed on Tier 1 PCL tables.
  http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/forms_pubs/pubs/rg/rg-366_trrp_19.html 
   
• TRRP Compatibility with RCRA, RG-366/TRRP-03 (revised)
  Explains interface of Texas Risk Reduction Program rule with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act as it relates to closure of a hazardous waste management unit with and without a release, RCRA permit modifications, corrective action, and soil reuse. http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/forms_pubs/pubs/rg/rg-366_trrp_03.html

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