TEXAS LICENSURE
Texas Geoscience Licensure Granted Six-Year Reprieve
Lessons for Professional Geologists in other States John L. Berry, CPG-04032 The future of the Texas Board of Professional Geologists
is assured for five years. A bill to prolong its life passed both houses of the legislature, and went into law without the gover- nor’s signature. The TBPG will undergo Sunset Review again in 2025, concurrently with the Texas Board of Engineers: the intent appears to be to merge the two boards, along with the Surveyors’ Board, unless there are strong reasons not to. We have many people to thank for this achievement, both for their time and for their financial contributions.
However, in Texas we have learned that we cannot relax:
we MUST provide input to the new Board and therefore we must attend their meetings. We MUST stay in touch with our legislators, and continue to educate their staffs to the importance of good geological work in helping assure the safety and welfare of the public of Texas. We MUST be more visible and more valued by the public. We have five years before the Sunset process starts again.
The Texas Geoscience Council (https://www.txgeoscience.
org/), which was set up to fight the threat to the Board, will need volunteers to do the ongoing work, and will need funds to support it. To those AIPG members who are licensed PGs in Texas: this is your livelihood, and state licensure goes a long way to ensure the high quality of Geologic work done before the public of Texas, as well as the ethical standards of practitioners. The assurance of quality adds to the standing of the profession and the satisfaction we can take in our work and our reputation. These points also apply to Professional Geologists in other states with licensing: it costs lots of time and money to preserve the privilege of being recognized as sufficiently critical to society to justify being supervised by a licensing board. The experience of Texas (and Arizona and Florida) should serve as a reminder to everyone that this privilege comes with responsibilities: society will not continue to recognize our value if we do not reach out and educate the public and their representatives about what we do and why it is important to them.
We have also learned that we will have to hire lobbyists
to survive. I personally regard lobbying as a form of institu- tionalized corruption, but the fact remains that the firm we hired turned what looked like an unwinnable fight into a clear win, although temporary. Geologists in Florida and Arizona found the same thing: when the chips are down, you have to hire an insider.
Texas Geoscience Council is in the process of deciding on its governance structure, its goals and priorities, and its strategy. It welcomes suggestions and input from Texas PGs and from PGs from other states which have undergone a similar experi- ence. Ideas from CPGs about what is important and how to achieve it are especially welcome: please contact the Editor of TPG with your ideas, and he will pass them on.
Finally, TGC wishes to express its heartfelt thanks for the
support that it has received from AIPG National and from AIPG Texas in the effort to preserve licensing in Texas.
www.aipg.org
Map Source: Texas Interactive Web Site, Geology Base Map, USGS
GZA’s Mark Krumenacher
Recognized By Illinois Association Of Aggregate Producers
Mark Krumenacher, a senior principal at GZA
GeoEnvironmental, Inc. (GZA), received the Associate Member Leadership Award from the Illinois Associate of Aggregate Producers (IAAP) for his significant contributions to safety, sustainability, and education in the IAAP and the wider mining industry. “The whole mining industry continues to benefit from Mark’s technical presentations and papers,” said Shawn McKinney, IAAP’s assistant director, during the award event.
Joining the association in 2005, Krumenacher has
authored white papers, provided technical presentations; led the formation of the association’s Sustainability Committee, on which he served as chairman for six years; oversaw the creation of the first Clean Construction and Demolition Debris (CCDD) regulations training seminar, leading to a partnership with the Illinois EPA creating seminars to edu- cate the entire industry on the topic; and helped develop the Self-Assessment Guide to Sustainable Commerce as a guide for IAAP members to improve sustainability and environmental stewardship.
“All of GZA congratulates Mark on his continued contribu-
tion to safety, environmental protection, and sustainability,” said GZA CEO Patrick Sheehan. “Mark’s tireless work on these issues reflect his passion and commitment to the industry.”
Jul.Aug.Sep 2019 • TPG 37
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