Quarterly President's Message Strikes Chord with Members, Practicing Scientists

Posted April 17, 2012: Response to the PCPG President's message contained in the quarterly newsletter was swift and the discourse was welcomed.  The message took to task non-scientific training for environmentalists involved in scientific discourse, in the media and in our classrooms.  Be sure to check out the column and the articles contained in PCPG's first quarter 2012 Newsletter.  Click the "Newsletters" link to the left  to download your copy.  Additional articles in the current newsletter include:

• The History of Uranium Exploration in Carbon County, Pennsylvania;
• Updates on Pending Geological Legislation that would affect our Practice and the Community;
• A Listing of Newly Licensed PGs;
• Member Spotlight on Vibra-Tech Engineers;
• A Recap of Lindell Bridges Shale Gas Seminar;
• Upcoming Educational Events;
• An article on Ethics in Professional Practice;

and much more.  As always, PCPG welcomes your comments and input.  If you have an article you wish to showcase in our quarterly newsletter, please contact us.

PCPG's 2012 Annual Meeting a Success

Posted January 23, 2012:  PCPG’s Annual Meeting on January 19, 2012 at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg‐Hershey continued what is becoming a tradition of highly informative and entertaining presentations by leading state geologists and regulators.  More than 80 PCPG members and guests were in attendance to interact with their peers and learn the latest news and activities from PA DEP, the PA Geological Survey, the State Registration Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists, and PA DCNR's role in shale gas development.

2011 was a spectacular year for PCPG with many accomplishments and growth across our core missions of advocacy, education, and networking.  While certainly pleased with our progress, 2012 is poised to be an even greater year and we look forward to your participation!

Keynote & Presentations

The keynote address was provided by Marcus Kohl, DEP's Director of Regional Coordination and Program Evaluation.  Mr. Kohl discussed the reorganization and formulation of the new DEP bureaus, as well as the efforts that DEP is making toward consistency among regional offices and greater interaction between DEP programs.

State Geologist George E. Love, PG (Director of the PA Geological Survey) provided a comprehensive overview of new and ongoing projects at the Survey, including projects that will generate and share impartial data related to shale gas, update the Commonwealth's well inventory, and continue efforts toward an online geologic library.  DCNR Deputy Secretary and PA State Forester Daniel A. Devlin related DCNR's history of managing gas development in State Parks and how the recent Marcellus play compares, from both financial and technical/regulatory perspectives.  Thomas D. Gillespie, PG, President of the State Registration Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists, showed an often-hilarious summary of pitfalls in applying for PG licensure and what the Board needs to see in a successful application.  Attendees can log 175 minutes toward their continuing education requirements (3.5 PDHs in PA).

Representatives of associate member firms TestAmerica, Environmental Equipment & Supply, ALS Environmental, and Eichelbergers Well Drilling were on hand throughout the afternoon sessions with displays and information to assist with project related questions.

PCPG Board of Directors Election Results

After tabulating our member's electronic votes, PCPG is pleased to announce the election of Mark Ioos, PG (Skelly & Loy, Harrisburg) to the PCPG Board of Directors.  Also re-elected to the Board were incumbents Jennifer O'Reilly, PG (GES, Exton) and Past-President James LaRegina, PG (Herbert, Rowland and Grubic, Harrisburg).  PCPG also offers its sincere gratitude for the service provided to the organization by outgoing board member Dennis Bell, PG (Skelly & Loy, Harrisburg).

PCPG also sincerely thanks out-going President Jeffrey Leberfinger, PG for his service and commitment to PCPG during 2011.  We are also excited to welcome new President Louis Vittorio, Jr., PG (EarthRes Group, Pipersville) and President-Elect Jennifer O'Reilly, PG (GES, Exton) in their new executive roles.

Networking & Prizes

PCPG would also like to heartily thank ALS Environmental, Eichelbergers, and TestAmerica for sponsoring the networking reception that followed the Annual Meeting.  The reception commenced with an exciting raffle, including a grand prize of an Apple iPad 2, and we are pleased to announce the following winners:

• iPad 2 -- Brian Beckfield (Dawood Engineering)
• PCPG Courses -- Rich Hazenstab (York County Solid Waste Authority), Doug McKee (ATC Associates), and Angela Reed (student)

Thank you to all who made PCPG's Annual Meeting a success.  We look forward to seeing you at future PCPG events.

 

PCPG Testifies in Support of Water Well Construction Standards

Posted January 11, 2012: The Chair of PCPG's Government Affairs Committee, Donald R. Wagner, PG, provided testimony to the House Consumer Affairs Committee on January 10, 2012 in support of House Bill 1855 (Miller-R), concerning water well construction standards.

PCPG has long recognized the need for private water well construction regulations to protect human health and safety and Pennsylvania’s valuable water resources, and accordingly, PCPG recommends that House Bill 1855 apply to all water wells drilled or constructed in the Commonwealth, excluding those water wells for which well construction standards are already established under the authority of existing legislation (such as the Oil and Gas Act or the Safe Drinking Water Act).

As part of its testimony, PCPG offered five general comments regarding the proposed legislative text:

1)  PCPG recommends that the scope of HB 1855 cover all private water wells, the construction or decommissioning of which are not otherwise regulated under the authority of existing legislation.

2)  HB 1855 currently defines a “water well owner” as the person who owns the land on which the water well is located.  PCPG notes that in some circumstances, such as off-site monitoring or remediation wells, the well owner may not be the owner of the land on which the well is located, and the owner of the well would more reasonably be the person responsible for the investigation and/or remediation.

3)  PCPG recommends that HB 1855 include a provision that the private well construction standards should be generally consistent with construction standards recommended by the National Ground Water Association.

4)  To the extent that HB 1855 requires or involves the “practice of geology,” PCPG recommends that the legislation or regulations require that any such activities be performed under the responsible charge of, and as applicable, documents and/or reports be sealed by, a professional geologist licensed and registered in this Commonwealth.

5)  Consideration should be given as to the effect of HB 1855 on existing local government ordinances, at least to the extent any such ordinances are inconsistent with regulations ultimately promulgated under Section 3304 of the bill.

Please download and review the complete testimony and recommendations: PCPG HB1855 Testimony.