Current Issues in the Practice of Geoscience Seminar
DISCLAIMER
Before undertaking any on-demand effort, you should review the rules of your licensing/certifying entity.
It’s your responsibility to determine whether this on-demand course meets your continuing education requirements.
You must take and pass a quiz to receive credit. You can take the quiz as many times as needed and there is no time limit on the quiz.
Once the quiz is completed, you will be asked to download your certificate.
**Any on-demand programs that qualify for AIA or LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
**AIA credit is not available in USB format.
Streamable MP4/PDF
You will receive an automated email letting you know when your On-Demand package is available approximately 3 business days after the date of the live event or the date of your order, whichever is later. This email will contain links to the video recording, materials, and program quiz.
To track your purchase, you will need to create an account on the website using the email address used for your registration.
For AIA requirements only, the on-demand recording will have occasional question prompts that will not allow the video to progress unless they are answered, and you will not be able to skip forward while watching the video.
Please note, if you attempt to resume watching the video on a separate device, your progress will not be saved.
Click the link which appears at the end of the video to be taken to the course quiz.
You will have unlimited access to the on-demand video recording, and it will never expire.
**Any streamable on-demand programs that qualify for AIA or LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
USB MP4/PDF
HalfMoon will mail these materials via USPS.
USB orders ship approximately 3 business days after the program takes place or after the order is placed, whichever date is later. Please allow an additional 7-10 business days for shipping.
The link to the quiz will be available in a PDF in your USB drive marked QUIZ.
HalfMoon will contact you and issue a full refund if the product you ordered is not available. However, refunds will not be issued if completion certificates are requested.
Please contact HalfMoon Education if you have any questions during the process of taking this course. (715) 835-5900 or qchapman@halfmoonseminars.org
**Any USB on-demand programs that qualify for LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
**AIA credit is not available in USB format.
Agenda
Registration: 8:15 – 8:45 am
Morning Session: 8:45 am – 1:00 pm
Lunch (On your own): 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Afternoon Session: 2:00 – 5:45 pm
Ownership of and Access to Surface Lands and Minerals B. Barchus
Legal rights of mineral and surface owners
Legal and practical exercise of access rights
Where do one party’s rights end and the other’s begin?
Rights of adjacent property owners
Resolving disputes
Complying with Texas Rules and Regulations On the Practice of Geoscience B. Derie
Defining the practice of geoscience
Powers and duties of the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists
Requirements for licensing and renewal
Grounds for disciplinary action
Procedure for investigation and hearing
Ethical Issues for Professional Geoscientists B. Derie
The American Institute of Geologists’ Code of Ethics
Protecting the environment: meeting or exceeding legal requirements
Understanding of Texas Groundwater Law G. Ellis
Texas rule of capture
Ownership of groundwater
Groundwater regulation by conservation districts
Ownership and duty of the groundwater estate owner to the surface estate owner
Legal standards related to water well construction/prohibition against comingling waters of different quality
Reuse and Disposal Issues with Oil/Gas Well Produced Water and Other Wastewater J. Higdon
Relationship between federal and state regulation
Reuse options in Texas
Disposal options in Texas
Regulatory trends and developments
Abandoned Mines and Mine Clean-Up Responsibility G. Pels
Identification and risk profile of abandoned mines
Understanding the current regulatory status of mining wastes
Liability allocation and litigation trends
Risk mitigation
Credits
This seminar offers 7.5 continuing education hours,
including 1.0 ethics hour, to Texas geoscientists.
Continuing Education Credit Information
This seminar is open to the public. It offers Texas geoscientists 7.5 continuing education hours, which includes 1.0 ethics hour. Educators and courses are not subject to preapproval in Texas.
Texas geoscientists with continuing education requirements in other states will be able to apply the hours earned at this seminar, in most cases. Refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the seminar for most individuals who complete the entire event. Attendance certificates not available at the seminar will be mailed to participants within fifteen business days.
Speakers
Brandon Barchus
Faulk BarchusCo-Founder at Faulk Barchus
Mr. Barchus is a co-founder and practicing attorney at Faulk Barchus in Houston. The firm specializes in oil & gas, real estate, property taxes, and environmental law. Mr. Barchus has been very successful defending clients, winning over $8 million on a single trial verdict on behalf of his clients defrauded by an oil and gas operator. He is a member of State Bar of Texas’ Litigation Section as well as the Oil, Gas, and Energy Resources Law Section. Mr. Barchus is also a member of the Institute for Energy Law and Young Energy Professionals. He has spoken at numerous conferences regarding the oil/gas and energy industries and has a 9.8 Avvo Rating. Mr. Barchus is the executive producer for Night Court: a non-profit all lawyer musical comedy that benefits law related charities. He received his B.S. degree with honors from the University of Texas – Austin and his J.D. degree, with honors, from Baylor University School of Law.
Bereket Derie
Round Rock GeophysicsCEO/Owner at Round Rock Geophysics
Dr. Derie is a licensed professional geoscientist and chief executive officer with Round Rock Geophysics. Round Rock offers comprehensive geophysics consultants and survey services to the mineral exploration, civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, groundwater and environmental communities on a worldwide basis. Prior to the creation of Round Rock Geophysics, Dr. Derie was the Geophysics Department Manager at Renewable Resource Consultants. He is a member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Engineering and Environmental Geophysicists Society and Austin Geological Society. Dr. Derie is a member of the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists, with his term set to expire in February, 2021. He is an extremely well respected and experienced geoscientist with experience around the world. Dr. Derie received a bachelor of science degree in Physics and a masters of science degree in Geophysics from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. He earned his doctor of philosophy degree in Geophysics from Loughborough University, United Kingdom.
Greg Ellis
GM Ellis LawFounder at GM Ellis Law
Mr. Ellis has been practicing water law and been involved in water issues for over three decades. As a law student, he helped clerk the House Natural Resources Committee working on a variety of water legislation. After receiving his J.D. degree from the University of Texas School of Law, Mr. Ellis worked as legislative liaison for the Texas Water Commission and later served as general counsel to the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District. The Edwards Aquifer Authority hired Mr. Ellis as their first general manager in 1997, a position he held until October 2004 when he left to start his solo law practice. In addition to representing subsidence districts and groundwater conservation districts, he serves as board secretary of the Texas Water Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that provides water conservation education throughout the State.
Jerry Higdon
Locke LordPartner at Locke Lord
Mr. Higdon is an experienced environmental lawyer with 28 years of experience representing private and public parties in avoiding, managing, and resolving environmental liabilities and facilitating environmental sustainability solutions through brownfields redevelopment and the development and scaling of renewable energy. Known for his pragmatism and imagination in solving environmental problems, he regularly advises members of the energy industry regarding management of issues affecting the renewables/alternative, upstream, midstream, and downstream energy sectors. Mr. Higdon has been named to Chambers USA’s America’s Leading Business Lawyers for Environmental Law every year from 2009-2019. He received his B.B.A degree from Texas Tech and received his J.D. degree with honors from The University of Texas School of Law.
Gerry Pels
Locke LordPartner at Locke Lord
Mr. Pels, chair of the firm-wide Environmental Section – Energy and Industry, has been one of the leaders of the Texas environmental legal community for over 30 years. His diverse practice focuses on the areas of environmental compliance, counseling, and litigation. Mr. Pels has consistently led teams working on cutting edge matters of environmental law, including resolving the well-known Cooper v. Aviall litigation and arguing Clean Air Act issues before the fifth Circuit in litigation involving the Texas SIP. He has been consistently recognized in Chambers USA since 2004 as well as in The Best Lawyers in America for environmental law. He was also an adjunct law professor for seven years teaching both environmental law and an advanced RCRA seminar. Mr. Pels received his A.B. degree from St. Joseph’s University and J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he served as executive editor of the Vanderbilt Journal of Transactional Law.