Environmental Resources Management, Inc. (ERM), Houston, Texas
At ERM, we believe that people are the most important asset in a professional consulting company, and at ERM, we recruit only the best. ERM's philosophy embraces excellence, diversity, creativity, quality, efficiency and service. With more than 100 offices in 35 countries, we employ over 2,300 staff... opportunities for career development are unparalleled. We are committed to serving our clients around the world with high levels of professionalism, flexibility and consistency. We deliver solutions for leading business and government clients, assisting them to manage their environmental and related risks. Our main office in Texas is in Houston, with satellite offices in Beaumont, Austin, Corpus Christi, New Orleans, and others when required. Send resume and cover letter to: Richard C. Bost, P.E., P.G. or e-mail to Rick.Bost@erm.com. To learn more about our company, visit our Web site at www.erm.com.

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What is a Geoscientist?

For a summary of what a geoscientist does, click (here).

So you want to be a Geoscientist?
If you are thinking about majoring in one of the physical sciences, geology would be an exciting choice. Why? Have a look at the video link below. Whether your choice is meteorology or one of the subfields in geology or geotechnical engineering, your career will be a rewarding one. Go ahead, see the video, change your life... http://www.earthscienceworld.org/careers/video/video-windows.html

For those of you who are already geoscientists, the following employers want you...

AGI Estimated Number of Geoscientists in U.S.
(Includes: Geologists, Geophysicists, Geochemists, Geomorphologists, Paleontologists, etc.)

Total Field: 125,000
Oil and Gas                                 (40%):   50,000
Environmental                             (30%):  37,500
     Industry and Consulting:  60%
      Academics:                        30%
      Regulatory:                        10%
Minerals and Mining                  (15%):   18,750
Meteorlogic (Climatology, etc)  (10%):  12,500
Oceanic and Astronomical          (5%):    6,250

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For U.S. Job Forum, click (here).

For Additional Employment Opportunities, see:

1) The Houston Geological Society
For Recent Historical Perspective, (here).

2) The IET Employment Page
3) The A.E.C. Job Bank
4) Geology.com
5) Environmental & Geological Yellow Pages
6) Alaska Jobs Center
7) JobsOnline.com
8) Federal Jobs Digest
9) The Bureau of Economic Geology

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Requirements for Geological Services in Texas State, Local Statutes, and National Guidelines
Compiled by the Texas Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), January, 2001

Geological services or the services of a qualified, professional geologist are specifically called for in a number of local and state Texas statutes, rules, and technical guidelines.

Examples of these are summarized below:

1. TNRCC technical guidance on Pressure Cementing of Public Water Supply Wells: Affects TNRCC Rule 30TAC290.41(c)(3)(C). Exceptions to certain public supply well casing cementing rules will not be granted until a Hydrogeologist has made a detailed evaluation of the geologic framework of the well site, in support of such an exception request. (NOTE: hydrogeology is the branch of geology which deals with water within the earth – ground water - and is the major area of practice for many geologists practicing in the environmental field, i.e., environmental site assessments involving potential contamination and in developing ground-water resources in Texas).

2. Hays County Subdivision and Development Regulations - Water Availability Study: Article III, Section 3.12 of these Hays County regulations require that, as part of the platting process for certain subdivisions that will be dependent on ground water, a Water Availability Study be conducted. This study is to identify the quality and quantity of ground water available for the tract and its long-term sustainability. The study is predominantly geologic and hydrogeologic in scope. The rules require the study be performed by a State of Texas Registered Professional Engineer or Hydrogeologist.

3. TNRCC Rule 30TAC230 – Ground-Water Availability Certification for Platting: Statewide rules for non-PGMA counties (only 15 PGMA counties in State) which require groundwater availability certification as part of their platting process. Scope of required work is substantially geologic or hydrogeologic in nature (characterizations of stratigraphy, lithology & geologic structure; lithologic and geophysical logging of wells; performance and analyses of pumping tests to determine aquifer characteristics; calculation of temporal and spatial effects of pumping). Current rule language states that the certification must be made by, and only by, a Texas Licensed Professional Engineer. This language precludes those professionals performing these types of ground-water investigations who have traditionally been the dominant practitioners in this area - namely the geologists and hydrogeologists. Enactment of a Geologists Licensure Act would correct this inequity and allow the many otherwise qualified professional geologists to conduct these studies and make the appropriate certifications.

4. Texas Water Code, Chapter 35 – Ground-Water Studies: One of the steps in the preparation of a Priority Ground-Water Management Area establishment report is an appraisal of the area’s hydrogeologic framework. This report is prepared by TWDB staff, unless contracted out to a geologic consultant.

5. Blanco County Subdivision Ordinance - Water Availability Regulations: Similar in scope and purpose to the Hays County regulations cited above (Example No. 2). Study is substantially geologic and hydrogeologic in nature. Ordinance requires Water Availability study be performed and certified by a qualified expert, which is defined in the Ordinance as an engineer registered to practice in the State of Texas. Enactment of a Geologist Licensure Act in Texas will allow this Ordinance to be amended to include geologists and hydrogeologists, who are the dominant practitioners in the area of ground-water resource identification and evaluation in Texas.

6. Cow Creek Ground-Water Conservation District (Kendall County) - Water Availability Report: Similar in scope and purpose to the Hays and Blanco Counties regulations cited above (Examples Nos. 2 and 5). Study is substantially geologic and hydrogeologic in nature. Ordinance requires Water Availability report be prepared by a State of Texas Registered Professional Engineer or a Certified Hydrogeologist. The State of Texas currently has no certifying or licensing program for geologists/hydrogeologists. Currently 29 other states have some form of licensing or registration program for geologists. The only national certifying programs are those of the AIPG (Certified Professional Geologist) and the NGWA’s Association of Ground-Water Scientists and Engineers (Certified Ground-Water Professional).

7. Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (Hays and Travis Counties): The District generally requires that a Hydrogeologic Study be performed to support permit applications and major permit amendments for permitted wells in the District’s jurisdiction . The scope and purpose of these studies are predominantly geologic and hydrogeologic in nature. The technical guidelines for conducting these studies state that they must include geologic and hydrostratigraphic descriptions of the well site and surrounding area, prepared by a qualified geologist. Qualified geologist is not defined in the District’s rules or guidelines but such qualifications are certainly implied.

8. TNRCC’s Edwards Aquifer Rules (30TAC213) - Geologic Assessments: For certain types of development on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge, Transition, and Contributing Zones, the TNRCC requires that a Water Pollution Abatement Plan (WPAP) be submitted to the agency. The WPAP details the steps that will be taken during and post development to protect the aquifer from the effects of development. One of the components of Recharge Zone WPAPs is a Geologic Assessment (GA). The scope and purpose of the GA is entirely geologic in nature and includes: mapping of the surface geology, description of the stratigraphy beneath the site, identification of geologic structures, and identification and description of aquifer recharge features (caves, sinkholes, fracture zones, etc.). The GA must be prepared by a Geologist, which the TNRCC defines as {30TAC213.3(14)}:

A person who has a received a baccalaureate or post-graduate degree in the natural science of geology from an accredited university and has training and experience in ground-water hydrology and related fields, or has demonstrated such qualifications by registration or licensing by a state, professional certification, or has completed accredited university programs that enable that individual to make sound professional judgments regarding the identification of sensitive features located in the recharge or transition zone.