Shlemon Conference: Modern Subsidence, Sea-Level Rise, and Future of the Gulf Coast

Shlemon Specialty Conference

Modern Subsidence, Sea-Level Rise, and
the Future of the Gulf Coast
May 13-15, 2010
Galveston Island, Texas

Call for Abstracts

Shlemon Specialty Conferences are sponsored by the AEG Foundation and the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists, and are supported, in part, by funds provided by Roy J. Shlemon, a Trustee of the AEG Foundation, an Honorary Member of the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists, and a Fellow of the Geological Society of America. The conferences provide for an intensive 3-day forum of technical discussions among researchers and practitioners, and focus on topics beneficial to society and directly related to application of the engineering and environmental geosciences. The conferences are intended to promote and disseminate practice and research results, and to foster improvement and understanding of applied geology.

The sixth Shlemon Specialty Conference, Modern Subsidence, Sea-Level Rise, and the Future of the GulfCoast, will include keynote oral presentations by invited experts, a field excursion, poster sessions, and ample time for informal interaction. The field trip held in conjunction with the conference will include various stops around Galveston and the Bay Area to observe evidence of faulting and related subsidence effects on various engineered structures.

The technical focus of the conference concerns:

• Subsidence measurements
• Processes causing subsidence
• Quaternary geology of the GulfCoast
• Engineering geology, coastal flooding, and protection
• Space-based geodesy and subsidence of New Orleans
• Northern hemisphere glaciations and crustal physics, subsidence modeling
• In-SAR and oil field subsidence
• Groundwater subsidence of the GulfCoast

Abstracts for poster sessions are invited and will be organized on various topics. Posters will be on display throughout the entire conference with time set aside each day for review and discussion.

Abstracts for poster sessions should be no more than 350 words and include the title of the abstract, author(s) full name, affiliation, affiliation address, and email address and sent to Julie Keaton, Conference Director (aegjuliek@aol.com). Abstracts may be selected for oral presen-tation.

If you have any questions, please contact either Cynthia Palomares, General Chair (cpalomar@tceq.state.tx.us) or Roy Dokka, Technical Program Chair (dokka1@lsu.edu).

Geo-related bills at the Arizona Legislature

Here are new bills filed in the Arizona legislature that are relevant to the geoscience community (from Arizona Geology):

SB1126 - Declares that nuclear fuel produced entirely within the state boundaries are not subject to federal interstate commerce laws

HB2290 - Amendment to allow used tires as filler material for abandoned mines through 12/31/2015, with a cover of at least 10 ft of earthen materials.

HB2180 - Amendment to exempt Class II injection wells used in natural gas storage projects from aquifer protection permit requirement

New Earth Fissure Map for Maricopa County

The Arizona Geological Survey has just realeased a new earth fissure map for Maricopa County. This map is combination of the study area maps that cover parts of the county, so it's not really anything new, just a new (and perhaps more convinient) way of presenting the info.

With the new release, they got a little press from CBS Channel 5 in Phoenix.

Next Meeting January 21st - Joint AEG and SME

AEG is excited to announce our first meeting of 2010! We are having a joint meet with SME to start the year off. The meeting will be on held Thursday January 21, 2010 at the Lexington Hotel (formerly Best Western) at 1100 North Central Avenue in Phoenix. We'll start off at 6:30pm with mingling and drinks. Dinner will be at 7pm with the presentation starting shortly after dinner.

Our speaker is Mr. Tim Casten, the Director of Underground Planning with Freeport-McMoRan. Mr. Casten will be presenting on Underground Mining at PT Freeport Indonesia's Grasberg District.

Thank you to meeting sponsor Karen Schwab, R.G. of Kimberlite Water Quality Permitting and Compliance Service LLC.

Please RSVP to Bonnie Whitley at bonniewhitleype@gmail.com by noon on Monday January 18th.

Please note that as this is a joint meeting with SME, the cost will be $25 for members and non-members. Thank you and hope to see you there!

AEG North Central Section Short Course: A New World in Geophysics

AEG North Central Section Short Course May 18-19, 2010
A New World in Geophysics
About the Course

Sponsored by the North Central Section of the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists, the short course is designed for practicing Civil Engineers, Geologists, Engineering Geologists, Archaeologists, Law Enforcement Investigators,Consultants, Owners, Managers and others responsible for development orevaluation of site characterization studies that might benefit from the applicationof modern geophysical methods. Many of us were exposed to geophysics during our undergraduate or graduate studies, which may have been completed may years ago now. There has been much progress in geophysics since your undergraduate studies. This course will bring you up-to-date with the latest developments in geophysical methods for land, water, and subsurface characterization. In addition to providing the student with the working knowledge of each of the available geophysical tools, pitfalls in subcontracting geophysical services will be presented. After you complete this course, you will be an informed consumer of geophysical services and be cable of scoping and applying the correct geophysical methods to solve your particular problem. Course participants will earn 2.0 hours of Continuing Education Credit.

Please click here for more information.

Southwest Hydrology Ceases Publication

Arizona Geology is reporting that Southwest Hydrology is ceasing publication after the current issue. This is rather unfortunate since it was a great source for articles specific to Arizona and the Southwest.

Some Updates

Well I hope that everyone had a nice holiday break, but now it’s back to business. I plan to write up a newsletter soon, but don’t hold your breath. But I do have the meeting schedule for the next few months and a few updates from the Arizona Geology blog.

The next meeting is on January 21st. It’s a joint meeting with SME – more info to come. The topic is “Underground Mining at PT Freeport Indonesia's Grasberg District" by Tim Casten and the location will be at the Lexington Central Hotel (formerly Best Western), 1100 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona.

Other scheduled meetings:

March 4th – Paul Marinos, 2010 Jahn’s Lecturer
April 6th – Student Night at ASU

Times, locations, and other info to come later.

On the geological front:

• New earth fissure maps – 1:24k earth fissure maps for Dragoon Rd, Cochise Cty and Greene Wash, Pinal Cty - SW of Arizona City. The pdfs of maps and news release are located at www.azgs.az.gov/efmaps.shtml. And an interesting blog post on some of the implications of the fissures at Dragoon Road.

• Budget cuts will severely affect the AZGS. Details are still slim and more cuts are to come. It’s grim, but AZGS is still hanging on. And changes in the Earth Fissure Mapping program – no mention of the budget in this one, but it’s severely reduced as a result.

• Arizona Geology’s top geologic stories of 2009.

• Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole outside of Sedona.

• And finally – geologists love beer.

AEG Scholarship Opportunities

To all students and faculty in the applied geosciences field:

The AEG Foundation (Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists Foundation) offers many scholarships each year to assist students with field work and studies in the applied geosciences. Scholarship amounts range from $200 to $2000. Traditionally, we have not had very many Arizona students apply for these scholarships. I’d like to see that change this year and to see some qualified Arizona students apply for these scholarships. I have copied some information below outlining the scholarship types and application deadlines (February 1st). Please visit www.aegfoundation.org for more information and to apply online.

Professors – Please pass this information along to your students.

Scholarships Available through the AEG Foundation
The Lemke Scholarship Fund was established in 2007 with a bequest from the estate of Richard and June Lemke. The fund supports student members of AEG who are sole or first authors of papers or posters presented at AEG Annual Meetings or at selected meetings of other professional or scientific organizations with which AEG is affiliated.

The Marliave Scholarship Fund was established in 1968 by the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists (AEG). The fund name honors an eminent family of engineering geologists: Chester E. Marliave (1888-1958), and his sons Elmer C. Marliave (1910-1967) and Burton H. Marliave (1917-1991), who were pioneers in the profession. The funds are distributed as grants, which are intended to support academic activity and reward outstanding students in engineering geology and geological engineering. Recipients of grants are designated as “Marliave Scholars.”

The Martin L. Stout Scholarship is in memory of Dr. Martin L. Stout, Professor of Geology at California State University, Los Angeles from 1960 to 1990. He is remembered by all of his students for his passionate and insightful instruction in engineering geology. Dr. Stout guided his students through and beyond the fundamentals of engineering geology, often using Kodachrome™ slides for illustration. He emphasized hands-on experience and critical thought. Dr. Stout was well known for his expertise on mega landslides, his worldly travels, his good humor, and his gracious manner. This scholarship supports his legacy.

The Norman R. Tilford Field Studies Scholarship fund was established shortly after Norm died in late 1997 while flying his small aircraft to meet a Texas A&M University student field trip. Norm was a leader in engineering geology, a Past President of AEG, and a professor at Texas A&M University. He was dedicated to teaching geology in the field. This scholarship supports his legacy.

AEG Foundation Scholarships

Lemke Scholarship Fund
Applicants must be student members of AEG who are sole or first authors of a paper to be presented at an AEG Annual Meeting, or a meeting or conference sponsored, co-sponsored, or supported by AEG. Application deadlines vary according to the meeting calendar. Grant amounts vary according to meeting and available funding.
Varies
Typical minimum $200

Marliave Scholarship Fund
A Marliave Scholar applicant must be a senior or graduate student presently enrolled full-time in a college or university degree program that is directly applicable to engineering geology or geological engineering, and a student member of AEG. The application deadline is February 1
$2,000

Martin L. Stout Scholarship
Applicants must be a student member of AEG at time of award. Applications may be submitted with the scholarship application. The application deadline is February 1
$1,000 Undergrad $1,500 Masters $2,000 Doctoral

Norman R. Tilford Field Studies Scholarship
Applicants must be a student member of AEG. Two to three awards are given one for undergraduate and two to graduate students. The application deadline is February 1
$1,000 Undergrad $1,500 Masters $2,000 Doctoral

UDOT is Looking for a Senior Geologist

The Geotechnical Division of the Utah Department of Transportation currently has an opening for a Senior Geologist. Applications for this position will be accepted through December 15. Please help us by sending this announcement to any contacts you have that might be interested. The attached link provides the job description, salary range and application information.

https://statejobs.utah.gov/JobAnnouncement.jsp?rid=20547

For more information contact:

Keith Brown
UDOT Chief Geotechnical Engineer
office: (801)965-4234
cell: (801)633-6238
e-mail: kebrown@utah.gov

2009 Arizona Section Holiday Party - December 10th

2009 AEG
HOLIDAY PARTY
AT THE ZOO

The Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists - Arizona Section
Cordially Invites You to Attend

What: BBQ Dinner Meeting
Where: The Phoenix Zoo – 455 North Galvin Parkway
(Check-In at Main Entrance from 5:30 to 6:30 to Receive Wristband)
When: Thursday, December 10th – 6 to 9 PM
Who: Family Event – Everyone Welcome

Cost:

$5 Students
$30 Members
$35 Non-Members
$20 Spouses/Guests
$10 Kids
$60 Max for Families

RSVPs will be needed since we must purchase Zoo entrance admission wristbands for our attendees prior to the event. The cost includes admission to the Zoo during ZooLights and a delicious BBQ dinner. There will also be a cash bar at the event. Bring the whole family and dress warm! Our event will be located in the Desert Grove area in the middle of the Arizona Trail (left of main entrance). Maps will be provided and wristbands handed out when you check in at the main entrance.

RSVP to Bonnie Whitley at bonnie@gtiaz.com by December 7th

Sponsors still needed! And a special thanks to the sponsors we have so far - D&S Drilling, GeoMechanics Southwest, and AZ Ram Jack!