Topic: Fracking

What is fracking?

Why is fracking used?

What are the risks?

How can the risks be minimized?

Are there any environmental benefits to fracking?

How “green” can fracking be?

Speaker: Stephen Halasz, TRC Environmental Corp.

Mr. Halasz has over 30 years of environmental experience, which includes risk assessments, assessment techniques, water resource evaluations, remediation, project management, exploration, research, permitting and acting as a regulatory liaison for projects dealing with refineries, chemical plants, underground storage tanks, oil and gas facilities and manufacturing operations. Mr. Halasz has managed over 1,000 individual site investigations at petroleum storage tank sites, refineries, chemical plants, various industrial sites and oil and gas sites, while overseeing a staff of over 100 professional geologists and engineers.

Prior to joining TRC, Mr. Halasz had served as the Deputy Director of the Railroad Commission of Texas. Mr. Halasz worked with staff and industry representatives to develop the first risk assessment program that was designed for use in the oil and gas industry. He also obtained multiple million-dollar grants from the EPA to plug abandoned leaking oil and gas wells to prevent the contamination of surface and groundwater and was responsible for the oversight of all environmental programs at the RRC, new law and legislative review, grant writing and staff development.

Mr. Halasz has also worked as an oil and exploration geologist and was on the research team that developed horizontal drilling, which is key to the recent success of fracking. His accomplishments include generating the first five projects in Texas that used horizontal drilling.

Update:

Starting January 2012 there will be a small fee for non-International AWMA members. The fee for Central Texas Chapter Local associates will be $10. Guests will be charged $20. Students will be admitted at half price with a valid student ID.  As we work out the details for accepting credit cards, please bring cash or check to the February meeting. If you wish, you can renew your membership status at the meeting. Remember a meal will be provided.

Location:

301 Congress Suite 360, Austin, TX

Sponsor:

Sponsorship opportunities still available. Contact Kevin Smith, Chair, at 512-239-7044 if you wish to sponsor

Agenda:

5:30 - 6:00 p.m. - Reception and Light Meal
6:00 - 6:05 p.m. - Central Texas Chapter Business
6:05 - 6:45 p.m. - Presentation by Stephen Halasz

Please RSVP by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .