The American Institute of Hydrology (AIH) certifies professionals in hydrology and hydrogeology. Applicants for certification must meet AIH requirements on education, professional experience, and personal integrity.

      The test is designed in three parts. The first part covers the fundamentals of the hydrologic sciences and is required of all applicants. The other two parts cover practical problem solving in hydrology and hydrogeology and are given to individuals seeking these respective certificates. Both certificates are awarded to individuals passing all three parts.

      The aims of the AIH include not only the initial certification of qualified hydrologists and hydrogeologists but also the continuing assurance of high standards of technical and ethical performance of Professional Members. Accordingly, the Bylaws and Rules and Regulations include specific procedures and requirements for maintaining and renewing certification.

      It is the intent of the Institute to certify and to maintain as members only those individuals actively engaged in hydrologic work. Renewal of certification every fifth year requires proof of continuing active involvement in the hydrological sciences and documentation of accomplishments since the initial certification or for each subsequent five-year period.

Contact:   American Institute of Hydrology, Board of Registration for Professional Hydrologists and Hydrogeologists, P.O. Box 14251, St. Paul, MN 55114. Telephone (612) 379-1030.

      ARCPACS, a Federation of Certifying Boards in Agriculture, Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, is a certification program that identifies individuals with credentials in soil and related sciences. ARCPACS was established to develop standards and procedures for certification of individuals with credentials as professionals in agronomy, crops, soils, weed science, plant pathology, or horticulture. ARCPACS maintains a registry of certified professionals in each of these areas.

      Professional certifications are available within ARCPACS in the areas of agronomy, crop science, crop specialist, soil science, soil specialist, soil classification, horticulture, weed science, and plant pathology. ARCPACS is a membership service of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA). The acronym ARCPACS stands for the American Registry of Certified Professionals in Agronomy, Crops and Soils.

      Certification is based on scholarly preparation and work experience supported by references. Individuals certified by ARCPACS must have met the educational and practical experience standards, subscribe to the Code of Ethics, and qualify for identification and recognition as professionals. Credentials of applicants are reviewed by the Soils Certifying Board.

      To achieve a Certified Professional Status, the individual must be registered which includes the following: 1) certification and inclusion in ARCPACS Professional Registry limited to individuals who are deemed qualified professionals in agronomy, crops, soils, weed science, plant pathology, or horticulture; and 2) registrants must subscribe to the ARCPACS Code of Ethics. A certificate is provided to each individual registered as a Certified Professional.

      Educational requirements include: 1) Bachelor's Degree in area for which application is made, or a closely allied field of science, meet the minimum core requirements, and have 5 years professional experience, subsequent to the bachelor's degree, working in the area of certification required; or 2) Masters or Doctoral Degree with a major in the area for which application is made, or a closely allied field of science, meet the minimum core requirements, and have three years of professional experience, subsequent to the degree, working in the area of certification requested. Persons with degree level and experience requirements as above with a major in the area for which application is made or a closely allied field but does not meet the minimum core requirements, must pass a written examination in the area(s) of certification desired, or degree level and experience requirements as above with a major in a non-allied field and pass a written examination in each area of certification, and at discretion of the appropriate board, an oral examination required.

      Applicants are required to demonstrate work experience in the certification area (e.g. activities as farm management, consulting, research, extension, and teaching) requiring a minimum of 70% of the applicant's time working directly with the area of certification for any time period to count fully as work experience (work experience less than 70% will be prorated). Soil specialist applicants shall have not less than 5 years of cumulative professional experience in the area of declared specialty and a portion of these 5 years must be a position that indicates the applicant is competent to practice in that specialty without direct supervision. Soil classifier applicants shall have not less than 5 years of cumulative professional experience in the practice of soil survey and classification and a portion of these five years must be in a position that indicates the applicant is competent to practice soil classification without direct supervision.

      Core Requirements include: 1) soils applicants must meet the minimum core requirements; 2) a Soil Specialist must include 5 semester hours in the declared area of specialty within the 15 semester hours of soil science courses; and 3) a Soil Classifier must include 5 semester hours in soil genesis, morphology, classification, interpretation, or mapping within the 15 semester hours of soil sciences courses.

Contact:   A Federation of Certifying Boards in Agriculture, Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, 677 South Segoe Road, Madison, WI 53711. Telephone (608) 273-8080, Fax (608) 273-2021.

      CPESC is a certification program sponsored by the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) in cooperation with the American Society of Agronomy (ASA). The CPESC program identifies those people in the field of erosion and sediment control, both designers and construction contractors, who are qualified to provide educational, scientific, service activities, and planning for the public and private sector.

      A CPESC is a top specialist in soil erosion and sediment control. He or she must meet rigorous academic and professional experience requirements, their credentials and competence are verified, and they must pass a qualifying examination. All CPESCs adhere to a strict code of ethics. No single science, profession, or interest can claim exclusive expertise in erosion and sediment control. But CPESCs can collectively pool their individual expertise to specialize in every facet of the industry.

      Anyone who desires to become certified is eligible to apply. Applicants should have a B.S. degree in agricultural, civil, or environmental engineering, geology, soil science or management, agronomy, general agriculture, or a related field. Applicants should also have professional experience. A credential review panel consisting of prominent CPESCs in colleges and universities, plus practicing erosion control specialists in government and private practice will review all applications, administer the examination, and award certification.

      The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) produces all CPESC materials. The SWCS is a non-profit, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to the wise use of land and water resources. SWCS was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa.

      The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) maintains the CPESC registry and consultant's directory. The ASA is a non-profit, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to the wise use of natural resources to produce food and improve the environment. ASA was founded in 1907 and is located in Madison, Wisconsin.

Contact:   CPESC Program, Soil and Water Conservation Society, 7515 N.E. Ankeny Road, Ankeny, IA 50021-9764. Telephone (515) 289-2331.

      A Landscape Architect is a person who holds a certificate to practice landscape architecture in this State under the authority of Chapter 3.5, Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code of the State of California. At present, 44 States register (or license) landscape architects. In States with "title acts," no one without a license may call him/herself a landscape architect. Under the provisions of "practice acts," no one without a license may perform the work of a landscape architect. Each State sets its own requirements for registration, but most require candidates to pass a national examination (the Landscape Architect Registration Examination [LARE]). Many States also require candidates to have completed an approved program of professional education and to practice for a time under the supervision of a licensed landscape architect. The Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) develops and administers the LARE, and also maintains current information on the various States' licensing requirements.

      A landscape architect is a person who practices landscape architecture within the meaning and intent of the Business and Professions Code (Chapter 3.5) and is a person who performs professional services, for the purpose of landscape preservation, development, and enhancement (e.g., consultation, investigation, reconnaissance, research, planning, design, preparation of drawings, construction documents and specifications, and responsible construction observation).

      Landscape architects perform professional work in planning and design of land for human use and enjoyment. Based on analysis of environmental physical and social characteristics, and economic considerations, they produce overall plans and landscape project designs for integrated land use. Landscape architecture is the profession that encompasses the analysis, planning, design, management, and stewardship of outdoor space and the land. Activities of a landscape architect can range from the creation of public parks and parkways to the site planning for corporate office buildings and the design of residential areas.

      The landscape architect's license provides formal recognition that an individual's education, experience, examination history and professional conduct meets or exceeds the standards adopted by CLARB. The purpose of a license is to protect health, safety and welfare of the general public.

      The standards for professional eligibility are listed as follows.

      Education:   A first professional degree in landscape architecture from a program which has been accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. In lieu of the degree, satisfaction of 5 years of education in related fields.

      Professional education in landscape architecture can be obtained at the undergraduate or graduate level. There are two undergraduate professional degrees: a Bachelor or Landscape Architecture (BLA) and a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA). These usually require 4 or 5 years of study in design, construction techniques, air, history, and natural and social sciences.

      There are generally three types of graduate degree programs: 1) Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) for persons who hold an undergraduate degree in a field other than landscape architecture, and intend to become landscape architecture practitioners (usually earned in 3 years of full-time study); 2) Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) for persons who hold an undergraduate professional degree in landscape architecture (normally takes 2 years of full-time study); and 3) Landscape Architecture for persons who want to conduct research in landscape architecture, but do not seek to be registered professional practitioners.

      Experience:   Three years of diversified experience in landscape architecture under direct supervision of a licensed landscape architect. In lieu of the experience, 3 years of experience in related fields.

      Examination:   Successful completion of the Council of Landscape Architectural Review Board (CLARB) registration examination, or uniform national exam (UNE), where the exam administration and grading were conducted in accordance with CLARB's standards in effect at the time.

      Professional Conduct:   History of acceptable professional conduct as verified by employers, landscape architects, and member boards.

Contacts:   1) Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards, 12700 Fair Lakes Circle, Suite 110, Fairfax, VA 22033, Telephone (703) 818-1300; 2) Board of Landscape Architects, 400 R Street, Suite 4020, Sacramento, CA 95814, Telephone (916) 445-4954; and 3) American Society of Landscape Architects, 1733 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20009, Telephone (202) 466-7730.

      The Rules and Regulations of the Contractors State License Board of the State of California (Title 16, Chapter 8, Section 832.27, California Administrative Code) define the landscaping contractor's license classification as follows. "A landscaping contractor: 1) installs, plants, repairs, and maintains gardens, lawns, shrubs, vines, bushes, trees, and other decorative vegetation including the grading and preparation of plants and areas of land for such architectural horticulture, decorative treatment, and arrangement; 2) construct decks, decorative pools (excluding swimming pools, hot tubs, or spas), fountains, pavilions, conservatories, hot and green houses, retaining walls, fences, walks, drainage systems, sprinkler systems, and low-voltage lighting systems; and 3) arrange, fabricates and places garden furniture, statuary and monuments, in connection therewith."

      The Business and Professional Code (Division 3, Chapter 9, Section 7027.5) further states: "A landscape contractor working within the classification for which the license is issued may design systems or facilities for work to be performed and supervised by that contractor."

Contact:   Contractors State License Board, 9835 Goethe Road, Sacramento, CA (Mailing address: P.O. Box 26000, Sacramento, CA 95826).

      A Registered Professional Forester (RPF) license is required for performing certain forestry work. These include primarily the preparation of timber harvesting plans, timber management plans, forest inventories, etc.

A four year degree in forestry, or related field, is required. An additional three years of forestry experience under an RPF is required. A passing score on a six hours written exam is the final requirement. An alternative to the degree plus three years experience is seven years experience under an RPF.

Contact:   California State Board of Forestry, P.O. Box 944246, Sacramento, CA 94244. Telephone (916) 445-2921.

      Applicants must have three years practical experience or two years practical experience plus a two or four year college degree. The applicant must pass a written examination that lasts a maximum of 3.5 hours on the following subjects: tree nutrition and fertilization; installation and establishment; tree biology; tree, soil, and water relations; identification and selection; safety and climbing; pruning; and diagnosis and treatment. Certified arborists must complete 30 hours of continuing education every three years to remain active.

Contact:   International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), P.O. Box 908, Urbana, IL 61801. Telephone (217) 355-9411.

      Registered members of the American Society of Consulting Arborists earn the privilege of using the ASCA designation following their names only after they have achieved a required level of specific education and experience; graduated from the Arboricultural Consulting Academy; and had their professional reports pass a rigorous review process. Founded in 1967, the ASCA is a non-profit professional society which represents a high level of accomplishment in the field of arboricultural consulting. ASCA members are recognized for their demonstrated ability to provide diagnostic, appraisal, evaluation, expert witness and other arboricultural consulting services to their clients.

      The application program requires candidates to have a four year degree in arboriculture or related field (e.g., urban forestry, plant pathology, horticulture, etc.) and seven years experience in arboriculture with three years including consulting for compensation. Candidates are assigned a mentor from existing active ASCA members. Candidates must complete ASCA's Arboricultural Academy held annually at the Arbor Day Farm which includes courses on ethics, practice management, expert witnessing and report writing. The candidate's reports must be reviewed and passed by the membership committee. The reports must demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of arboricultural knowledge and the ability to communicate this information.

      To maintain their membership, ASCA members must adhere to a Code of Ethics and specific Standards of Professional Practice. In addition, members must comply with a Continuing Education Program which helps ensure that the same high level of knowledge and proficiency which was demonstrated at the time of registration within the Society continues to be effective in their consulting practices. ASCA members must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years to remain active.

Contact:   American Society of Consulting Arborists, 5130 West 101st Circle, Westminster, CO 80030. Telephone (303) 466-2722, Fax (303) 466-7401.

      Applicants must have 18 months practical experience. Examination is both oral and practical. The applicant must answer questions regarding tree care, soil management, tree identification and selection and safe work practices. The practical includes aerial rescue, work climbing, identification and use of equipment, knots and gear. Certified Tree Workers must complete hours of continuing education every three years to remain active.

Contact:   International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), P.O. Box 908, Urbana, IL 61801. Telephone (217) 355-9411.

      The California Certified Nursery Professional (CCNP) Program sponsors a state-side examination to certify those candidates who have demonstrated the basic knowledge and skills to service nursery and garden center customers. The knowledgeable nursery professional is a valuable asset to any nursery and recognizing his or her horticultural abilities and skills is what the CCNP Program is all about. Those who pass the examination earn the privilege and honor to be a CCNP under the auspices of the California Association of Nurserymen.

      The CCNP must have worked full-time for 18 months or a cumulative 3,120 hours in a California nursery. The exam is divided into three sections: 1) Questions — 100 true/false, multiple-choice based on the Retail Nursery Professional Training Manual; 2) Plant identification — 35 plants with complete botanical and common names correctly spelled; and 3) Landscape design — a landscape is designed on pre-printed plot plan to scale complete with legend and 115 landscape questions.

Contact:   California Association of Nurserymen, 4620 Northgate Boulevard, Suite 155, Sacramento, CA 95834. Telephone (916) 567-0200, Fax (916) 567-0505.

      Regulations enforced by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) require that the application of restricted use pesticides be supervised by certified persons. Except in crop production settings, this certification is obtained by successfully completing a written examination offered by DPR. The DPR Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) examination includes a required section of pesticide laws and regulations. Additionally, each exam applicant must choose at least one examination section based on a specific pest control category. Examples of the 13 pest control categories include landscape maintenance, right-of-way, and aquatic pest control. The exam applicant must successfully complete the laws and regulations section, and at least one pest control category in order to obtain certification.

Source:   Certification for Herbicide Application by Joel Trumbo, Pesticide Use Coordinator, California Department of Fish and Game. In CalEPPC News, Fall 1994.

Contact:   California Department of Pesticide Regulations.

      The Wildlife Society has developed a professional certification program designed to evaluate the education and professional experience of wildlife biologists. A professional wildlife biologist is a person with demonstrated expertise in the art and science of applying the principles of ecology to the sound stewardship and management of the wildlife resource and its environment. An applicant for professional certification who demonstrates this expertise through education and experience and is judged to be able to represent the profession as an ethical practitioner will be designated as a Certified Wildlife Biologist.

      The program for certification of wildlife biologist is a service provided by The Wildlife Society for its members, as well as nonmembers and the public, who desire a peer evaluation statement. Certification constitutes recognition by The Wildlife Society that, to its best knowledge, an applicant meets the minimum educational, experience, and ethical standards adopted by the Society for professional wildlife biologists. Certification does not constitute a guarantee that the applicant meets a certain standard of competence or possesses certain knowledge. The Society maintains, annually updates, and disseminates a registry of Certified Wildlife Biologists.

      The requirements for certification are intended to be a means of demonstrating the special expertise required to practice as a professional wildlife biologist. If an applicant does not meet the specified minimum requirements, a Certification Review Board (CRB), composed of highly qualified wildlife biologists, must determine whether the education, experience, and professional contributions of the applicant satisfy the intent of the established minimum requirements.

      Application for certification may be made in one of two categories: 1) Certified Wildlife Biologist (CWB) - persons who have completed acceptable educational and experience requirements.; and Associate Wildlife Biologist (AWB) - a preliminary step designed for persons who have completed the educational requirements, but not the experience requirements.

      Applicants must have completed a course of study in a college or university leading to a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts, or equivalent or higher degree, and should have the following, or equivalent, course work: 1) Biological Sciences - 36 semester hours in biological sciences are required and must include courses in specific subcategories (i.e., Wildlife Management [6 hours], Wildlife Biology [6 hours], Ecology [3 hours], Zoology [9 hours], and Botany [9 hours]); 2) Physical Sciences - 9 semester hours in physical sciences; 3) Quantitative Sciences - 9 semester hours in quantitative sciences (i.e., Basic Statistics [3 hours] and Quantitative Sciences [6 hours]); 4) Humanities and Social Sciences - 9 semester hours in humanities and social sciences; 5) Communications - 12 semester hours in courses designed to improve communication skills; and 6) Policy, Administration, and Law - 6 semester hours in courses (e.g., resource policy and/or administration, environmental or wildlife law, or natural resource/land-use planning. Professional experience may be used to satisfy the educational requirements where specific deficiencies exist.

      In addition to educational requirements, the Certified Wildlife Biologist must have a minimum of 5 years of professional experience gained within the 10 years prior to applying for certification. Professional experience begins following conferral of the first wildlife-oriented degree at a baccalaureate or higher level. Experience must demonstrate the application of current biological knowledge to problems and programs dealing with the wildlife resource in the context of administration, education, research, or management.

      Certification as an Associate Wildlife Biologist (AWB) is available to an applicant who meets the educational requirements, but not the experience requirements. AWB status may be retained for a maximum of 10 years before application for certification as a Certified Wildlife Biologist is required.

      Associated and Certified Wildlife Biologists shall conduct their activities in accordance with the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Professional Conduct as prescribed by The Wildlife Society.

Contact:   The Wildlife Society, Inc., 5410 Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814-2197. Telephone (301) 897-9770. Fax (302) 530-2471.

      The American Fisheries Society, through its Board of Professional Certification, offers professional certification to anyone who meets specific educational and experience requirements. Two tiers of certification are available: Tier I -- Associate Fisheries Scientist - an applicant who satisfies course work and degree requirements but has insufficient or no experience may become an Associate Fisheries Scientist; Tier II-- Certified Fisheries Scientist - in addition to satisfying course work and degree requirements, an applicant must have a specific number of hours of qualifying experience to become a Certified Fisheries Scientist.

      A fisheries scientist is a professional with specialized education in the sciences and technologies involving the structure, dynamics, and interactions of habitat, aquatic organisms, and man. He/she may be a generalist in fisheries resources management or a specialist in one or more allied disciplines, such as aquatic biology, limnology, oceanography, fish culture, fisheries biometrics, fisheries economics, and fisheries engineering. Although areas of specializations may be varied, the applicants professional responsibilities must be involved with fish.

      Applications are reviewed by a seven-member Board of Professional Certification, and evaluation is based on academic work, experience and publications. The minimum course standards includes: 1) fisheries and aquatic sciences courses which must total four courses (two of which must be directly related to fisheries science); 2) other biological sciences courses which when added to the preceding courses must total 30 semester or 45 quarter hours; 3) physical sciences courses which must total 15 semester or 22 quarter hours; 4) mathematics and statistics courses which must total 6 semester or 9 quarter hours; and 4)communications courses which must total 6 semester or 9 quarter hours.

      The minimum degree and experience requirements include: 1) a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts Degree plus five years of full-time qualifying experience; or 2) a Master of Science or Master of Arts Degree plus four years of full-time qualifying experience; or 3) a Doctor of Philosophy Degree plus two years of full-time qualifying experience.

Contact:   American Fisheries Society, Professional Certification Program, 5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 110, Bethesda, MD 20814-2199. Telephone (301) 897-8616.

      In order to serve the broad public interest in identifying qualified individuals wishing to practice wetland science, the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) has established a professional wetland scientist certification program that is open to both members and non-members. The SWS Certification Committee, composed of a multi-disciplinary mix of nationally recognized experts in wetland science, has established rigorous educational and experiential requirements for credentials certified by the Society.

      Applicants are certified in one of two categories: Professional Wetland Scientist or Wetland Professional in Training.

      Applications are evaluated by a select panel of Certified Wetland Scientists drawn from diverse technical and geographic areas. SWS Certification confers recognition that an individual's education, training, and experience have adequately met the Society's standards to practice as a wetland professional.

Contact:   Society of Wetland Scientists Business Office, P.O. Box 1897, Lawrence, KS 66044. Telephone (913) 843-1221, Fax (913) 843-1274.

      The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is establishing a program for the training and certification of individuals as wetland delineators. The intent of the Wetland Delineator Certification Program (WDCP) is: 1) to improve the quality and consistency of wetland delineations submitted to the Corps; and 2) to streamline the regulatory process by developing procedures for expediting review and consideration of delineations submitted by certified delineators.

      The WDCP would require applicants to: 1) satisfy certain prerequisites and 2) pass a two-part test. Prerequisites for entrance into the WDCP would consist of: 1) training in the current Federal wetland delineation methodology and 2) two years of professional experience in wetlands delineation. Training must be conducted by an individual certified by the Corps, and should consist of a minimum of 36 hours of instruction, consistent with the training required of Corps, EPA, NRCS (formerly the SCS), and FWS Federal agency staff who delineate wetlands for purposes of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. To satisfy the experience requirement, WDCP applicants should have a minimum of two years experience delineating wetlands for Federal, State, tribal or local governments, or the private sector.

Contact:   The Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Attention: Ms. Karen Kochenback, CECW-OR, Washington, DC 20314-1000. Telephone (202) 272-0199.

      Certified Environmental Professional (CEP) status is awarded to qualified candidates based upon detailed evaluation of their education, experience, affiliations, and professional performance. Any individual may become a candidate for CEP status by submitting an application demonstrating his/her eligibility.

      The primary conditions of eligibility are as follows: a Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of nine years of applicable professional environmental experience, five years of which must be in a position of responsible charge and/or responsible supervision. Responsible charge is defined as: the direction of environmental work by an environmental professional such that successful completion of the work is dependent on decisions made by the environmental professional without advice or approval of others. Responsible supervision is defined as: the supervision of another professional person's work by an environmental professional such that the environmental professional assumes the professional responsibility for the work. A Master's Degree may be substituted for one year of the nine years of professional experience and a Doctorate for two years; however, no such substitutions will apply to the requirement for the five years in responsible charge and/or responsible supervision.

      A group of seven members from the Certification Review Board of the Academy, comprising the applicant's Panel, will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant. An applicant may be certified in not more than one of the following functional areas: environmental assessment; environmental documentation; environmental operations; environmental planning; and environmental research and education.

      A Certified Environmental Professional is entitled to publicize his/her certification by using the designation "CEP" after his/her name, by applying an inked or embossed CEP seal on various professional documents and other work products, and by other legal and professionally ethical vehicles of communication typically used (e.g., resumes, advertisements). A CEP may affirm to the public that he/she has been certified, or certified in a particular functional area, by his/her professional peers. She/he may affirm that such certification is based upon meeting or exceeding stringent Academy standards of academic education, professional training, employment background, institutional affiliations, career accomplishment, supporting letters and interviews, and technical performance on a battery of professional essay questions.

Contact:   The Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals, Certified Environmental Professional (CEP) Program, 5165 MacArthur Boulevard, N.W., Washington, DC 20016. Telephone (202) 966-8974, Fax (202) 966-1977.

      The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) administers a program for the Registration of Environmental Assessors (REAs). An Environmental Assessor is an individual who, through academic training, occupational experience, and reputation, is qualified to objectively conduct one or more aspects of an environmental assessment. Environmental assessors may include, but shall not be limited to, specialists trained as analytical chemists, professional engineers, epidemiologists, hydrologists, attorneys with expertise in hazardous substance law, physicians, industrial hygienists, toxicologists, and environmental program managers.

      "Environmental quality assessment" or "assessment" means a systematic, documented, periodic, and objective review of the operations and practices, used by any commercial or industrial business or individual whose activities are regulated under Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) or Chapter 6.95 (commencing with Section 25500) of the Health and Safety Code, to achieve, monitor, maintain, and where feasible exceed, compliance with environmental, worker health and safety, and public health requirements for the manufacture and use of hazardous substances and the generation and disposal of hazardous wastes. A complete environmental assessment includes a number of different components related to hazardous substance and hazardous waste management and requires the expertise of a variety of assessors. An environmental assessment includes technical or managerial recommendations or actions, of a general or specific nature, in one of more of the following areas:

(1)   Recommendations or specific actions for complying with, and where feasible, exceeding legal requirements in areas related to hazardous substance and hazardous waste management, including, but not limited to, air quality, water quality, emergency preparedness and response, hazard communications, and occupational safety and health.

(2)   A qualitative review, or where feasible, a quantitative review, of the risks resulting from occupational, public or environmental exposure to hazardous substances.

(3)   Recommendations or actions for anticipating and minimizing the risks specified in paragraph (2), including any potential liability, associated with regulated and unregulated hazardous substances, and any suggested management procedures or practices.

      The applicant for registration as an environmental assessor shall: 1) demonstrate a minimum of five years full-time experience in the applicant's general field of expertise, acquired within the last eight years; 2) demonstrate a minimum of two years substantial experience in performing environmental assessments acquired within the last four years; and 3) possess a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university in a physical or biological science, engineering or law. State certification, licensing or registration or certification by a nationally recognized professional association in a physical or biological science, engineering or law shall be considered equivalent to such training. Five years substantial experience performing environmental assessments acquired within the last eight years shall also be considered equivalent to such training.

Contact:   California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Registered Environmental Assessor Program, P.O. Box 942732, M/S. 241, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320. Telephone (916) 324-6881.