I am writing to ask you to oppose the elimination/deregulation of Licensed Soil Scientists, which would eliminate licensure for my profession. The General Assembly voted unanimously in 2011 to require licensure for soil scientists because of the potential risks due to a lack of regulation. Some of the negative consequences of unqualified professionals practicing soil science include: 

• Avoidable and expensive repairs for homeowners;
• Vegetative soil cover loss, soil loss and degraded water quality due to a failure to identify acid-sulfate soils; 
• Cracked or damaged structures (e.g., residential buildings, commercial buildings, roadways, bridges, retaining walls, etc.) due to a failure to identify shrink-swells soils; 
• Failed onsite septic treatment systems for residential buildings, commercial building and industrial facilities due to a failure to identify suitable soils for these systems; and
• Erosion and soil loss to surface waters, loss of natural resources, and degradation of environmental quality due to inappropriate selection of sediment control measures and stormwater features affected by site soil characteristics.

Licensed professional soil scientists (LPSSs) must maintain their license and knowledge of numerous activities affected by soil science through continuing education requirements.  This ensures that LPSSs are able to perform consistent, reliable, and critical work in Virginia including designing stormwater management plans, designing and inspecting erosion and sediment control practices and facilities, identifying appropriate sites for onsite sewage systems and foundations for various structures, and identifying Resource Protection Areas for the preservation of the Chesapeake Bay. Without a licensure program for professional soil scientists, there is greater potential of unskilled professionals performing this work with greater negative consequences, such as failing roadways, cracked foundations, failing sewer systems and drain fields, loss of vegetation, erosion and soil loss, and degradation of state water quality. These effects are damaging to farmers, builders, developers, individual homeowners and other citizens and entities that benefit from the use of Virginia’s state waters. These damages have real costs to individuals and Virginia taxpayers in general.

As a member of the Virginia Association of Professional Soil Scientists, I recognize that the Professional Soil Scientist license protects the public welfare and encourages all qualified soil scientists to participate in licensure. Our goals are to:

1. Advance the professional interests of soil science,
2. Act as liaison to promote the exchange of information between soil scientists and other disciplines,
3. Promote high standards of education and training in soil science,
4. Enhance public awareness and appreciation of the profession, and
5. Establish and maintain high standards of ethical conduct in all professional matters. 

As such, I encourage and request that the Board recommend maintaining the license for professional soil scientists in the Commonwealth.