I fully support licensure and professional status for soil scientists.  I oppose the deregulation of soil scientists.  THey protect homeowners from building houses on soils that are inadequate.  Proper resources DO NOT exist to determine the soil types below structures without someone that fully understands their properties.  I use soil scientists on every project that I have and count on them to be certified in their field to determine whether my road design or airport design is adequately situated on proper soils.  We would not have this information, nor would we trust it, using WebGIS or other state data that simply is inadequate for the scale in which we work.  Please understand that the cost of a certified individual is well worth it when it comes to design and human health and safety travelling, living, and using infrastructure over soils that are often karst or inadequate.   I urge you to reconsider and oppose this legislation.

Meredith Jones, P.E. 

Eden & Associates