§ 54.1-2302. License required. No person shall operate a waterworks or wastewater works, perform the duties of an onsite soil evaluator, or install or operate an alternative onsite sewage system, without a valid license.

Reviewing the roster of licensed operators there appears a shortage of same throughout southern and southwestern Virginia. How shall the barriers to entrance be overcome?

Should the consumer be the beneficiary of a competitive marketplace?

Was it the board’s intent to protect those early interim entrants from competition?

Shouldn’t the board recognize that a PE, OSE or alternative installer is likely qualified to sit for examination?
Shouldn't community colleges be amongst the avenues for entrance, and practical training without necessity for questionable CPE such as attending trade shows or other vendor driven events?

Is there any possiblity of the Board working with the VDH to encouraging owners of discharging systems to contract with Class IV operators? We see data that thousands of discharging systems are without inspection or responsible operators. Apparently the agency is overcome with burdensome regulations, however there is no other oversight for the Commonwealth's natural resources except VDH & DEQ.

This problem can never be addressed by the licensure of shovelers and hose handlers such as advocated by the implementation of a journeyman license. Knowledgable citizens will recognize that any dilution of responsibility for direct supervision can be expected to result in further damage to the surface and ground water resources. This nation's economy is predicated upon competive services, and personal responsibility.