Geologist-In-Training Certification Becomes
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Volume 7 Issue 1 April 2005 Geologist-in-Training Certification Becomes Law Newsletter of the Kentucky Board of Registration for Professional Geologists The Kentucky Society of Professional Geolo- gists (KSPG) and the American Institute of Mission Professional Geologists - Kentucky Section The mission of the Board of (AIPG-KY), proposed a bill to amend KRS 322A Registration for Professional to create a Geologist-in-Training certification. Geologists is to regulate the The amendment was the product of the hard public practice of geology in work and initiative of a number of individuals. the Commonwealth of Kentucky to protect the It was initially drafted by David A. Jackson, PG, citizens of the Commonwealth Kentucky Department of Environmental from negligent, incompetent, Protection, Division of Waste Management, or fraudulent practices. Superfund Branch who served as the commit- Board tee chair for the Geologist-In-Training Standing Larry R. Rhodes, Chairman Committee of KSPG. David Jackson, PG, Kentucky Department of Douglas Reynolds Environmental Protection, Division of Waste Michael P. Sanders The bill was sponsored by Senator David E. Management, Superfund Branch. Robert E. Fox, Public-at-Large James C. Cobb, State Geologist, Boswell (D), Eighth District, and was intro- Ex-Officio duced to the Senate as Senate Bill 141 on Geology examination to become registered as a February 7th. Passage of SB141 would not have professional geologist in Kentucky. Of the 29 Kentucky Division of been possible without the help of Senator Gary states and commonwealths, including the Occupations & Professions John C. Parrish, Director Tapp (R), Chair of the Senate Licensing, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, that require Donna Solheim, Board Occupations & Administrative Regulations licensure for geologists who work within their Administrator Committee who allowed the bill to be consid- borders, over half have geologist-in-training certifications. Office of the Attorney ered, and Senator Ernesto Scorsone (D) who General shepherded the bill through the Committee Mark Brengelman, Board hearings. Representative Denver Butler (D), Amendments to KRS322A enacted with the Attorney Committee Chair, House Licensing, Occupa- passing of SB 141 are presented on page 5, tions and Regulations Committee, and Repre- appearing in italicized, bold, underlined type. Contact Information sentatives Reginald Meeks (D) and Ruth Ann Registration Questions: IN THIS ISSUE … Donna Solheim, Board Palumbo (D), each worked tirelessly to see that Administrator the bill passed on the opposite side of the PageS Kentucky Division of chamber. 1 Geologist-in-Training Certification Occupations & Professions Becomes Law P.O. Box 1360 Frankfort KY 40602 In summary, the bill zipped through both 2 Board Actions 502-564-3296 ext. 240 tel chambers, passing in the Senate 37-0 on 2 New Registrants th 502-564-4818 fax February 17 , and passing in the House 93-0 on 2 Exam Results [email protected] th March 8 . It was signed into law by Governor 2 Calendar Newsletter Comments: Ernie Fletcher on March 18th. The amendment 2 ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology Judith Hower, Communications is the first statutory change since registration Exam Specialist of professional geologists became law in 1992. Kentucky Geological Survey 2 Complaint Review Committee 228 Mining & Mineral Resources University of Kentucky The newly passed amendment enhances the Formed Lexington, KY 40506-0107 current law by clearly demonstrating to the 2 Frequently Asked Questions 859-277-0777 tel public and potential employers those persons 3 The New Madrid Seismic Zone 859-257-1147 fax [email protected] who have met the academic qualifications and 4 We Have a New Home on the Web passed the Fundamentals of Geology examina- 4 Kentucky Energy Policy Released http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/ finance/boards/geology/ tion, and who are in the process of obtaining 4 Our Board Administrator As an agency of the Commonwealth the required five years of work experience of Kentucky, the Kentucky Board of 4 AIPG Annual National Meeting Registration for Professional necessary before taking the Practice of 5 Amendments Enacted to KRS322A Geologists is solely funded by applicants and credential holders, with the Passing of SB 141 and receives no tax dollars. 1 Board Actions Calendar Board Legal Actions 2005 Board Meetings Kentucky ASBOG Exams No actions were finalized since the last announce- Next Meeting: June 6, 2005 October Exam ments. Usual Meeting Dates: First Mondays of Application Deadline: August 13, 2005 Disciplinary Actions even-numbered months Exam Date: October 8, 2005 Time: 1:30 p.m. No actions were taken Location: since the last announce- Council on Examiners Workshop Division of Occupations and Professions ments. April 1 – 2, 2005 911 Leawood Drive, Columbia, South Carolina Frankfort KY 40602 New Registrants Note: Dates are subject to change. ASBOG 2005 Annual Meeting Michael Dever (OH) Please call the Board Office, November 1 – 6, 2005 if you plan to attend. 12/21/04 Portland, Maine Kris Fields (KY) 12/21/04 Complaint Review Frequently Asked Brad Milliman (KY) Committee Formed Questions 12/21/04 Stephanie Weir (TN) At the February 7th meeting of the Board, a Question: Do activities related to the develop- 12/21/04 Complaint Review Committee was formed. The ment of water supplies constitute the practice Committee is composed of two Board members of geology as defined by state law? John Raymer (GA) and will be assisted by the Board Attorney, 12/21/04 Mark Brengelman, JD, MA. The Committee, Answer: Yes. As per KRS 322.010(1) and (3), which will act as a “grand jury,” will review any the Board is of the opinion that groundwater Brendan Merk (OH) new complaints submitted to the Board and investigations constitute the practice of 03/08/05 investigative information thereafter, if any, and geology. As specified under the law the Larry Scusa (IN) bring its recommendations to the entire Board. “practice of geology” includes, in relevant part, The Board will then operate as a “jury” to the “performance of service to the public in 03/08/05 determine whether further legal action is connection with the geological description, warranted against a Registrant under KRS location, or evaluation of earth materials, Exam Results Chapter 13B – the Administrative Procedures liquids, and gases, and the natural processes from October 3, 2003 Act. acting upon them.” The practice of geology also includes the “study of minerals, gases, New complaints initiated will be assigned a and liquids composing and contained within Fundamentals of Geology number, with only the Board staff, attorney, the earth’s crust.” (Emphasis added.) # Took Exam # Passed and Complaint Review Committee members 12 5 knowing the identity of the parties involved. Thus, it is the conclusion of the Board that the PracticeBoard of Geology Actions The remainder of the Board will handle the following activities related to the development # Took Exam # Passed Committee’s recommendations by assigned of water supplies fall under the practice of 12 7 case number and reference to the Committee’s geology as defined by state law: summary of the matter. The Board anticipates ASBOG Fundamentals of that the use of a Complaint Review Committee, • Developing springs as groundwater Geology Exam a practice used by many boards and agencies, supply sources including their description, will further protect the integrity of the com- location and evaluation. At the national ASBOG held plaint-handling process. Use of the Complaint • Determining well and spring aquifer in November 2004, a decision Review Committee will separate the initial quantity and quality characteristics (e.g., was made to increase the investigative and review function of the Board pump test, sampling) including their exam fee from $125 to $150. from the Board’s final decision-making description, location and evaluation. This fee increase will become function as to guilt or innocence. • Monitoring surface water patterns and effective in the Spring 2006. flow rates including their description, Kentucky representative, location, and evaluation. Larry Rhodes, voted against • Geophysical surveys or any other surveys this increase, but the motion to map soil and bedrock conditions. passed. 2 The New Madrid Seismic Zone: What is Kentucky’s Risk? Earthquakes have been in the news a lot recently, so it seems timely to ask — To what extent are earthquakes a risk in Kentucky? The answer to that question is dependent on a number of geologic factors, including earthquake magnitude, distance from epicenter, and local geology. Although our knowledge is insufficient to support the prediction of earth- quakes, it does allow us to estimate risk for geographic regions. Such risk assessments are dependent on both observational data and assumptions. Even moderate earthquakes, like the Sharpsburg earthquake of 1980 (5.2 on the Richter scale), can be costly. Damage from that event was estimated at about $3 million (Hanson and others, 1980). Of the seismic zones affecting Kentucky, the one with greatest potential for catastrophic damage is the New Madrid which is known to have produced at least three very large earthquakes and more than 1,800 aftershocks in 1811–12. Based on historical accounts we know the largest of these New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquakes occurred in the period from December 1811 to February 1812, and we estimate they each exceeded 7.5 on the Richter scale (Nuttli, 1973). Although the New Madrid is the exceeds 20 mm per year, compared with