Environmental Equipment Rental Company VP Brian Chew Criticizes Idea to Kill South Carolina's Geology Licensure Board
Remediation Equipment Expert Writes Stinging Rebuttal to LLR Director Catherine B. Templeton's Report Recommending the Deregulation of Geologists in South Carolina.
Charlotte, NC - Brian E Chew Sr, PG, a recognized remediation equipment expert and Vice President of environmental equipment rental, sales and service firm Enviro-Equipment Inc., is taking aim at a report by Catherine B. Templeton, the former Director of South Carolina's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), which recommends killing the state's Geology Licensing Board.
The report, which was submitted to South Carolina's Governor earlier this year, claims that certification alternatives render licensing obsolete, and that deregulation of Geologists can take place without endangering the health, safety or welfare of the public, or making it harder for consumers to choose a qualified geologist over an unqualified one. It's an argument that Chew, who is widely recognized as an expert and leader in the environmental consulting field, claims is disingenuous, ill-conceived and outright fallacious.
"Registration procedures for geologists in South Carolina are not only necessary, but they're essential," Chew stated. "All applicants for registration must have sufficient education, work experience, and knowledge verified by a rigorous National Association of Boards of Geology (ASBOG) exam. All of this sets a very high threshold for competence and experience, which is fundamental to preserving the health, safety, and welfare of the public."
Chew also takes issue with the suggestion that registration and licensing can be suitably replaced by certification.
"The LLR report claims that the Certified Professional Geologists designation, which is bestowed by the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), is an apples to apples replacement for registration and licensing at the State level," Chew commented. "This is completely ridiculous. I'm an AIPG member, and the AIPG 'certification' is based on the recommendation of other geologists, and doesn't require a State-specific exam. On the other hand, State registration and licensing is exam and experience-based."
Added Chew: "What's more, the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists (AEG), alongside most other professional associations that represent geologists, fully support State Registration and Licensure - because that's the only way to keep the public safe, and ensure that standards of competence and knowledge are met. There is no other way."
When asked whether he feels that his criticisms of the report will be heard by officials and lawmakers, Chew was cautiously optimistic.
"Many experts are up-in-arms about this - especially since registration and licensing geologists doesn't cost taxpayers a cent," Chew stated, "So there's no financial benefit to this recommendation, and it makes the whole thing even more perplexing. Geologists are constantly watching each bill that is passed by the SC legislature to ensure that killing the Geology Licensure Board isn't somehow slipped into one of them."
Chew's full point-by-point rebuttal of former LLR Director (now SC DEHC Director) Templeton's recommendations can be found in the Environmental Equipment blog.
For more information or media inquiries, contact Rand Ratterree at rand(at)enviroequipment(dot)com or 704-556-7723.
About Enviro-Equipment, Inc.
Enviro-Equipment, Inc., a woman-owned small business founded in 1993, rents, sells, and repairs environmental monitoring equipment used for pollution control, groundwater remediation, water and wastewater treatment, safety and industrial hygiene, and environmental assessment. The company's Charlotte, NC facility also offers environmental monitoring instruments, field sampling supplies, safety products, equipment repair, and training. Enviro-Equipment's customers include colleges and universities, government agencies, industry, and environmental consultants in the ground-water hydrology and industrial hygiene fields in North America. Learn more at www.enviroequipment.com.
