I support the continued regulation of Certified Professional Wetland Delineator (PWD) by the Commonwealth of Virginia's Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) in its current form.   Certification of PWDs is necessary to protect the Commonwealth and its citizens and continues to satisfy the 4 criteria required for an occupation to be regulated.  The PWD certification is necessary for the Commonwealth of Virginia because it protects the public from inadequate delineations, avoids costly errors in development, reduces permitting backlog for regulators, and ensures protection of wetland resources and the Virginia economy.  There are no other certification programs that can provide assurances of competency to perform this work.  I urge DPOR to acknowledge the value of the PWD certification and recommend the continuation of the Virginia PWD Certification.  

Thank you for your consideration of these comments.