My name is Ian Smith and I serve as Senior Water Resources Engineer for VHB, an engineering, environmental services, and planning firm with four offices and more than 100 employees in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We provide wetland delineation services along the East Coast from Maine to Florida—in all states, this profession is regulated by the state. In my early days as an engineer I assisted many wetland professionals in performing wetland delineations and over the course of my career have and continue to work side by side with environmental scientists in designing and permitting stream restoration, wetland mitigation, and infrastructure projects.
I am urging the Board to continue licensure for Certified Professional Wetland Delineator in Virginia for the following reasons:
Protection of Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
Distinguishable from other Occupations and State Assurances of Competency
Protection for the Public from Improper Practice of Wetland Delineations