It is with respect that I urge your careful consideration of and support for continuing the licensing of geologists in VA.

Daily, we provide services of critical importance not only to the public but also to local, municipal, and state government officials and leaders in multiple industries, including, but not limited to, water and wastewater, commercial and residential real estate, hard and soft-rock mining, forestry, environmental and energy, agriculture/viticulture, ground/air/rail transportation, construction, and recreation/tourism. Questionable work by unprepared, unlicensed, ill-trained, and uneducated practitioners could jeopardize public welfare and the safeguarding of life, health, property, and the environment. In addition, the outcomes of shoddy work could have significant financial impacts on Virginia's residents, tourists, employers, and employees.

Kindly amend the regulation to make VA geologist licensure a mandatory requirement.

Dan Jackson (#918)