§ 89F-3. Definitions.

§89F‑3.  Definitions.

As used in this Chapter,unless the context otherwise requires:

(1)        "Board"means the North Carolina Board for Licensing of Soil Scientists.

(2)        "License"means a certificate issued by the Board to an individual who meets the requirementsestablished for a licensed soil scientist by this Chapter and rules adoptedpursuant to this Chapter.

(3)        "Licensed soilscientist" means a person who is licensed as a soil scientist under thisChapter.

(4)        "Practice ofsoil science" means any service or work, the adequate performance of whichrequires education in the physical, chemical, and biological sciences, as wellas soil science; training and experience in the application of specialknowledge of these sciences to the use and management of soils by acceptedprinciples and methods; and investigation, evaluation, and consultation; and inwhich the performance is related to the public welfare by safeguarding life,health, property, and the environment. "Practice of soil science"includes, but is not limited to, investigating and evaluating the interactionbetween water, soil, nutrients, plants, and other living organisms that areused to prepare soil scientists' reports for: subsurface ground absorptionsystems, including infiltration galleries; land application of residuals suchas sludge, septage, and other wastes; spray irrigation of wastewater; soilremediation at conventional rates; land application of agricultural products;processing residues, bioremediation, and volatilization; soil erodibility andsedimentation; and identification of hydric soil and redoximorphic features.

(5)        "Responsiblecharge of work" means the independent control and direction by the use ofinitiative, skill, and independent judgment in the practice of soil science orsupervision of the practice of soil science by soil scientists‑in‑trainingand subordinates.

(6)        "Soil"means the site or environmental setting consisting of soil material, saprolite,weathered materials, and soil rock interface. "Soil" includes thesolid materials, waters, gases, and other biological, chemical, and contaminantmaterials in the soil environment.

(7)        "Soilscience" means the science dealing with soils as an environmentalresource. "Soil science" includes the following tasks: soilcharacterization, classification, and mapping, and the physical, chemical,hydrologic, mineralogical, biological, and microbiological analysis of soil perse, and to its assessment, analysis, modeling, testing, evaluation, and use forthe benefit of mankind when specifically required to complete the investigationand evaluation of interactions between water, soil, nutrients, plants, andother living organisms described in subdivision (5) of this section. "Soilscience" does not include design or creative works, the adequateperformance of which requires extensive geological, engineering, or landsurveying education, training, and experience or requires licensing as ageologist under Chapter 89E of the General Statutes or as a professionalengineer or land surveyor under Chapter 89C of the General Statutes.

(8)        "Soilscientist" means a person who practices soil science.

(9)        "Soil scientist‑in‑training"means a person who has passed the examination and satisfied all otherrequirements for licensure under this Chapter except for the professional workexperience requirement.

(10)      "Subordinate"means any person who assists a licensed soil scientist in the practice of soilscience without assuming the responsible charge of work. (1995,c. 414, s. 1.)