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Advisory committee means the advisory committee created in section 5 of this act.

Certifying organizations means the two national organizations that certify soil scientists and the one national organization that certifies wetland scientists. For soil scientists, the certifying organizations are the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) and the National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists (NSCSS). For wetland scientists, the certifying organization is the Society of Wetland Scientists Professional Certification Program (SWS-PCP).

Department means the Department of Licensing.

Director means the director of the Department of Licensing.

Holder means a person who has been issued a certificate under this chapter.

Responsible charge means the exercise of fully independent control and direction of soil science or wetland science work, or both, or the supervision of such work, and being fully responsible, answerable, accountable, or liable for the results.

Soil means a living ecosystem that is composed of living and once-living organic materials combined with inorganic mineral materials derived from the break down and weathering of rocks at the earth’s surface. Soil develops as a result of weathering processes that reflect effects of climate, topography and biology acting on the original parent material over time. Soil extends from the surface of the earth down to undifferentiated or unweathered parent material.

Soil science refers to the science that:

(a) Involves the study of various aspects of the living soil ecosystem and includes the following focused subject areas:

• Soil physics;
• Soil chemistry and mineralogy; 
• Soil biochemistry; 
• Soil fertility; and 
• Soil genesis, morphology, and classification; and
  

(b) Can be used to provide information for projects including, but not limited to, the following:

• Management of water quantity by utilizing infiltration and percolation capabilities on a soil-specific basis;
• Treatment of polluted water using soil microbial populations working in concert with natural soil chemistry and mineralogy;
• Treatment of polluted soils using soil biochemical and physical applications;  
• Interpretation of soil morphology that indicates a wetland condition; and 
• Preparation of detailed soil maps that can be used for site-specific soil management, such as erosion control plans.
  

Soil scientist means a person who, by reason of the person's knowledge of soil science, mathematics, the environment, and the supporting physical and life sciences, acquired by education and practical experience, has met the qualifications established under this chapter, and has been issued a certificate as a soil scientist by the director.

Wetland means an area that predominantly supports wetland vegetation, has hydric soils, and has wetland hydrology, as defined in RCW 90.58.030

Wetland science means the science that:

(a) Studies wetland systems and includes, but is not limited to, the following focused subject areas:

• Wetland delineation, which is the formal identification and marking of the wetland boundary on the land surface;
• Wetland mitigation, which describes compensation to offset wetland or wetland buffer losses as required by federal, state or local regulations; 
• Wetland classification, which defines and groups wetlands into discrete ecologically or geomorphically based units which are used to create management plans or to rate wetlands; 
• Wetland rating, which is used to evaluate a wetland's quality based on individual functions and values; and 
• Wetland ecology, which evaluates the interrelationship of organisms and their wetland environments; and
  

(b) Can be used to provide information for projects including, but not limited to, the following:

• Defining legally developable portions of a property, as might be limited by wetland or stream presence;
• Assessing wetland type for purposes of compensation or mitigation.
  

Wetland scientist means a person who, by reason of the person's knowledge of wetland science, mathematics, the environment, and the supporting physical and life sciences, acquired by education and practical experience, has met the qualifications established under this chapter, and has been issued a certificate as a wetland scientist by the director.