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

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

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(2) “License” means a certificate issued by the Board to an individual who meets the requirements established for a licensed soil scientist by this Chapter and rules adopted pursuant to this Chapter.

(3) “Licensed soil scientist” means a person who is licensed as a soil scientist under this Chapter.

(4) “Practice of soil science” means any service or work, the adequate performance of which requires education in the physical, chemical, and biological sciences, as well as soil science; training and experience in the application of special knowledge of these sciences to the use and management of soils by accepted principles and methods; and investigation, evaluation, and consultation; and in which 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 interaction between water, soil, nutrients, plants, and other living organisms that are used to prepare soil scientists’ reports for: subsurface ground absorption systems, including infiltration galleries; land application of residuals such as sludge, septage, and other wastes; spray irrigation of wastewater; soil remediation at conventional rates; land application of agricultural products; processing residues, bioremediation, and volatilization; soil erodibility and sedimentation; and identification of hydric soil and redoximorphic features.

(5) “Responsible charge of work” means the independent control and direction by the use of initiative, skill, and independent judgment in the practice of soil science or supervision of the practice of soil science by soil scientists-in-training and subordinates.

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

(7) “Soil science” means the science dealing with soils as an environmental resource. “Soil science” includes the following tasks: soil characterization, classification, and mapping, and the physical, chemical, hydrologic, mineralogical, biological, and microbiological analysis of soil per se, and to its assessment, analysis, modeling, testing, evaluation, and use for the benefit of mankind when specifically required to complete the investigation and evaluation of interactions between water, soil, nutrients, plants, and other living organisms described in subdivision (5) of this section. “Soil science” does not include design or creative works, the adequate performance of which requires extensive geological, engineering, or land surveying education, training, and experience or requires licensing as a geologist under Chapter 89E of the N.C. Gen. Stat. or as a professional engineer or land surveyor under Chapter 89C of the N.C. Gen. Stat..

(8) “Soil scientist” means a person who practices soil science.

(9) “Soil scientist-in-training” means a person who has passed the examination and satisfied all other requirements for licensure under this Chapter except for the professional work experience requirement.

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