The revised language of the bill is posted on the NYSCPG web page. In a nutshell, changes in this year's version of the bill deal with more activist definitions of "geology" and "practice of geology", removal of language referring to "incidental practice" by engineers and geologists, and the provision for a combined board of engineering, land surveying, and geology. The bills in the Senate (bill no. S03263) and Assembly (bill no. A06281) carry different numbers from those of last year since we are in a new legislative session.

Write directly to your local Assemblyman and Senator. Letters of support should be kept to a single page. Addresses for all Assemblymen and Senators are available on the web at http://assembly.state.ny.us and http://www.senate.state.ny.us/ and also on the NYSCPG home page. Note the slight differences in the URLs for the Senate and Assembly. Mention the bill number in your letter and ask for the legislator's support. In addition to the letter to your representatives, we request that the NYSCPG and the Chairmen of the Higher Education Committees of the Senate and Assembly be included on a "cc" list. The two Higher Education Committees are the ones in which the fate of the bill will be decided. The names of the respective Chairmen are Senator Kenneth LaValle and Assemblyman Edward Sullivan. Simply send one copy of your letter to NYSCPG, c/o Jean Neubeck at Alpha Geoscience, 400 Trillium Lane, Albany, NY 12203 and she will then take care of the cc list for you and forward your letter to the Higher Education committee chairmen.

The following "talking points" might be incorporated into a letter requesting support from a legislator. In addition, you might mention specific programs or projects in which you, as a geologist, have been involved which enhanced public health and welfare of the people of New York.

Geologists routinely perform work, make decisions and offer opinions that directly affect public health and welfare.

Professional licensure provides a positive legal responsibility and accountability of geologists to the public in matters that involve geology.

Licensure assures the Governor, State Legislature and state and local agencies that highly-qualified geologists are available to work in the state. Licensure of geologists is an acknowledgement by the State of New York that, in the public interest, decisions regarding geologic issues be made by an appropriately-qualified professional.

The public looks to geologists to solve problems relating to land use and management such as solid waste disposal, ground-water protection, contaminant investigations (e.g. Superfund sites), sea-level rise, potable water supply development, and public works projects to name just a few. Licensure is particularly important for a regulatory- or service-driven industry where there may be few tangible factors to evaluate. Geologists evaluate natural resources such as oil and gas, and natural hazards like earthquakes, landslides and subsidence, erosion, and flooding, all of which have documented occurrence in New York State and have financial impacts of tens of millions of dollars. Professional licensure is a credential by which New York State and the public can recognize those capabilities.

Although NYSCPG acknowledges we are asking for a significant amount of effort, all geologists working in New York will benefit from the passage of a licensure bill. Approximately 25 states currently have some form of licensing for geologists; this is New York's chance to join the rapidly growing ranks.

Legislative Update
by Don Clarey, The Minerva Group

After months of negotiations with various interests and many meetings with several governmental agencies, our legislation to provide for professional licensure by the State was reintroduced into the New York State Senate and Assembly. The bill, which was very carefully drafted, contained many revisions to meet various objections raised in the 1998 version. We believe that all the major questions that were raised last year have been resolved.

The bills (S-3263 and A-6281) were introduced on March 2 by Senator Carl L. Marcellino (R-Oyster Bay) and Assemblyman Steven Englebright (D-Suffolk County). This legislation was introduced as a "uni-bill." While such a bill does not expedite its consideration, it does indicate to the other legislative members that there is agreement on the language in both houses.

At the present time, the legislature is still considering the 1999-2000 Executive Budget. As usual, there is no agreement on this and for the fourteenth year in a row the legislature will fail to meet the April 1 start of the fiscal year. Such delay should have little impact on our bill as the legislature will move forward with program bills such as ours even without a final budget in place. Because the legislators are currently focused almost solely on the budget, our sponsors have advised us to sit still for a few weeks before we begin to make our push. However, I would request that we send as many letters of support of these bills as possible to our local legislators during this time. Our plan is to move the bills, currently under consideration in the Committees on Higher Education in each House, out to the full Houses in late April or early May. Consideration for passage should take place in early June. Because of all the work we did last year, we are quite confident that this year the bill will pass the legislature this session and be forwarded to the Governor for his signature.

NYSCPG

NYSCPG Meets with Empire State Pedologists

On March 14, 1999, amidst a Syracuse snowstorm, representatives of the NYSCPG and the Empire State Pedologists (ESP) met to discuss geologists licensing in New York State. The meeting addressed concerns held by soil scientists that they should be included in the licensing process and may be prevented from practice if left out. The meeting was attended by two representatives of NYSCPG and two representatives of ESP.

The dialogue between ESP and NYSCPG began in September 1996, when NYSCPG provided a summary of the licensing effort for the ESP annual meeting. Since that time communication has continued between the organizations. At the March 14 meeting both groups explained their goals and objectives.

The main topic of discussion at the meeting was the perceived potential for restriction of the practice of soil science by private consultants. Tyrone Goddard, State Soil Scientist of New York and officer of ESP, reiterated ESP's desire to see the definition of the practice of geology in the licensing bill encompass the area of practice of soil scientists. ESP is concerned that a lay person might interpret the definition to mean that a PG is required to investigate soils. ESP acknowledged that the bill expressly exempts soil scientists from licensing. However, soil scientists feel the listing of the exemption deep into the text of the bill makes it unlikely to be noticed by most people.

William Kelly, president of NYSCPG, said that it is not the intent of geologists or does the language of the bill intend to exclude soil scientists from practicing soil science. NYSCPG maintains that although related to geology, soil science is a distinct entity. He added that geologists are generally not qualified nor do they have intentions to practice soil science. Kelly pointed out that soil scientists who wish to practice geology can become licensed. The proposed licensure bill does provide a mechanism for a soil scientist who is trained in geology and meets the educational and experience requirements to obtain a geology license.

The meeting closed with the understanding that the geologists licensing bill will move forward in its present form.

Following the success of geologists licensing, it is the intent of NYSCPG to continue in an advisory and advocacy role for geologists. Of primary importance to NYSCPG will be the review of legislation potentially affecting the practice of geology. Gould assured ESP that its concerns are important to NYSCPG and that NYSCPG is willing to assist and support with efforts to license soil scientists.

1999 ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS

Returning for 1999 are lots of familiar faces. However, at this time we would like to introduce newly elected Director Vita DeMarchi. Vita is the current President of the Central New York Association of Professional Geologists. The positions of the officers have not changed, with the exception of Jerry Bastedo, who has assumed the role of Vice-President.

Calendar of Events

APR 15-18 26th Annual Rochester Mineralogical Symposium. Contact Dr. Helen H. Chamberlain, PO Box 85, Manlius, NY 13104-0085.

APR 29 ASCE/BAPG Environmental Seminar, "RBCA-Now or Never", Rochester Institute of Technology, Contact Paul Micciche at 716-381-2210.

MAY 10 7th Annual Great Lakes Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Conference presents "Recent Advances in Ground Improvement Methods" in Room 306 of the Kent State University Student Center in Kent, OH. Cost is $140 for professionals and $50 for students. For more information contact Brian Greene at (412) 741-1928 or email at briangeol3@juno.com.

BAPG Spring Meetings:

APR 21 BAPG Monthly meeting, Little White House Restaurant, 5877 Main Street, Williamsville, NY. Speaker TBA.

MAY 19 BAPG Monthly meeting, Little White House Restaurant, 5877 Main Street, Williamsville, NY. Speaker TBA.

CNYAPG Spring meetings:

APR 8 "Onondaga Lake Update", Timothy Mulvey, Onondaga Lake Cleanup Corp. and Dr. John Ferrante, Atlantic States Legal Foundation.

MAY 13 "A Walking Tour of Downtown Syracuse Describing the Geologic Origins of Local Buildings and Stone Work" presented by Mr. Bob Preyer - MOST. Call Diane Trianni at (518) 452-0096 for more information.

HMPGA Spring meetings:

APR 21 "Environmental Forensics," by Dr. Jun Abrajano -RPI. Call Diane Trianni at (518) 452-0096 for more information.

MAY 19 Technical Symposium at Earth Tech, Inc. For more information contact Michael Palleschi at (518) 452-0096.

Long Island Geologists Spring Meetings:

Conference on Geology of Long Island and Metropolitan New York. The 1938 Long Island-New England Hurricane, perhaps the only "Big One" in the U.S. in this century, devastated the Northeast Region sixty years ago. Research on recent hurricanes, and detailed knowledge of the 1938 storm, now allow us to predict what the effects of a major hurricane landfall will be on our region in the future. Storms, anthropogenic alterations of the shoreline, development practices and a rising sea level have resulted in major erosion of Long Island's beaches. Coastal areas are now more vulnerable to an expected increase in both nor'easter storms and hurricanes in the coming decade(s). Research in Western Long Island has lowered major northeast hurricane landfall frequencies from the traditional 100-125 to 75-90 years. The "Big One" is almost due. Will we be ready?

Call for Papers for Sixth Conference on "Geology of Long Island and Metropolitan New York" Saturday April 24, 1999 at SUNY Stony Brook Deadline for submission of titles is February 1, 1999. Presentations may be oral, poster or abstract only. Deadline for submission of abstracts is March 1, 1999. Web address http://pbisotopes.ess.sunysb.edu/lig/

NYSCPG MEMBERSHIP

We need to augment the number of NYSCPG members to demonstrate that geologists are supporting the licensing bill and to help with the financial support that is required to pass the bill. Pick up the phone and contact your colleagues and encourage them to become a member in the NYSCPG today!! If you have not joined for 1999, please download the membership form and join or renew your membership today, and encourage a friend to join!

Please mail your completed membership forms to Jerry Bastedo, Membership Director, at NYSCPG, S-5215 Orchard Avenue, Hamburg, NY 14075.
Thank you!