• On April 30, 2013 a newsletter was released by the Swamp School, LLC which raised concerns with PAPSS’ proposed soil scientist licensing bill. The newsletter article purports that wetland delineators in PA will be required to be licensed as soil scientists should the bill be passed. A second article was released on May 7, 2013, despite assurances from PAPSS to Swamp School, LLC that the proposed bill does not require the licensing of wetland delineators. Furthermore, the second article raised the issue of “overlap” with the PA Sewage Enforcement Officer (SEO) certification.

• It is PAPSS’ position that the licensing of soil scientists is necessary to protect the consumer, provide a high degree of professionalism and ethics, and promote the use of basic standards within the soil science community. In 2011, the PAPSS Board of Directors released “The Case for Licensing of Soil Scientists in PA“. Those who are more familiar with the specific issues surrounding the proposed licensing of soil scientists in PA understand the need to more appropriately define a “soil scientist”. While PA DEP regulations, guidance documents, and municipal ordinances have recognized and adopted the term “soil scientist”, very few have provided a commensurate definition that recognizes the specialty of the profession. With regards to wetland delineators and SEOs, those familiar with the industry understand that the practice of soil science constitutes only one aspect of these professions and by no means does the proposed licensing seek to replace these professions, only to provide specialized technical assistance when such assistance may be needed.

• The following two soil science-related news stories were provided by a PAPSS Member (Thank you!):

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/27/nyregion/picking-new-yorks-official-soil-its-apparently-not-that-simple.html?hp&_r=1&

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/12/opinion/sunday/the-hidden-world-of-soil-under-our-feet.html?ref=opinion&_r=0

• The May 31, 2013 PAPSS-Sponsored Hydric Soil Seminar in Pittsburgh has been finalized and the flyer is available here. Scheduled presenters include Dr. William Mitsch of the Everglades Wetland Research Park (Florida Gulf Coast University) and Mal Gilbert of Gilbert Environmental.  See below for detailed information on the April 24th and 25, 2013 PAPSS-Sponsored hydric soil seminars in Bradford County, PA.

• The 2013 PAPSS Registry of Professional Soil Science Consultants is now available under the “Find a Soil Scientist” page.

• PADEP has released a draft guidance document for sewage planning in HQ and EV watersheds, available here.  The 60 day comment period began on March 2nd and ends on June 3, 2013.  It is imperative that PAPSS members review the document and provide comments before May 1, 2013.  Please contact Chris Whitman at cwhitman@ebertengineering.com or Mark Mills at msmills@ptd.net if you have any questions. A powerpoint slide show that explains the basis of the document is available here.

• Version 3.0 of the Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils is now available from the NRCS.  The digital version is available here and hard copies can be ordered here.

• Click here for some great pictures of soil profile exposures that were created as a result of Hurricane Sandy (thanks to Jim Turenne via LinkedIn)

• Click Here for an interesting article about a proposal in the UK to reduce peat consumption to more sustainable levels.

• Thanks to Ed White for submitting past issues of PENNSOIL.  The Archive now contains a total of 35 back issues, the oldest issue from October 1986. As always, please feel free to contribute information or photographs for the website.