• Proposed Amendments to Rule 180-7-.09 Global Positioning Systems

• Re-wrote the introduction; Committee process took place through SAMSOG. Did not change any meat of the proposal; reached out to equipment manufacturers and received feedback from them.

• Summary of the rule - surveyors are being asked to take multiple observations at each point rather than relying on a single reading - they must return to re-measure. This approach ensures more reliable and accurate data through repeated observations.

• Edits could still take place but do want to go ahead and post online.

Rule approved to post online

Kathleen Bowen
Impact Public Affairs

www.pels.georgia.gov

The new PELS Board website contains valuable information for licensing, continuing education, compliance, and other important matters.

GEORGIA PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND LAND SURVEYORS BOARD

Important Update - Land Surveyor Licensure Process
(Updated 11-20-2024)

On May 2, 2024, Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 195 into law.  This new law, affecting Section 7 of OCGA 43-15-13, significantly changes how the State Board will review and approve land surveying applications for licensure.  Download .pdf copy of the new law.  Here are few important facts about the new law:

• Eighteen semester hours of acceptable land surveying coursework are still required by law for licensure as a land surveyor.Per previous board policy, prerequisite hours required for the required surveying coursework do not apply towards the total of 18 hours of land surveying subjects.
  

• Three distinct experience tracks for licensure are now created with passage of the new law, based on the level of education of the applicant.Each track requires different amounts of experience as follows:
  
  • High School Diploma 8 years of acceptable land surveying experience
  • Associate’s Degree 5 years of acceptable land surveying experience
  • Bachelor’s Degree 3 years of acceptable land surveying experience

• Effective immediately, applicants are now allowed to take the NCEES FS, NCEES PS, and the GA State Specific exams (in this order) at any time during their licensure journey.Surveying coursework should be completed or nearly complete before attempting to pass the exams.

• Applicants that take and pass the FS (Fundamentals of Surveying) exam may apply to the board to obtain a LSIT certificate if desired.

After all requirements above and requirements as set forth in board rules and policies are met, the applicant may apply to the board for licensure as a professional land surveyor.  The new law as passed, along with board rules and policies in effect at the date of the application submittal will be used as the criteria for the application. The board will review the application package and issue licensure as a professional land surveyor if all requirements are deemed by the board to have been met. 

Board rules are currently in the process of being changed to comply with the new law and add a few additional requirements.  Newly revised board rules are anticipated to go into effect in Q1 2025.   Until the revised board rules are adopted by the board, the board will review applicants under the same guidelines and existing board rules as previously used, with a few exceptions:

• Applicants that are waiting to complete a board required amount of experience are now free to take all three licensure exams at any time.

• Applicants will be required to complete their board required amount of experience, even after passage of all three exams. Applicants nearing completion of their required experience are encouraged to submit their application for licensure package upon completion and passage of all three exams.Their experience will be considered under the new experience guidelines as set forth under the newly passed law.

The Board has created an easy to understand graphic representation of the paths to licensure in the State of GA. 

Download a .pdf copy of this document

The Service published a notice in the Federal Register on November 3, 2023 (88 FR 75621), to invite Federal, State, and local officials to review the draft boundaries and provide input during a 30-day stakeholder review period. The Service assessed the comments received and made no changes as a result of those comments. You can also expect to receive a notification letter in the mail. 

We encourage Federal, State, and local officials to consider integrating the updated CBRS data into their Geographic Information System (GIS) platforms and other information systems so that CBRS information is readily available to interested parties. 

For additional information please visit our website or contact us at cbra@fws.gov.

Thank you,

Jen Zosh

Jennifer Zosh

Program Specialist

Branch of Coastal and Marine Resources

Ecological Services

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: ES

Falls Church, VA 22041

703-358-2429 (office)

703-358-1800 (fax)

Governor Brian Kemp appointed Trenton (Trent) D. Turk to the State of Georgia Board of Registration for Land Surveyors and Engineers at a swearing in ceremony held at the state capital on April 20, 2024.  The Governor appointed Turk to complete the term vacated by the resignation of Mr. Elmo Richardson expiring June 1, 2025. 

Trent Turk has served the land surveying community in Georgia in various roles with the Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia, including President, Chairman of the SAMSOG Education Foundation, and most recently Chairman of the SAMSOG Education Task Force.   The efforts of the education task force resulted in the introduction and passage of SB195 in 2024 that streamlines and simplifies the process for obtaining a professional land surveyor license in the state.

When asked about his appointment to the board, Turk stated: “I am excited and honored to have been selected by Governor Kemp to serve on the state board.  I look forward to working with my fellow land surveyor board member, Jim Mattison, and other board members to enhance our profession’s standards and ensure the welfare of Georgia’s residents and businesses.  I plan to diligently work on getting the licensing process aligned with the newly passed licensure law as we work towards building a better, more responsive board for the surveyors and members of the public within our state.”

Rule (180-11-.03) is currently in the process of being changed.  LINK:  https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/NOH%20Rule%20180-11-.03.pdf . 

The public hearing and recommendation is on the December PELS SBOR meeting agenda.  From there it goes to the Governor’s office, and should be ratified in a few months.  In all likelihood it will be in full force and effect for next year’s 2024 renewal.  Knowing that the old rule is still in effect is very important.

Old Requirement: 15 hours every 2 years which includes 6 hours of Minimum Technical Standards (“MTS”) every 4 years.

New Requirement: 7.5 hours every year and of that 3 hours of MTS every 2 years.  The design is that you need your 3 hours of MTS every other renewal.

• A 2023 renewal, in order to check the box for being compliant, you need at least 7.5 hours obtained in 2023 or 3.75 and 3.75 carry over from last year.  This is for the total requirement.  As to MTS, the old rule requires 6 hours every 4 years.  So, if you have taken 6 hours of MTS during 2020 or more recently, you’re good.  If you were at the Mock Trial presentation by Trent Turk, myself, Robert Armstrong, et. al. at the Annual Technical Seminar of 2020, you have satisfied the requirement.  If not, you need 6 hours for the 2023 renewal. 
• For 2024, 7.5 hours are required PLUS 3 hours of MTS in the last 2 years (2023 or 2024).

2 hours are available at the January Technical Seminar (leaving one due in 2024).  This new format makes it easier to offer MTS at the chapter level.  For example, the Foothills Chapter is planning to have two 1.5 hour sessions next year, out of the 4 total meetings held through the year.  Please use caution if you plan to purchase MTS continuing education through an online provider other than SAMSOG (to view Con Ed videos CLICK HERE).  I’ve reviewed some of it in the past and it’s way out of date or half bogus.  To clarify how important this is, there are still some folks who are failing to put the recording box in the upper left corner of the plat (mostly out of state guys).  This has been a requirement for a few years now.  and is a violation if a complaint is filed, or could be shown as negligent if sued (even if the rest of the plat is spot on).

Mark Chastain, PLS

Provided by NSPS

The NSRS is a consistent coordinate system that defines latitude, longitude, height, scale, gravity, and orientation throughout the United States.  I am available to speak to individuals and groups about these systems and the changes coming in 2025, as well as a variety of NGS Products and Services we offer.

The following opportunity was recently announced regarding preparing coastal communities for expected changes.  Questions may be addressed to Aja Szumylo.

Charles Geoghegan, Geodesist

NOAA's National Geodetic Survey

NGS Advisor, Mid-Atlantic Region*

(240) 678-2117

NGS Testing and Training Center

15351 Office Dr

Woodford, VA  22580

*DC/DE/GA/MD/NC/SC/VA/Puerto Rico/ US Virgin Islands

https://geodesy.noaa.gov/ADVISORS/

Climate Resilience Regional Challenge

On June 20, 2023, NOAA is launching the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge. Up to $575 million is available through this competitive grant program to help coastal communities increase their resilience to extreme weather events and impacts from climate change. The funds are provided by the Inflation Reduction Act.

This is an unprecedented opportunity to transform our coasts, as the program is investing in collaborative approaches to climate resilience using a regional approach, with an emphasis on equity, adaptation, and building enduring capacity. There are two separate, simultaneous tracks:

• Track One – Regional collaborative building and strategy development: $500,000 to $2 million, to be spent over five years, for each successful applicant.
• Track Two – Implementation of resilience and adaptation actions: $15 million to $75 million, to be spent over five years, for each successful applicant.

It's a short turnaround, so we'd appreciate it if you can help us spread the word. Details can be found on our webpage: coast.noaa.gov/funding/ira/resilience-challenge.

The First Step: Outline your proposed project and submit a letter of intent. NOAA will invite selected applicants to submit a full application. Details regarding the letter of intent and the application are provided within the funding announcement.

• Due Dates: For the letter of intent: Monday, August 21, 2023. For the full application: Tuesday, Feb 13, 2024.
• Eligible Applicants: Coastal states, territories, counties, cities, tribes, and tribal organizations; public or private nonprofit organizations; and institutions of higher education.
• Matching Funds: There is no matching requirement for this funding.
• Technical Assistance: NOAA may provide technical assistance for applicants developing letters of intent and full proposals. Visit our technical assistance page to learn more.
• Virtual Information Sessions for Applicants: Dates and times for virtual information sessions:
  • Tuesday, July 11, 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time
  • Wednesday, July 12, 7 to 8 p.m. Eastern Time

Aja Szumylo (she/her)
NOAA West Regional Coordinator
NOAA West Regional Collaboration Team
NOAA West Leadership Program Manager
NOAA Regional Collaboration Network
Cell: (206) 580-9903
Improving NOAA’s service to the nation through collaboration

CLICK HERE FOR INFORAMTION