California Code of Regulations
Title 16 - Professional and Vocational Regulations
Division 29 - Board for Geologists and Geophysicists
Article 1 - General Provisions
Section 3003 - Definitions

(a) "Board" means the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

(b) "Engineering Geology" means the application of geologic data, principles and interpretation so that geologic factors and processes affecting planning, design, construction, maintenance, and vulnerability of civil engineering works are properly recognized and utilized.

(c) "Responsible Position" means a position whereby a person having individual control and direction of a geological project exercises individual initiative, skill and judgment in the investigation and interpretation of geological features, or the supervision of such projects. An individual can be considered to be in a responsible position even though not registered and working as a subordinate employee to a registered or qualified geologist.

(d) "Professional geological work" is work performed at a professional level rather than at a subprofessional or apprentice level and requires the application of scientific knowledge, principles and methods to geological problems through the exercise of individual initiative and judgment in investigating, measuring, interpreting and reporting on the physical phenomena of the earth. Implicit in this definition is the recognition of professional responsibility and integrity and the acknowledgment of minimal supervision.

"Professional geological work" specifically does not include such routine activities as drafting, sampling, sample preparation, routine laboratory work, etc., where the elements of initiative, scientific judgment and decision making are lacking, nor does it include activities which do not use scientific methods to process and interpret geologic data. Further, it specifically does not include soils engineering, soils sampling, soils testing or other activities in or related to the agricultural application of soils sciences. It also does not include mining, mining engineering or other engineering disciplines and/or other physical sciences wherein geological investigation, analysis and interpretation are minimal or lacking.

(e) "Professional geophysical work" is work performed at a professional level rather than at a subprofessional or apprentice level and requires the application of scientific knowledge, principles and methods to geophysical problems through the exercise of individual initiative and judgment in investigating, measuring, interpreting and reporting on the physical phenomena of the earth. The term includes the practice of geophysics for the evaluation and mitigation of earthquake hazards, and environmental and groundwater resource assessment. Implicit in this definition is the recognition of professional responsibility and integrity and the acknowledgment of minimal supervision.

"Professional geophysical work" specifically does not include activities wherein the analysis or interpretation of geophysical or geological information is lacking. Such nonprofessional work could encompass party or crew chief and would encompass lesser forms of employment in field parties, the manufacture, assembly or maintenance and repair of geophysical instruments and equipment, computer programming, data processing or retrieval and routine activities normally performed by a technician in acquiring and reporting on geophysical information where the elements of initiative, scientific judgment and decision making are absent. It also does not include those engineering disciplines and other physical sciences wherein geophysical or geological investigation, analysis and interpretation are minimal or lacking.

(f) "Practice of Geology or Geophysics."

(g) "Code" means the Business and Professions Code.

(h) "Hydrogeology" means the application of the science of geology to the study of the occurrence, distribution, quantity and movement of water below the surface of the earth, as it relates to the interrelationships of geologic materials and processes with water, with particular emphasis given to groundwater quality.