Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a)
Commercial nutrient management specialist. Determination of
competence for a commercial nutrient management specialist shall be based on
the successful completion of precertification training and examinations as set
forth in this section. Precertification requirements for a commercial nutrient
management specialist include an orientation training course, a nutrient
management plan writing course and a written examination approved by the
Department. As advancements in science and technology make new nutrient
management techniques and BMPs available and after these techniques and BMPs
are approved by the State Conservation Commission, the precertification
requirements may include other course work related to those techniques and best
management practices, as well as, any new requirements set forth in the
nutrient management regulations, as part of the certification course and
training requirements. The new techniques and BMPs will not become part of the
final certification requirements until after training manuals and course work
have been modified to include the information necessary to impart knowledge of
these new techniques and BMPs. Nutrient management plans developed under this
subsection shall be determined to be adequate by the Department or its
designee.
(b)
Public
nutrient management specialist. Determination of competence for a
public nutrient management specialist shall be based on the level of
certification sought to be attained.
(1)
Public nutrient management review specialist. To be certified
as a public nutrient management review specialist the applicant shall
successfully complete precertification training and examinations as set forth
in this section. The precertification requirements for a public nutrient
management review specialist include an orientation training course, a nutrient
management plan review course, a nutrient management plan writing course and a
written examination approved by the Department. As advancements in science and
technology make new nutrient management techniques and BMPs available and after
these techniques and BMPs are approved by the State Conservation Commission,
the precertification requirements may include other course work related to
those techniques and best management practices, as well as, any new
requirements set forth in the nutrient management regulations, as part of the
certification course and training requirements. The new techniques and BMPs
will not become part of the examination until after training manuals and course
work have been modified to include the information necessary to impart
knowledge of these new techniques and BMPs. Nutrient management plan reviews
completed and nutrient management plans developed under this subsection will be
determined to be adequate by the Department or its designee.
(2)
Public nutrient management dual
specialist. To be certified as a public nutrient management dual
specialist, the applicant shall successfully complete precertification training
and examinations set forth in this section. The precertification requirements
for a public nutrient management dual specialist include an orientation
training course, a nutrient management plan review course, a nutrient
management plan writing course and a written examination approved by the
Department. As advancements in science and technology make new nutrient
management techniques and BMPs available and after these techniques and BMPs
are approved by the State Conservation Commission, the precertification
requirements may include other course work related to those techniques and best
management practices, as well as, any new requirements in the nutrient
management regulations, as part of the certification course and training
requirements. The new techniques and BMPs will not become part of the final
certification requirements until after training manuals and course work have
been modified to include the information necessary to impart knowledge of these
new techniques and BMPs. Nutrient management plan reviews completed and
nutrient management plans developed under this subsection will be determined to
be adequate by the Department or its designee.
(c)
Precertification. The
precertification training courses must, at a minimum, consist of the following
areas of nutrient management planning:
(1)
Nutrient application including:
(i)
Determination of the cropping system and crop nutrient requirements.
(ii) Determination of sources of nutrients
available for application on the farm.
(iii) Determination of additional nutrients
required to obtain realistic expected crop yields.
(iv) Application records.
(2) Manure management.
(3) Excess manure alternatives.
(4) Stormwater runoff control.
(5) Applicable laws and
regulations.
(6) Proper nutrient
management plan review procedures (public nutrient management specialists
only).
(7) Proper nutrient
management plan writing procedures (commercial, public nutrient management
specialists only).
(8) Other areas
and course work related to requirements set forth in the nutrient management
regulations, as determined appropriate by the Department.
(d)
Examination. The written
examination will be proctored by the Department or its designee. The Department
will administer the examination at least twice per year, or more often as
deemed necessary by the Department. At a minimum, the successful completion of
the examination will demonstrate an examinee's technical knowledge relating to
nutrient management planning and nutrient management plan development in the
following areas:
(1) Competency in soil
science and soil fertility.
(2)
Competency in nutrient application and management.
(3) Competency in crop production.
(4) Competency in soil and manure testing and
interpretation.
(5) Understanding
in determining needed BMPs related to proper utilization of nutrients and
stormwater management.
(6)
Competency in fertilizer materials and their characteristics.
(7) Understanding of environmental and
economic impacts associated with nutrient management.
(8) Understanding of the act and other
applicable laws and regulations.
(9) Other areas related to new technology and
BMPs that become available and are approved by the State Conservation
Commission, as well as, new requirements set forth in the nutrient management
regulations. These other areas will not become part of the final certification
requirements until training manuals and course work have been modified to
include information necessary to impart knowledge of these new techniques and
BMPs.
(e)
Other
examinations. The Department may approve the use of written
examinations other than the Pennsylvania nutrient management examination, if
the written examinations meet the requirements in subsection (d).
(f)
Provisional
certification. Upon the successful completion of the requirements in
subsections (c) and (d), the applicant for certification as a commercial or
public nutrient management specialist will be issued the appropriate
provisional certification. The holder of a provisional certification is
qualified, dependant on the type of provisional certification attained, to
develop or review, or both, nutrient management plans for the purpose of
satisfying the requirements of this section regarding final certification.
Provisional certification is valid for 3 years ending on the last day of the
month from the date of issuance.
(g)
Final certification
requirements. Once provisional certification has been granted the
provisionally certified specialist shall complete one of the following
dependant on the type of provisional certification granted and final
certification sought.
(1)
Commercial
nutrient management specialist. To attain final certification, a
provisionally certified commercial nutrient management specialist shall develop
three approved nutrient management plans which meet the requirements of section
6(e) of the act (relating to nutrient management plans). Nutrient management
plans developed by the applicant shall be submitted to the Department or its
designee for approval.
(2)
Public nutrient management specialist. To attain final
certification, a provisionally certified public nutrient management specialist
shall do one of the following dependant upon the level of provisional
certification attained and the level of final certification sought.
(i)
Public nutrient management review
specialist. To attain final certification, a provisionally certified
public nutrient management review specialist shall successfully review two
nutrient management plans and develop one approved nutrient management plan
which meets the requirements of section 6(e) of the act. Nutrient management
plan reviews completed and nutrient management plans developed by the applicant
shall be submitted to the Department or its designee for approval.
(ii)
Public nutrient management dual
specialist. To attain final certification, a provisionally certified
public nutrient management dual specialist shall successfully review two
nutrient management plans and develop two approved nutrient management plans in
accordance with section 6(e) of the act. Nutrient management plan reviews
completed and nutrient management plans developed by the applicant shall be
submitted to the Department or its designee for approval.
(h)
Public nutrient
management specialist to commercial nutrient management specialist. A
certified public nutrient management specialist may obtain certification as a
commercial nutrient management specialist. To attain this certification, a
certified public nutrient management review specialist shall develop two
approved nutrient management plans or a certified public nutrient management
dual specialist shall develop one approved nutrient management plan in
accordance with section 6(e) of the act. The certified public nutrient
management specialist seeking this certification shall submit the nutrient
management plans or plan to the Department or its designee for review and
approval.
(i)
Public
nutrient management review specialist to public nutrient management dual
specialist. A certified public nutrient management review specialist
may obtain certification as a public nutrient management dual specialist. To
attain this certification, the certified public nutrient management review
specialist shall develop one approved nutrient management plan in accordance
with section 6(e) of the act. The applicant seeking to attain this
certification shall submit the nutrient management plan to the Department or
its designee for review and approval.
(j)
Commercial nutrient management
specialist to public nutrient management specialist. A certified
commercial nutrient management specialist who wishes to obtain certification as
a public nutrient management specialist shall complete a nutrient management
plan review course covering proper nutrient management plan review procedures
and shall successfully review two nutrient management plans in accordance with
section 6(e) of the act. The applicant seeking to attain this certification
shall submit the nutrient management plan reviews to the Department or its
designee for review and approval.
The provisions of this § 130b.11 amended under
3
Pa.C.S. §
508(a).
This section cited in 7 Pa. Code §
130b.2 (relating to definitions); 7
Pa. Code §
130b.12 (relating to final
certification); 7 Pa. Code §
130b.21 (relating to determination
of competence); 7 Pa. Code §
130b.31 (relating to
recertification); and 7 Pa. Code §
130b.41 (relating to
general).
