Quarterly Board Meeting - 9:30 am - August 21, 2024

 North Carolina Board for Licensing of Geologists 

Minutes 

August 21, 2024 

NC State University Club, Raleigh, NC 

The meeting was called to order at 9:32 am by Board Chair Richard Spruill. Dr. Spruill read the conflict of interest statement. Other Board members present included Dennis LaPoint, Kenneth Taylor, Steve Stadelman and newly appointed member, Joan Smyth. Executive Director Barbara Geiger, Assistant to the Executive Director Jenna Miller, and Christine Ryan, Board Counsel were also in attendance. Emily Klein was absent. Dr. Taylor noted that, as the State Geologist and employee of the NC Department of Environmental Quality, he would refrain from participating in the deliberation or taking any action by the Board with respect to any matter involving an employee of the Department. 

Welcome and Introductions 

Dr. Spruill welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for attending. Board members introduced themselves to newly appointed member of the Board, Joan Smyth. 

Approval of Minutes 

There was discussion by Dr. LaPoint regarding the inclusion of additional information regarding the item Curriculum Issues, under Old Business. Dr. LaPoint noted that the Board had discussed the topic in greater detail than was indicated in the minutes. Following discussion, Motion to approve the minutes of the April 19, 2024 meeting was made by Dr. LaPoint, seconded by Dr. Stadelman and carried. 

Financial Report 

Dr. Taylor presented the fourth quarter profit and loss statement and balance sheet. Motion was made by Dr. Stadelman to accept the financial report as presented. The motion was seconded by Dr. LaPoint and carried. Ms. Geiger reported that the current rate for the STIF account is such that the Board need not transfer funds to other investment sources. 

Administrative Report 

Individual and Corporate Licensees Stats/2024-2025 License Renewal 

Ms. Miller reported that there are 1118 active individual licensees and 209 active corporate licenses. These numbers are slightly down from the second quarter report due to late renewals. Staff expects those numbers to increase slightly and balance out, once reinstatement applications are processed in the months to come. She further elaborated on the numbers of new licenses issued since July 1, 2024, noting that 9 individuals had converted to Inactive Status. Renewal stats show that 95% of individual licensees renewed for the 2024-2025 year and 95% of corporate registrations renewed for the same period. 

There are fourteen candidates registered to sit for Part 1 (FG) of the ASBOG® exam and 5 candidates registered to sit for Part 2 (PG), scheduled for October 3 & 4, 2024. 

2025 Meeting Schedule 

The tentative meeting schedule for 2025 was discussed and adopted by the Board as presented. 

Legal Report and Training 

Board Counsel Christine Ryan reviewed new legislation requiring Boards and Commissions to report information regarding the Agency to the Legislative Library, noting that this piece of legislation also addresses prohibition of the acquisition of quartz mining operations by adversarial foreign governments. She also reported that there were many changes to Chapter 130A affecting wastewater treatment, facilities and regulations. 

Periodic Review of Existing Rules 

Ms. Ryan reported that the Periodic Review of Existing Rules process continued and that the public hearing had been held, with no one in attendance, and that no public comments were received. Motion was made by Dr. LaPoint, seconded by Ms. Smyth that the Board maintain that all the existing rules are necessary. The motion carried unanimously. 

Dr. Spruill suggested that a future topic for the legal report be the complaint process, to include a summary of the process, specifically, involvement of Board members and Board Counsel. 

Continuing Education Report 

Approval of Committee Report 

The Committee reviewed a total of 14 activities. Of those, six activities were approved as submitted and four activities were approved for a different number of hours. Four activities were deferred for additional information. Motion was made by Dr. LaPoint and seconded by Dr. Taylor to approve the report of the Continuing Education Committee as presented. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Dr. Spruill volunteered to serve on the CE Committee. 

ASBOG® 

ASBOG® 2024 Fall Annual Meeting & Workshops – October 22-26, 2024 - Ft. Collins, CO 

The annual meeting and COE workshop were discussed. Dr. LaPoint made the motion that the Board send up to three Board members and one staff member. Ms. Smyth, Dr. LaPoint and Dr. Spruill expressed an interest in attending. 

Old Business 

General Geologic Discussion 

Dr. Spruill informed the Board that he had asked that the topic of general geological discussion be included on the agenda for this meeting and for future meetings to give Board members the opportunity to share and to discuss geological matters. He gave the example of changes in the geologic curriculum and the licensing of academic geologists as a topic that requires ongoing discussion and action on the part of the Board and its members. He reminded Board members that licensure of those in academia is not a requirement of the law, but that those in academia should be identified, and that advocacy of licensure should be cultivated in and among University faculty. Universities with geology programs should be invited to take an active role in 

disseminating information to students regarding the licensing exam, and the importance of licensure for those students interested in pursuing geology as a profession. The Board identified those institutions of higher learning with geology programs as UNC-CH, UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Wilmington, ASU, ECU, WCU, NC Central and Guilford College. (Since the meeting, the Executive Director has identified UNC-Pembroke as having a geology program). It was suggested that Board members visit these universities and attend staff/faculty meetings of the geology departments and make presentations to students. Dr. Spruill suggested that Randy Kath, represent ASBOG® and present CPAT data to encourage those institutions that do not yet participate, to do so to provide access to this valuable tool as regards to their specific program. Dr. Spruill informed the Board that at least four NC universities currently participate in CPAT. Those are ECU, UNC-CH, UNC-W and ASU. 

New Business 

NC General Statute 89E – Technical Changes 

Ms. Geiger and Ms. Miller informed the Board of recent technical changes made to NC GS § 89E because of contact by a licensee, to their legislator. The changes are strictly technical in nature, i.e. gender-neutral edits, removal of references to grandfathering, which is no longer relevant and clarification of geologist in training. The explanation for the changes is as follows: “This proposed technical correction makes language gender-neutral throughout Chapter 89E ("Geologists Licensing Act") of the General Statutes, deletes some obsolete language, and makes other clean-up changes.” The General Statutes Commission recommended that the changes be added to HB 917, which has been passed by the House, but not yet considered by the Senate. Staff was informed that it is possible that the changes will be added and that the General Assembly may consider the bill in November. 

Per NC GS § 143-318.11(6), motion was made by Dr. Taylor to move into closed session to review applications for license and to discuss confidential matters. The motion was seconded by Dr. LaPoint and carried. 

Motion was made by Dr. Stadelman to resume the open session. The motion was seconded by Ms. Smyth and carried unanimously. Motion to approve thirty-nine applications for exam, six applications for comity (one conditional upon verification of license by exam), seven applications for reinstatement, one application for corporate reinstatement and four applications for corporate license, was made by Dr. LaPoint, seconded by Dr. Stadelman and carried unanimously. 

There being no further business, on motion by Dr. Stadelman and second by Ms. Smyth, the meeting was adjourned at 2:04 pm. 

Respectfully submitted: 

Kenneth B. Taylor, Secretary/Treasurer