1. National Association of State Conservation Agencies
State Parks * Soil and Water Conservation * Outdoor Recreation Planning
Natural Heritage * Dam Safety and Floodplain Management * Land Conservation
National Association of State Conservation Agencies
October 2, 2018

2. Engineering Job Approval Authority for Agricultural Best Management Practices in Virginia

3. History of Engineering Job Approval
Effective October 1, 2013
NRCS no longer delegated engineering job approval authority for Virginia District employees
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) rules employees not under “direct control and personal supervision”
DCR “grandfathered” District employees with existing authority to continue to design and certify practices under Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program (VACS)
NRCS continued to provide training and support

4. DCR District Engineering Services
Provides services for 47 Virginia Districts
Established by the Department in 2014 and provides:
Engineering support with designs;
Training of District employees;
Implementation of various quality control measures
Engineering Job Approval Authority (EJAA)
Key component of quality control measures
Authority to design, inspect, and certify various BMPs
Level of EJAA based on individual’s training, experience, and demonstrated competence

5. DCR District Engineering Services (Cont.)
Currently 6 employees
4 professional engineers
2 engineers (including manager) provide engineering assistance and administers EJAA for Districts
2 engineers assist Districts with responsibilities related to flood control structures
Additional engineering technician oversees agricultural BMP engineering training program; provides support to Districts
Dam engineering technician responsible for hydraulic and hydrologic modeling for dams

6. Dam Safety Related Services
DCR Staff “Engineer of Record”
104 District owned dams
14 Virginia State Park dams
Administer District Dam Maintenance, Repair, and Rehabilitation Fund
$500,000 provided annually by General Assembly
Additional $312,000 provided for routine maintenance ($3,000 per dam)
Study on rehabilitation of high hazard District dams due to Governor and General Assembly by November 1

7. Virginia’s EJAA
Established under Code of Virginia authority of the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board
§ Duties of Board.
3. To oversee the programs of the districts.
§ Delivery of Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program.
Districts shall locally deliver the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program described under §  , under the direction of the Board, as a means of promoting voluntary adoption of conservation management practices by farmers and land managers in support of the Department's nonpoint source pollution management program.

8. Development of Virginia’s EJAA
VA DPOR determined Program exempt from law because all practices are agricultural
Convened an Engineering Workgroup to develop Program
Comprised of District employees, Association of Soil and Water Conservation District representation, and DCR staff
Based on NRCS’ Program
Adapted standards and specifications
Utilized standard drawings

9. Development of Virginia’s EJAA (Cont.)
Worked closely with NRCS during development
Training provided for key Department staff
Program based on combination of demonstrated competency and training
Program effective January 1, 2018

10. What requires EJAA?
Cost-share program BMPs comprised of numerous NRCS components
Example: livestock exclusion (SL-6)
Comprised of 8 NRCS components
Livestock pipeline, pumping plant, heavy use area protection, spring development, stream crossing, trails and walkways, watering facility, water well etc.
EJAA assigned for components, not BMP
Other practices requiring EJAA include:
Grass filter strips
Grazing land management
Terrace systems

11. EJAA versus PE Certain components must be designed by licensed PE
Determination made based on:
Risk to life and property
Type of engineering required
Guidance issued by NRCS
Examples: sediment basin; waste storage facility

12. 3 Categories of EJAA Investigation and Evaluation Design
On site observations for planning and preparation
Provides producer with options for addressing concerns
Design
Design of practice
Review of information, drawings, and specifications to ensure practice will address the concern
Establishing any specific inspection requirements

13. 3 Categories of EJAA Construction Surveys, layouts, staking
Inspection of materials and work
Ensuring installation meets specifications
Requires approval signature

14. Levels of EJAA Varying levels can be issued for each component
Similar to NRCS
Example: May be issued for up to 1,500 feet of pipeline or up to 3,000 feet of pipeline
Other variations include diameter of pipeline, velocity of stream
Levels issued depend on competency demonstrated

15. Competency Demonstrated
Examples of EJAA
Category
Factors
Units
Competency Demonstrated 1 2 3 4 5
Livestock Pipeline
Pressure
PSI (pounds per square inch)
50;
100
200
250
300
Diameter
Inch
1.5
All
Length (longest run)
Feet
1,000
2,500
5,000
10,000
Stream Crossing
Design velocity (<=6)
FPS (feet per second)
Design velocity (>6) 7 8 10
Culvert Inside Diameter
Inches 18 24 36 48

16. Requirements to Receive EJAA
For new EJAA
Review of at least 3 complete design packages
Person requesting review must have contributed to designs
Must be documented in the plans
For re-certification of EJAA
Review of 3 complete design packages preferred

17. Review of EJAA
Schedule determined in consultation with Engineering Workgroup
Issuance or renewal at discretion of Department
Reviews occur:
Once every 3 years for employees with existing EJAA (either NRCS or DCR)
Yearly review for employees who have never had EJAA for first 3 years of certification
Field visit required for construction level EJAA

18. Unsatisfactory Reviews
Employees that have held EJAA for more than 3 years but have not had a satisfactory review:
Must have annual review no later than one year after unsatisfactory review
Additional review in lieu of invalidating EJAA
If second review is satisfactory, employee returns to review every 3 years

19. Certification Letter to each employee after review includes:
Whether review was deemed satisfactory
Any deficiencies noted
When next review will be conducted
Statement regarding status of EJAA
Certification documents
EJAA certification sheet
All issued EJAA categories and levels listed

20. Training Training is significant portion of Program
Regional trainings provided yearly based on needs
One-on-one training with individual Districts
Combined training for all Districts provided annually
Program based on combination of demonstrated competency and training

21. Department of Conservation and Recreation
Clyde E. Cristman, Director 600 East Main Street Richmond, VA