Qualified Environmental Professional



A qualified environmental professional, or QEP, is an environmental professional with the necessary training and experience to be recognized as an expert in the specific field of practice. A professional may be a QEP in one particular field, where they have extensive knowledge of the topic, but not in other fields where there is a lack of knowledge. For example, a registered professional biologist (RPBio) may be a recognized expert in sediment and erosion control but not in hazard tree assessment depending on what courses, seminars, and literature the professional has read, and what field experience has been performed. Because of the range in professional environmental services available, it is difficult to formulate a list of qualified professionals for each task. Some consultants claim to be professionals in areas outside of their experience while others truely are qualified.

The Ministry of Environment has presented typical training and experience required for professionals to be considered a QEP for various components of the Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR). Proponents typically require consultants to provide examples of previous projects prior to accepting project proposals. Typically a QEP for the following assessments will have the following training and experience:

Sediment and Erosion Control

1. Experience appropriate to scale of project; Engineer; technical courses on sediment and erosion control; maintain currency.
2. The Urban Rural Land Development Guidebook by the Ministry of Environment provides guidance on developing sediment and erosion control measures.
3. RPBio, PEng, PGeo; possibly RPF, PAg; technologist only as supervised by professional.

Hazard Tree and Wildlife Tree Assessment

1. Danger Tree and Wildlife Tree Assessor Course and up to date certification.
2. Previous experience.
3. RPBio, PGeo, PEng, RPF, ASTTBC, P.Ag.

Stream and Wetland Identification

1. Completed courses at Post Secondary level in Aquatic and/or Biological Sciences / Technical courses on fish species identification and aquatic ecosystem inventory field techniques / minimum of two years completing fish stream inventories and/or assessments/ One year of experience working within British Columbia.
2. RPBio, PGeo, PEng, RPF, ASTTBC, P.Ag
3. Has experience working with DFO-HEB on projects that require stream or wetland identification.

Fisheries Resource Value Assessment

1. Completed courses at Post Secondary level in Aquatic and/or Biological Sciences / Technical courses on fish species identification and aquatic ecosystem inventory field techniques / minimum of two years completing fish stream inventories and/or assessments/ One year of experience working within British Columbia.

Slope Stability

1. A terrain stability professional and recognized by PEng, PGeo association.
2. PGeo or PEng.

High Water Mark Determination

1. Completed courses at Post Secondary level in Aquatic and/or Biological Sciences / Technical courses on lake and wetland ecology and aquatic ecosystem inventory field techniques or plant taxonomy and ecology / One year of experience working within British Columbia.
2. Experience in identifying plant species and soil characteristics.
3. RPBio, PGeo, PEng, RPF, ASTTBC, P.Ag.

Windthrow Assessment

1. Windthrow Assessment Training or seminars.
2. RPBio, PGeo, PEng, RPF, ASTTBC, P.Ag.

Drip Zone and Rooting Strength

1. Completed courses at Post Secondary level in Biological Sciences / Technical courses on botany.
2. RPBio, RPF, PAg, ASTTBC.

Flooding Assessment

1. Appropriate knowledge, training and experience in the assessment of flood hazards and the prescription of appropriate mitigative measures.
2. Ability to identify floodplain boundaries, evidence of past flood impacts, knowledge of suitable mitigation techniques determined by site characteristics. Experience - minimum 5 years of relevant experience.
3. RPBio (possibly PAg), sometimes with PEng, PGeo.

Stormwater Management

1. Appropriate knowledge, training and experience in the design of stormwater management facilities (water quantity and quality).
2. Provide input to Engineer and/or Hydrologist during SMP design (i.e. appropriate locations for outflow locations into watercourses) based on advanced knowledge in aquatic ecology; Hydrologist or engineer with minimum of 5 years relevant experience in storm sewer engineering.
3. RPBio, PGeo, PEng, RPF, ASTTBC, P.Ag.

Environmental Monitoring

1. Have taken Environmental Monitoring Course, or have extensive environmental monitoring experience on projects for DFO-HEB.
2. BIT or RPBio

Landscaping


1. Have taken post secondary training in plant biology.
2. Have designed landscaping plans for 3 years.
3. BIT, RPBio, or landscape architect.

Biophysical Surveying


1. Have taken post secondary training in the identification of local biota common to the survey area.
2. Are supervised by environmental professional with 5 years of experience in performing biophysical surveys.
3. BIT, RPBio

Commercial Diving

1. Have been trained at a commercial diving institute recognizable by Work Safe BC.
2. Are in good standing.

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