ATCP 50.46(2) (2) Conservation engineering practices. For purposes of this section, a conservation engineering practice includes any of those practices identified in subch. VIII, authorized by the department under s. ATCP 50.40 (3), allowed under s. 281.65, Stats., or approved and published, as part of the NRCS field office technical guide or as a formal technical standard by the DNR.

ATCP 50.46 Note Note: The DNR publishes its technical standards on its website at, for example: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/stormwater/standards/index.html.

ATCP 50.46(2m) (2m) State soil and water conservation engineer. The department may designate an employee as the state soil and water conservation engineer. The designated person shall be a professional engineer registered under ch. 443, Stats., and demonstrate sufficient training and experience to carry out the functions of the position. The state soil and water conservation engineer shall do all of the following:

ATCP 50.46(2m)(a) (a) Oversee the work of the field engineers who are responsible for certifying conservation engineering practitioners under this section.

ATCP 50.46(2m)(b) (b) Conduct engineering activities requiring job approval authority ratings higher than those authorized under this section including job class ratings of V and above.

ATCP 50.46(3) (3) Conservation engineering practitioner; initial certification and recertification.

ATCP 50.46(3)(a) (a) A person who wishes to be certified as a conservation engineering practitioner shall apply to the department or a county land conservation committee. The department or the county land conservation committee shall promptly refer the application to the department’s designated field engineer. The field engineer shall evaluate the applicant and issue a decision granting or denying the request.

ATCP 50.46(3)(b) (b) Applicants for certification shall apply on a form provided by the department. The application form shall include all of the following:

ATCP 50.46(3)(b)1. 1. The name and affiliation of the person applying for certification, and the name and affiliation of each DATCP, NRCS, or other agency personnel authorized to grant certification to the applicant.

ATCP 50.46(3)(b)2. 2. The practices for which certification may be granted, including specific practice types and applicable references to the NRCS technical guide and other formal technical standards authorized under this section.

ATCP 50.46(3)(b)3. 3. The controlling factor used to distinguish different classes of certification within each practice, and the specific application of the factor to the 5 levels for which certification can be obtained.

ATCP 50.46(3)(b)4. 4. A maximum certification rating level in the 3 areas of competency for each practice that the applicant is qualified to perform, as specified in sub. (5).

ATCP 50.46(3)(b)5. 5. Any other information the department determines to be reasonably necessary for certification purposes including certification for practice standards approved by entities other than NRCS.

ATCP 50.46 Note Note: A person may obtain a certification form by visiting the department website at: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/ATCP50.aspx, or by writing to the following address:

ATCP 50.46 Note Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

ATCP 50.46 Note Division of Agricultural Resource Management

ATCP 50.46 Note P.O. Box 8911

ATCP 50.46 Note Madison, WI 53708-8911

ATCP 50.46(3)(c) (c) Certifications issued under this section are for a term of three years and automatically renew unless any of the following occur:

ATCP 50.46(3)(c)1. 1. The practitioner is not employed by an entity with a supervisor who is authorized to sign the certification.

ATCP 50.46(3)(c)2. 2. The practitioner fails to meet the education requirements.

ATCP 50.46(3)(c)3. 3. The practitioner has failed to provide or update information required for certification under par. (b).

ATCP 50.46(3)(c)4. 4. The practitioner has rescinded the signature on the certification or otherwise indicates an intent to surrender the certification.

ATCP 50.46(4) (4) Evaluating applicants for certification.

ATCP 50.46(4)(a) (a) To evaluate an applicant under sub. (3), the department’s field engineer shall complete a department certification form. The field engineer shall rate the applicant under sub. (5) based on the applicant’s demonstrated knowledge, training, experience, and record of appropriately seeking assistance. Evaluations shall be fair and consistent.

ATCP 50.46(4)(b) (b) To evaluate an applicant, the department’s field engineer may conduct interviews, perform inspections, and require answers and documentation from the applicant. The field engineer may ask engineering staff from NRCS to help evaluate an applicant.

ATCP 50.46(5) (5) Certification rating.

ATCP 50.46(5)(a) (a) For each type of agricultural or other conservation engineering practice identified in the required certification form, the department’s field engineer shall identify the most complex of the 5 job classes in the practice for which the applicant is authorized to do each of the following:

ATCP 50.46(5)(a)1. 1. Conduct planning activities, including site inventory and evaluation functions to define alternative engineering solutions.