ACEC California members: Take Action Today to support AB 1210

ACEC California is sponsoring AB 1210 (Garrick, R-Carlsbad) to make it clear that a state agency—just like anyone else—may not violate the Professional Engineers Act. The bill specifically addresses the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB’s) regulations on Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs). These regulations purport to authorize QSD/QSPs, many of whom are not professional engineers, to do civil engineering. For example, SWPPP documents include water flow calculations, water load calculations, drainage and flow rate calculations, soils analysis and soil stability calculations, and other civil engineering work. AB 1210 makes it clear that the SWRCB is not above the law, i.e. the Professional Engineers Act, which provides that only licensed civil engineers and persons under their responsible charge may practice civil engineering, is the final authority on who may or may not practice the elements of civil engineering.