Background
Subsurface wastewater disposal systems are used extensively throughout the State of Maine to treat and dispose of domestic and commercial wastewater. Maine, being primarily a rural state, relies largely upon small subsurface wastewater disposal systems. Municipal wastewater systems often are uneconomical, unfeasible, or unavailable.
Soil percolation tests were utilized prior to 1974 in Maine to determine the suitability of the soil and the appropriate design of the disposal system. The Department of Human Services, Division of Health Engineering, which is responsible for administering and enforcing the Maine Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules, experienced significant problems with this method of determining soil suitability. The increasing rate of malfunctioning disposal systems, coupled with development of unsuitable areas, created the potential for an escalation of health hazards, nuisances and environmental degradation.
The concept of site evaluation for wastewater disposal system design began in Maine in the early 1970's as an improved and more reliable method for determining soil suitability. Rules requiring on-site soil evaluations for design of all subsurface wastewater disposal systems became effective in July, 1974.
Maine requires that individuals who design disposal systems be licensed. Maine's Department of Human Services, Division of Health Engineering, administers the licensing of these individuals. A person who is interested in becoming a Site Evaluator must have an educational background and experience that indicates to this Department that he or she has a knowledge of soils and subsurface disposal design. Qualified individuals are permitted to take a written examination to prove they have the necessary skills and knowledge to do the design work correctly. After successfully completing the written examination, they are permitted to take the field examination to illustrate their proficiency in soil profile description and classification which is necessary for disposal system design.
Site evaluation combines on-site soil evaluation with consideration of site conditions. Licensed Site Evaluators are required to have the skill and ability to properly identify and accurately report soil textures and limiting factors so they can adequately classify soils, recognize site limitations and properly size disposal systems.
Application
An Application request for the Site Evaluator's examination shall be on an application form furnished by the Department and requires the following information:
1. Educational background with a description of any completed courses pertaining to soil evaluation or subsurface wastewater disposal.
2. Work experience involving soil investigation or subsurface wastewater treatment design.
3. Three (3) references shall be submitted on a form supplied by the Division by persons who have a professional knowledge of the applicant's work, one of which shall be a Licensed Site Evaluator.
The applicant's request for examination, along with the completed application and reference forms, must be received by the Department no later than [30] days prior to the examination date.
An application fee of twenty-five ($25.00 US) dollars shall be submitted with the application and is non-refundable. Checks shall be made payable to Treasurer of State.
Qualifications
Education or Experience
A. Education
1. A graduate from an accredited college or university with an undergraduate degree in engineering, geology, pedology, or similar disciplines.
2. Twelve [12] months or more of experience which indicates that the applicant is competent to perform site evaluations.
B. Experience
1. Have a high school education or equivalent.
2. Four [4] years or more of experience which indicates that the applicant is competent to perform site evaluations.
Examinations
A. Only qualified persons will be admitted to the examination.
B. Examinations shall be held on dates and places as determined by the Department, but in no case shall the Department hold less than one [1] examination per calendar year.
C. The examination consists of written and field portions which focus on the principles and practices of Site Evaluation. Either portion of the examination may be taken prior to the other.
The written portion will test the applicant's knowledge of soils and familiarity with the Code and will consist of three parts: 1) Rule requirements, 2) Soils, and 3) System Design. A copy of the Code may be used as a reference during the examination. The fee for the written portion of the exam is $25, payable prior to each exam session.
The field portion will test the applicant's ability to identify soils with regards to parent material, textural classification, drainage conditions, and depth to limiting factors in accordance with the Code. The fee for the field portion of the exam is $75, payable prior to each exam session.
D. The passing grade for both portions shall be a score of seventy [70] unscaled.
E. Applicants failing two or more sections of the written exam must re-take the complete examination at the next scheduled date. Applicants failing one section of the written exam may re-take the failed section at a date scheduled by the Department. An applicant who fails to pass a failed section after two tries must re-take the complete written examination.
An applicant who passes either the written or field portion of the exam, but fails the other portion, must take the entire exam again, unless the applicant successfully passes the failed portion within twenty-four (24) months.
Licensure
A. The Department shall issue a license to an applicant who passes both portions of the examination.
B. Licenses shall be renewed the first day of March of each odd numbered year by submitting the updated correction card and licensing fee.
C. A Site Evaluator who allows a license to lapse may renew it any time during the following two (2) year period, provided his/her record of conduct is acceptable to the Department. Failure to renew a license after the two (2) year grace period shall require a re-examination.
D. A Site Evaluator shall not perform site evaluations with an expired license.
E. The license fee is one hundred [$100.00 US] dollars for a two [2] year period; and beginning with the 2007-2009 licensing period, each licensee shall earn a minimum of twelve (12) professional development hours within each license period in order to obtain license renewal.
Please contact the Division if you would like to have a a Site Evaluator application packet sent to you, or download the following documents.
Some of these files require that you have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print them. Download a free Acrobat Reader.
Site Evaluatior Examination Application
Site Evaluator Rules Ch. 245
Site Evaluator Licensing flyer
Site Evaluation Manual This is a 6.5 Mb PDF file and may take several minutes to download.
Disposal Field Design Theory
Technical Supplement to the Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules (PDF)
2009 Tentative Schedule for Maine Site Evaluator Examinations
- The written examination will be given at the end of April or the first of May.
- The field examination will be given at the end of August to the end of September.
- The notices for the date and location for the written examination will be sent out by the end March.
- The notices for the date and general location of the field exam will be sent out at the end of July.
- One week prior to the field exam the exact location of the field exam will be sent out to examinees.
All applications for the written site evaluator examination have to be received by the Department for review no later that April 10, 2009 to sit for the 2009 written examination.
The field examination can be taken prior to the written exam if an examinee needs additional time with a practicing site evaluator during the spring and summer.
All applications for the field site evaluator examination have received by the Department for review no later than August 14, 2009 to take the 2009 field examination.
If examinee takes the field examination prior to written examination they will be able to sit for the next written exam in April or May of the following year.
All of the above dates are subject to change per the Department.
Doug Coombs, State Site Evaluator
Field Exam Test Pit Review Judges Sought
The Division invites interested licensed Site Evaluators to join the soil test pit judging team ("the experts") for the 2009 Site Evaluator Field Exam.
Requirements for a Maine Licensed Site Evaluator who is willing to review the Test Pits for the Field Exam:
- Willing to spend half to a full day in the fall at the exam site reviewing the test pits;
- Not be related to, work with, be the employer of or mentor of anyone who will be taking the fall field exam so that there would not be any possibility of a conflict of interest.
- Have an open mind and be willing to discuss as a group the soil description including: texture, consistency, color and limiting factors to determine soil profiles and conditions per the Rules and in the setting of the exam;
- Be willing as individual to work with the group in coming to a consensus in the determination of the soil profiles and conditions and be able to determine test pit characteristics based on the soil description and set ranges on specific items; and
- Be willing to be a constructive member of a panel discussion at the MASE fall seminar when the test pits are reviewed.
If you would like to be included on the list as a test pit reviewer for the field exam contact Doug Coombs, State Site Evaluator.
