The Oregon Department of Water Resources will be having the 2015 Fall CWRE workshops in October.  The following is a list of dates and locations for the workshops. 

Date Location City 

October 6th Blue Mountain Conference Center LaGrande 

October 8th McMenamins Old St. Francis School Bend 

October 14th Taprock Event Center Grants Pass 

October 21st Fish & Wildlife Headquarters Salem 

October 22nd Fish & Wildlife Headquarters Salem 

Registration deadline has been changed to September 1.

Seminar Information

Geomatics Workshops

Geomatics and survey workshops hosted by the OSU School of Civil and Construction Engineering:

http://cce.oregonstate.edu/node/226

Oregon Land Survey Law Workshop #1: Register Online • Workshop Brochure     

The workshop explains the basic Oregon land surveying statutes and common law decisions. It introduces the surveyor to the legal portion of the profession. The information is helpful in the Oregon four-hour session of the Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam.

Staff: Prof. Robert J. Schultz, PE and PLS; Tyler B. Parsons, PLS, WRE and CFEDS
Dates: September 10-11, 2015; Thursday/Friday
Fee: $310/person

Parking: Visitor parking permits are available at a rate of $12/day. To purchase a permit, visit my.parking.oregonstate.edu/sales/daily and select Zone A. 

Please note: If a registration must be canceled, a full refund can be made only if a notice of withdrawal is received at least one week prior to the course starting date. A fee of one­­‑half of the course tuition will be charged for cancellations after that period. Substitute attendees are encouraged. Once registration is received, a confirmation email will be sent within two to three business days.

 

The Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying (OSBEELS) will be holding its annual Symposium on Friday, September 11^th.  As background, OSBEELS registers professional engineers, professional land surveyors, professional photogrammetrists, and certified water right examiners to perform services in the state of Oregon.  To renew registration, 30 professional development units are required for each two-year renewal period.  To assist registrants in obtaining these units, each year OSBEELS holds a one-day symposium in which 8 professional development units may be earned.  This year’s theme is Transportation & Infrastructure.

Download More Information Here.

We regret to inform you of the passing of Alan Young.  Alan served Multnomah County since 1968, having worked in Road Services Right of Way Permits for many years. He will be missed.

• Wednesday, August 12, 2015
• 10:00am
• Saint Cecilia Catholic Church
• 5105 SW Franklin Ave, Beaverton, OR 97005

 

Please note the contact information for Multnomah County Right of Way Permits is:

Riad Alharithi

Capital Improvement Program Manager

1620 SE 190th Ave, Portland, Oregon 97233

(503) 988-0181

riad.alharithi@multco.us 

 

Dear Prevailing Wage Advisory Committee Members and Persons with Standing,

The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries has approved adding “Construction Site Survey Party Chief” as a sub-classification of BOLI’s Occupational Definition under Group 2 of the “Power Equipment Operator” (see attachment). It will soon be posted to BOLI’s PWR website at http://www.oregon.gov/boli/WHD/PWR/Pages/Results_Proposed_Revisions.aspx  and become effective on January 1, 2016. 

 

PLSO Members that appeared at the open meeting for reconsideration and discussed their opinion for either side:

• Lee Spurgeon
  
• Jim Greenman
  
• Earl Ming

Aimee McAuliffe appeared, but did not speak.

SUMMER SAFETY

Summer is in full swing, and while safe practices in the field, office and home are important year round, let’s take a look at some safety issues apropos to the summer season.

Sun and heat: The cultural emphasis on sports and fitness has given us an awareness of the importance of staying hydrated. It is very critical for those working outdoors to stay hydrated throughout the day. Make room in your survey rig for a big jug of water. Carry a canteen or sports drinks if you are away from the truck for long periods. Don’t fall victim to dehydration or heat exhaustion. Keep a supply of sun block handy – 15 SPF minimum. And remember, you can get burned on an overcast day. I highly recommend wearing a hat with a brim.

Wasps: Anyone who works in the woods knows that yellowjackets often build their nest in the ground. They don’t like it when you walk all over their front door, and they have their own way of communicating their displeasure. If you are allergic, make sure to carry your EpiPen. If you can’t take out the nest, flag it up for the next person who ambles along, or to remind you on your next visit. Deep within a blackberry patch is an area of prime real estate for paper nests. Be aware and careful when brushing.

Poison Oak: Leaves of three, let them be. Poison Oak is usually found east of Cascade Locks and in southern Oregon but will grow in wetter climates in rocky areas where the soil is well drained. The plant’s urushiol oil can be picked up from all parts of the plant. It can be a problem for others if you take the oil back to the truck and spread it on the seat and steering wheel. If you know you will be working in poison oak, you may want to invest in Tyvek jump suits, which can be removed and sealed in a plastic bag at the end of the day, before you jump back into the rig. Five years ago I discovered a product that actually removes the oil and relieves the poison oak rash. It is called Zanfel. It is very expensive, but it works and can prevent misery and lost time at work. More info: http://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Poison_Oak

Ticks: In Oregon, ticks are most common east of the Cascades and in the Southern part of the state at lower elevations. Some areas to be especially careful in are Dog Mountain, Catherine Creek, McCall Preserve in the Gorge and along the Rogue River. If you work in these areas, you need to educate yourself on tick prevention, tick inspection and removal and Lyme Disease. You do not want to contract Lyme Disease. If not treated immediately, it can ruin your life. An excellent, scary and informative article about Lyme, published in the Spring 2012 issue of the California Surveyor: http://www.californiasurveyors.org/calsurveyor/CalSurv169.pdf

More info on ticks in Oregon: http://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Ticks

Office Safety: Let’s not forget safe practices in the office. A few of the most common office safety issues:

• Using stairs? Use the handrail.
• Got a lot of appliances? Use a power strip, and do not daisy chain them.
• Make sure your fire extinguishers are appropriately placed and labeled.
• Make sure walkways and doorways are free of obstructions. Have an evacuation plan.
• Make sure you have enough people trained in First Aid and CPR.
• And don’t forget that we office people need to stay hydrated, just like our field crews.

Phil Peterson, the Berntsen International chairman and co-founder who pioneered new marking products for the survey industry, passed away June 18 at the age of 90.

During his more than four-decade career, Phil Peterson helped transform how surveyors mark land boundaries. “The surveying industry has lost a visionary and champion and we have lost an amazing man, said Rhonda Rushing, Phil’s daughter and President of Berntsen. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much." 

Phil and friend, Peter Berntsen co-founded Berntsen Cast Products, Inc. (now Berntsen International) in 1972 based on their 'restaurant napkin design' of the W-1 monument – a cast aluminum breakaway marker that was light-weight, resistant to corrosion, and detectable with a magnetic locator. The W-1 won the Governor’s New Product Award in 1975 and it became the core of a business that today sells survey monuments, caps, rods, and posts throughout the world. 

Phil never stopped being an entrepreneur or a tireless promoter of surveying. He was responsible for many product innovations throughout his career and remained an active advocate to the end with his push to move Berntsen into a ‘smart’ marking world. 

At the end of the day, Phil was committed to his family, his employees, and his customers – the surveyors in the field. “Salt of the earth people”, he called them, “we’re here to make sure that they can do the best job possible.” 

Philip R. Peterson 1924-2015

In remembrance of Phil Peterson, our offices will be closed Tuesday, June 23rd, 2015

By Darrell W. Fuller, PLSO Lobbyist

The 78th Legislative Assembly is winding down, and may even complete its work before the end of June. The Oregon Constitution mandates they end (Sine Die) no later than July 11th.

Here is an update on legislation I have been monitoring on behalf of PLSO. This update includes some "late breaking" news on one of the bills.

SENATE BILL 297

This bill, requested by OSBEELS, reorganizes and updates the statutes related to testing and registering Engineers, Land Surveyors and Photogrammetrists. PLSO has been actively engaged with OSBEELS, and other stakeholders, on this bill throughout the session. You can read the final version of the bill by clicking on this link:

https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2015R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB297/A-Engrossed 

The PLSO Legislative Committee supported the intent and most of changes incorporated into SB297. Amendments to the original bill were drafted and adopted in the Senate as a result of a stakeholder meeting with OSBEELS in February.

Nevertheless, there was considerable discussion about two issues related to this bill. First, PLSO agreed to assist ACEC-Oregon with an amendment to clarify that hydrography is within the scope of Land Surveying and that hydrographers should be registered as Land Surveyors in order to practice in Oregon. An amendment was drafted, circulated and had some measure of support in the Capitol. However, a group of hydrographers loudly objected to the amendment. In fact, they even had an amendment drafted which would have prohibited OSBEELS from ever testing, registering or regulating hydrography in any fashion whatsoever. As a result of the competing amendments, PLSO, ACEC and PEO agreed to meet with the hydrographers after the session to look at various options with regard to how hydrography will be regulated in Oregon. So, stay tuned on this issue as it develops.

Second, the bill changes the word "curriculum" to "program" in the sections related to using a four-year college degree as the prerequisite to sitting for an exam. PLSO's Legislative Committee objected to the change out of concern that it would limit the kinds of four-year degrees which would qualify an applicant to sit for the exam. Many colleges and universities do not have "Land Surveying" programs even though their curricula includes all the classes needed to qualify to sit for the exam.

PLSO had an amendment drafted restoring the original statutory language. The amendment was supported by both ACEC and PEO. Rep. Paul Holvey (D-Eugene), the Chair of the House Business and Labor Committee -- which has jurisdiction over the bill -- agreed to support adopting the PLSO-requested amendment.

Here's the late-breaking updates:  OSBEELS held an emergency Board meeting by conference call on Thursday, May 28th. With no PLSs on the phone, and while in Executive Session so only members of the Board were part of the deliberations, OSBEELS decided to oppose the PLSO amendment restoring the word "curriculum". This unexpected opposition resulted in a conference call between PLSO leadership and Mari Lopez, the administrator of OSBEELS. PLSO invited ACEC and PEO leadership to participate in the conference call, as well.

After a thorough discussion of (1) the current statute, (2) the applicable administrative rules which currently clarify how OSBEELS interprets the word "curriculum", (3) why the word "program" was substituted in the bill draft, and (4) the process for updating the administrative rules if the bill becomes law, PLSO's leadership voted to withdraw its objection to the word change from "curriculum" to "program". PLSO will play a significant role in advising OSBEELS on how to modify their administrative rules to ensure there are no unintended consequences resulting from the statutory change.

On June 3rd, the House Business and Labor Committee voted unanimously to report SB297-A to the full House of Representatives for a final vote. Assuming the bill passes the House (a safe assumption), its final stop will be Governor Kate Brown's desk for her signature.

SENATE BILL 383

This bill changes the pleading requirements to be met in order to file suit against design professionals (Architects, Engineers, Land Surveyors and Photogrammetrists). The bill will require the plaintiff's counsel to include a statement from a similarly licensed design professional that defective work was done. Currently, plaintiff's attorneys can include design professionals in a lawsuit with no substantiating evidence. It is costly for design professionals to remove themselves from these suits even if it is clear they did nothing wrong. The final version of this bill will result from ongoing negotiations between design professionals and the trial lawyers. As of the writing of this update, the bill was scheduled for a Work Session on June 4th in the House Consumer Protection and Government Efficiency Committee after passing the Senate on a 29-0-1 vote early in the session. To read the bill, click on this link:  

https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2015R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB383/A-Engrossed 

HOUSE BILL 2831

This bill modifies the authority to use property line adjustments in resource zones (Measure 49 claims). The PLSO Legislative Committee was uncertain if this bill was a "Land Surveying" bill or a land use bill. The Legislative Committee voted initially to oppose the bill, subject to learning more about it and its impact on Land Surveying. After some research, PLSO withdrew its  opposition and is now neutral on the bill. You can read the bill here:

https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2015R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB2831 

The bill passed the House of Representatives on a 40-18 vote and is currently awaiting a vote in the full Senate.

CONCLUSION

This has been a fairly good session for Land Surveying. Nothing truly bad has happened to PLSs and a couple of the bills on track to become law may even improve the profession in the coming year (new laws go into effect January 1, 2016). Of course anything can happen between now and when the politicians finally leave town... it's not over, yet.

If you have any questions about the information presented above, or anything else related to the legislative process or state agency regulation of Land Surveying, please email me any time at fuller_darrell@yahoo.com or call me at 971-388-1786. It is a pleasure working with PLSO leadership and representing you at the Capitol in Salem.

OREGON GPS USERS GROUP 2015 ANNUAL MEETING

Date: June 11, 2015

Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Place: Hollinshead Barn

1237 NE Jones Rd

Bend, OR 97701

Map

AGENDA:

9:00 – 9:15    Network and coffee – speaker setup

9:15 – 9:45  Introductions and annual business meeting

9:45 – 10:45  Dam Fiasco at Bull Flat

Mike Berry, PLS, - Deschutes County Surveyor

10:45 – 11:00  Break

11:00 – 12:00 Space Weather, Impact of Storms on GPS Observations

Joseph Kunches - Director of Space Weather Services, ASTRA, LLC

12:00 – 1:00  Lunch

1:00 – 2:00  UNAVCO presentation on the future of PBO

Dr. Glen Mattioli - Director Geodetic Infrastructure - UNAVCO

2:00 – 2:15  NGS Update

Mark Armstrong, PLS, WRE, Geodesist - NOAA/NOS/NGS Oregon State Geodetic Advisor

2:15 – 2:30  Online Interactive OCRS and ORGN Tool updates

Ken Bays, PLS - ODOT Lead Geodetic Surveyor and ORGN Technical Manager

2:30 – 3:00  Vendor reports

3:00  Adjourn

If you plan to attend please RSVP to Chris Munson at: chris@munson-assoc.com  by the end of the day on Monday June 1, 2015 so we have a good idea how many folks will be eating lunch. 

OSBEELS Board Member Wanted

The Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying (OSBEELS) is seeking a Professional Engineer (PE) and a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS). As per Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 672.240, each PE, PLS or RPP Board member must be a resident of Oregon for at least three years immediately preceding appointing and have been practicing as a registered professional for at least five years since the date of the individual's initial registration.

 

Board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each odd-numbered month and Committee meetings are held the second Thursday and Friday of each even-numbered month.  Board members are eligible for per diem and reimbursements for actual expenses involved in carrying out Board business. For more information on the application process or the role of state Board members, pleasevisit  http://www.oregon.gov/gov/admin/Pages/How_To_Apply.aspx and follow the instructions provided.