5. What are the requirements to become a certified QHP?
Persons meeting the minimum qualifications set forth in
Chapter 0400-40-17.01 and successfully completing the TN-HDT course and course
exam will be certified as a Tennessee Qualified Hydrologic Professional
(TN-QHP).
- Person holding bachelor’s degree in biology, geology,
ecology, engineering or related sciences
- Have at least five (5) years of relevant experience in
making hydrologic determinations that includes regular periodic fieldwork in
biological or hydrologic assessments including one wet weather conveyance
determination for each year of qualifying experience.
6. Who can conduct hydrologic determinations?
Hydrologic determinations may be conducted by persons who
have successfully completed the training course (certified QHPs, or QHP-ITs);
however, the "presumption of correctness" provision contained in Rule
0400-40-17 for a wet weather conveyance determination will only apply to
reports submitted by fully certified QHPs who assert this provision in writing.
7. How much does it cost to take the Hydrologic Determination
Course and to fill out the QHP application?
The cost is $700 to take the 4-day Hydrologic Determination
Course. The cost to submit a QHP application is $50.
8. Once I have my QHP certification how often do I need to take
a refresher course?
All certifications expire on December 31st three years after taking the 4-day course. So you need to take the HDT Refresher Course before your certification runs out in the third year to maintain your certification.
9. Who can conduct wet weather conveyance determinations? Are
there exceptions to the policy of having hydrologic determinations conducted by
a QHP?
Hydrologic determinations may be conducted by persons who
have successfully completed the training course (certified QHPs, or QHP-ITs);
however, the "presumption of correctness" provision contained in Rule
0400-40-17 for a wet weather conveyance determination will only apply to
reports submitted by fully certified QHPs who assert this provision in writing.
Currently it is the division’s policy to require submittal of a hydrologic
determination report for review from a successfully trained individual (QHP or
QHP-IT), when the determination of the jurisdictional status of water features
on site must be established for permitting purposes. The exception to this
policy is for activities associated with private farms or residences, in which
case division personnel will perform this service for the individual upon
request. Hydrological Determination reports should be submitted to the local
TDEC Environmental Field Office for review.
10. What form do I use when conducting a hydrologic
determination?
A QHP must complete a Hydrologic Determination Field Data
Sheet when conducting a hydrologic determination. See at: http://tnhdt.org/PDF/HD%20Field%20Data%20Sheet.pdf
11. How do I check to see my status of whether I am a certified
QHP or QHP-IT?
For QHP go to the Certification List (http://tnhdt.org/certified.asp) and do a
search by First Name, Last Name, Organization, City, or Expiration Date.
For QHP-IT go to the In Training List (http://tnhdt.org/inTraining.asp) and do a search by First Name, Last Name, Organization, City, or Expiration
Date.
12. Why are hydrologic determinations currently necessary?
Permitting processes and regulated activities are tied to hydrologic status, including;
- NPDES point source discharges
- Aquatic Resource Alteration Permits (ARAPs)
- CSW Buffer Zone requirements
- MS4s and other local regulations/codes
For Tennessee Department of Environmental and Conservation (TDEC) regulations, major breakpoint of hydrologic status determinations involves "Stream" vs. "Wet Weather Conveyance" (WWC).
