The south coast district may establish a program to certify private environmental professionals to prepare permit applications. The program shall provide for all of the following:

(a)  Certification by the district of private environmental professionals who meet minimum qualifications established by the district and who successfully complete a district training program in the methods of preparing permit applications. The training program shall include a description of permit requirements established by district rules as well as any additional requirements established by the district for applications submitted by certified private environmental professionals.

(b)  Expedited review by district personnel of permit applications that, at the option and expense of the permit applicant, are prepared by a certified private environmental professional.

(c)  Full district review of a sample of permit applications prepared by certified private environmental professionals to determine whether or not district requirements for preparation of applications have been followed.

(d)  Decertification of any certified private environmental professional found by the district to have done any of the following:

(1)  Knowingly or negligently submitted false data as part of a permit application.

(2)  Prepared any permit application in a manner contrary to district requirements.

(3)  Prepared a permit application where the person has a financial conflict of interest as defined in guidelines to be adopted by the district.

(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 371, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1993.)