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San Luis Obispo Geologists Placed on Probation for Inadequate Work
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2005
SACRAMENTO — Two San Luis Obispo geologists have been put on probation for three years by state regulators after they filed inadequate geologic reports for a proposed hillside home in Santa Barbara County.
The California Department of Consumer Affairs' Board for Geologists and Geophysicists (BGG) also ordered John M.A. Kammer and Richard A. Pfost to reimburse the $15,000 cost of the investigation. Mr. Kammer and Mr. Pfost both hold Professional Geologist and Certified Engineering Geologist licenses. Kammer also holds a Certified Hydrogeologist license.
"Accurately identifying unstable slopes on proposed building sites is key to protecting individual home and business buyers alike," said Paul Sweeney, Executive Officer of the BGG.
According to the Accusation filed in the case, Mr. Kammer and Mr. Pfost misrepresented the property's geologic hazards, particularly the risk of landslides. The Board found that the pair failed to establish an appropriate setback for the home because of inadequate geologic mapping, a shoddy subsurface investigation and other factors.
The result of the inadequate reports was that Santa Barbara County planning officials denied a permit for the home to the consumer who hired the two geologists. That denial was later upheld by the county's Board of Supervisors.
Mr. Kammer and Mr. Pfost must comply with numerous terms of probation or face revocation of their licenses. Those terms include submitting quarterly reports of their activities to the BGG for a review by an independent expert at their own expense, and agreeing to appear for any interviews or meetings called by the Board.
The BGG works to continually enhance the quality, significance and availability of geological and geophysical services to the people of the State of California through licensing and enforcement. For more information, visit the Board's Web site at www.geology.ca.gov.
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