Quick Hits
Right Column
Enforcement Action
William (Bill) Dugan
Professional Geologist No. 6253
The Board for Geologists and Geophysicists (Board) issued a Citation and Fine of $2,500 to Mr. William Dugan, Professional Geologist (PG), for violation of sections 7872(h) and 7860 of the Business and Professions Code and for violation of section 3065(a)(2) of the California Code of Regulations (requiring a Professional Geologist to practice geology with competence and due care).
William Dugan engaged in providing professional geologic services for the Rainer Service Station site at 1905 East Bayshore Road, East Palo Alto, California from January 2001 to October of 2005. The professional geologic work and opinions provided by Mr. Dugan were submitted to San Mateo County Health Services Agency (HSA). The project site documentation completed by Mr. Dugan interpreted the site geology, interpreted geologic datum, and made recommendations based on geologic interpretations and therefore constituted the professional practice of geology in California.
Mr. Dugan has chronically submitted substandard project site work for the above-referenced site including inaccurate boring logs, lack of adherence to proper field sampling protocols and incomplete reports. On multiple different occasions the HSA required Mr. Dugan to provide corrections of technically substandard boring logs, maps, cross-sections, proposed well and construction designs and installations for this site.
Title 16 California Code of Regulations section 3065(a)(2) makes it grounds for disciplinary action for any licensee to fail to act with competence and reasonable care while expressing opinions that have a basis in fact or experience in applying the technical knowledge and skill which is ordinarily applied by licensees of good standing and under similar circumstances and conditions.1
In accordance with section 125.9(d) of the Business and Professions Code payment of the fine does not constitute admission of the violation charged and represents satisfactory resolution of the matter. Mr. Dugan agreed to pay the fine and the case was closed on November 23, 2005.
1 The standard practice of a licensed Professional Geologist (PG) conducting an environmental site assessment under similar circumstances and conditions requires that the reasonable PG submit complete project documentation based upon proper field protocols and field data (e.g., boring logs; which are critical for developing an accurate Site Conceptual Model or SCM). The reasonable PG understands that s/he is not relieved of the duty to expend adequate effort to properly collect, evaluate and report subsurface data so that technically sound recommendations can be provided to conduct meaningful environmental site cleanup for a particular beneficial use. Further, a reasonable PG understands the requirement that technical data shall also be provided for use by the State Water Resources Control Board Geotracker database.
