(a) Verification bodies, lead verifiers, and non-lead verifiers that will provide verification services (including validation services) under this subarticle must become accredited through fulfilling the accreditation requirements set forth in MRR sections 95132(b) through (e), with the exception of subsections 95132(b)(1)(G), 95132(b)(2), 95132(b)(3), 95132(b)(5), and 95132(e)(1). MRR text is as referred to, except as otherwise specifically provided:
(1) Wherever "section 95102(a)" is referenced, "section 95481" must be substituted. Wherever "section 95132(b)(2) is referenced, "section 95502(c)" must be substituted. Wherever "section 95133" is referenced, "section 95503" must be substituted.(2) Whenever "Performance Review" is referenced, the definition in 95481(a) of this subarticle must be substituted.(b) The Executive Officer may issue accreditation to verification bodies, lead verifiers, and non-lead verifiers that meet the requirements specified in this section. (1)Verification Body Accreditation Application. In addition to the requirements specified in MRR section 95132(b)(1), the applicant must submit the following to the Executive Officer: (A) Documentation that the proposed verification body has procedures and policies to support staff technical training as it relates to validation or verification. This training must include CARB's verifier training curriculum and be provided by a verification body or verification body applicant to its employees and subcontractors that participate on verification teams. Participation of individual verifiers, including verifiers that are not acting as lead verifiers, must be documented.(B) The verification body's templates for risk assessment, sampling, and log of issues for the entity types and report types the verification body intends to verify, as specified in section 95500.(C) Verification body staffing changes are considered an amendment to the verification body accreditation application and therefore the Executive Officer must be notified of any such changes.(2)Verifier Accreditation Application. To apply for accreditation as a lead verifier, the applicant must submit documentation to the Executive Officer that provides the evidence that the applicant meets the criteria in sections 95502(c)(1) though (6). To apply for accreditation as a non-lead verifier, the applicant must submit documentation to the Executive Officer that provides the evidence that the applicant meets the criteria in sections 95502(c)(1) through (2).(c)Verifier Competency Requirements. To perform LCFS verifications, verifiers must be employed by, or contracted with, a verification body accredited by the Executive Officer and submit evidence to demonstrate that competency requirements are met.(1) Verifiers must provide evidence demonstrating the minimum educational background required to act as a verifier for CARB. Minimum educational background means that the applicant has either:(A) A bachelor's level college degree or equivalent in engineering, science, technology, business, statistics, mathematics, environmental policy, economics, or financial auditing; or(B) Evidence demonstrating the completion of significant and relevant work experience or other personal development activities that have provided the applicant with the communication, technical, and analytical skills necessary to conduct verification.(2) Verifiers must provide evidence demonstrating sufficient workplace experience to act as a verifier, including evidence that the applicant verifier has a minimum of two years of full-time work experience in a professional role involved in emissions data management, emissions technology, emissions inventories, environmental auditing, financial auditing, life cycle analysis, transportation fuel production, or other technical skills necessary to conduct verification.(3) To act as a lead verifier, in addition to the qualifications in sections 95502(c)(1) and (2), one of the following qualifications must be met: (A) The verifier must have participated within the previous two years as part of the verification team in at least three completed LCFS validations or verifications under the supervision of a lead verifier accredited under this subarticle by the Executive Officer;(B) The verifier must be accredited as a lead verifier under MRR or the Cap-and-Trade Regulation by the Executive Officer;(C) The verifier must have experience acting as the lead on an attestation engagement services team for the U.S. EPA Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program within the previous two years or currently be acting as a team lead;(D) The verifier must have experience acting as the lead on a Quality Assurance Program (QAP) services team for the U.S. EPA RFS program within the previous two years or currently be acting as a team lead;(E) The verifier must have experience acting as a the lead on a biofuels certification audit within the previous two years or currently be acting as a lead under one of the following international certification systems: International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), or Bonsucro; or(F) The verifier must have worked as a project manager or lead person for no less than four years, of which two may be graduate level work:1. In the development of greenhouse gas or other air emissions inventories; or,2. As a lead environmental data or financial auditor.(G) Candidates meeting one of the lead verifier qualifications in sections 95502(c)(3)(A) through (E) must complete training specific to the LCFS program to become a lead verifier under this subarticle. Candidates applying under section 95502(c)(3)(F) for accreditation as a lead verifier under this subarticle must take the CARB-approved comprehensive general verification training and examination in addition to the training specific to the LCFS program.
(4) To become accredited as a lead verifier for validation of fuel pathway applications (CI) or verification of Fuel Pathway Reports (CI) as specified in section 95500(a) and 95500(b), in addition to the qualifications in sections 95502(c)(1) through (3), the verifier must have experience in alternative fuel production technology and process engineering.(5) To become and remain accredited as a lead verifier for verification of Quarterly Fuel Transactions Reports submitted by producers and importers of gasoline or diesel, Low-Complexity/Low-Energy-Use Refinery Report, Crude Oil Quarterly and Annual Volume Reports, and Project Reports as specified in section 95500, in addition to the qualifications in sections 95502(c)(1) through (3), the verifier must be accredited as an oil and gas systems specialist pursuant to MRR section 95131(a)(2).(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing the Executive Officer from requesting additional information or documentation from a verifier or affiliated verification body to demonstrate that the verifier meets the competency requirements set forth here, or from seeking additional information from other persons or entities regarding the verifier's fitness for qualification.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 95502
1. New section filed 1-4-2019; operative 1-4-2019 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2019, No. 1). Note: Authority cited: Sections 38510, 38530, 38560, 38560.5, 38571, 38580, 39600, 39601, 41510, 41511 and 43018, Health and Safety Code; 42 U.S.C. section 7545; and Western Oil and Gas Ass'n v. Orange County Air Pollution Control District, 14 Cal.3d 411, 121 Cal.Rptr. 249 (1975). Reference: Sections 38501, 38510, 39515, 39516, 38571, 38580, 39000, 39001, 39002, 39003, 39515, 39516, 41510, 41511 and 43000, Health and Safety Code; Section 25000.5, Public Resources Code; and Western Oil and Gas Ass'n v. Orange County Air Pollution Control District, 14 Cal.3d 411, 121 Cal.Rptr. 249 (1975).
1. New section filed 1-4-2019; operative 1/4/2019 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2019, No. 1).