GARY L. SNEDDON, P.E.
PE No. 36439
Case No. 2015045621
Licensee was charged with a violation of Section 471.033(1)(g), Florida Statutes – negligence in the practice of engineering. Licensee signed, sealed, and dated six No-Rise Certifications. The No-Rise Certifications are materially deficient. The deficiencies include: no encroached floodway analyses were performed. By failing to address the encroachments in the analyses performed for the properties, Licensee ignored basic hydraulics and therefore materially failed to comply with accepted engineering principles and standards; in two of the No-Rise Certifications, Licensee mistakenly entered NFIP Base Flood Elevations as known water surface elevations at multiple cross-sections. This action ensured that the model’s results at those sections would reflect what was entered and negated the purpose of using the model as an independent calculating tool to identify potential differences for a sufficient distance from the proposed construction along the modeled water course. Using the methodology described to “force water surface elevations” is a material misuse of accepted engineering principles and standards.
Ruling: The case was presented to the full Board upon a Settlement Stipulation. The Board imposed Administrative Costs of $4,300, Appearance before the Board, a Basic Engineering Professionalism and Ethics Course, and the Board’s Study Guide. Additionally, Licensee is RESTRICTED from producing No-Rise Certifications until such time that Licensee submits a request to the Board to amend the Final Order. Upon the Final Order being amended, Licensee will be subject to project review of No-Rise Certifications at six and 18 months. Final Order was issued on 8/18/17.
Violation: Section 471.033(1)(g), Florida Statutes