256.453.  Definitions. — As used in sections 256.450 to 256.483, the following words and phrases shall mean:

  (1)  "Board of geologist registration" or "board", the board of geologist registration created in section 256.459;

  (2)  "Certificate of registration", a license issued by the board of geologist registration granting its licensee the privilege to conduct geologic work and make interpretations, reports, and other actions in accordance with the provisions of sections 256.450 to 256.483;

  (3)  "Division", the division of professional registration;

  (4)  "Geologist", a person who has met or exceeded the minimum geological educational requirements and who can interpret and apply geologic data, principles, and concepts and who can conduct field or laboratory geological investigations;

  (5)  "Geologist-registrant in-training", a person who meets the requirements of subsection 7 of section 256.468;

  (6)  "Geology", that profession based on the investigation and interpretation of the earth, including bedrock, overburden, groundwater and other liquids, minerals, gases, and the history of the earth and its life;

  (7)  "Practice of geology", the practice of or the offer to practice geology for others, such practice including, but not limited to, geological investigations to describe and interpret the natural processes acting on earth materials, including gases and fluids; predicting and interpreting mineral distribution, value, and production; predicting and interpreting geologic factors affecting planning, design, construction, and maintenance of engineered facilities such as waste disposal sites or dams; and the teaching of the science of geology;

  (8)  "Public health, safety and welfare" shall include the following: protection of groundwater; buildings and other construction projects including dams, highways and foundations; waste disposal or causes of waste pollution including human, animal, and other wastes including radionuclides; stability of the earth's surface such as could be affected by earthquakes, landslides, or collapse; the depth, casing, grouting, and other recommendations for the construction of wells or other borings into earth that intersect one or more aquifers; and excavation into the earth's materials where stability or other factors are at risk.  "Public health, safety, and welfare" does not refer to geologic work conducted to determine mineral resources or other resources as could be available for various uses, teaching, or basic geologic work including making geologic maps, cross sections, stratigraphic determinations, and associated reports or other presentations;

  (9)  "Qualified geologist" or "professional geologist", a geologist who satisfies the educational requirements of subsection 2 of section 256.468 and who has at least three years of experience in the practice of geology subsequent to satisfying such educational requirements;

  (10)  "Registered geologist", a geologist who has met the qualifications established by the board and has been issued a certificate of registration by the board of geologist registration;

  (11)  "Responsible charge of work", the independent control and direction of geological work or the supervision of such work pertaining to the practice of geology;

  (12)  "Specialty", a branch of geologic study and work such as engineering geology, environmental geology, hydrogeology, mineral resources, and other related work requiring geologic education and experience.