How will the subcommittee meetings be conducted and where are they going to be held?
The meetings will be set up as online teleconference meetings. This will allow all volunteers to participate in the meetings, but not have to travel and be away from work. This type of meeting does not require you to be a computer expert. Most meetings are anticipated to occur starting at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT; 6 p.m. MT; 5 p.m. PT).
How long will the standards development process take?
That all depends on the involvement and participation of the subcommittee members. It could take six weeks or it could take a year-and-a-half. The time spent on this project will be because of the material being dealt with, not because of waiting time.
How much time will it take out of my schedule?
Your active involvement is crucial. Because other industry experts wrote the existing Manual of Water Well Construction Practices, we anticipate the process will smoothly progress in 60- or 90-minute blocks one or two times a month.
How will the finished product be recognized as an industry standard?
In order to get the standard accredited as a national standard, NGWA will follow guidelines set forth by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). After all the subcommittees have worked with NGWA to follow these guidelines in producing their section of the manual, NGWA will submit the finished product for accreditation by ANSI. To make sure the process is fair, ANSI's essential requirements in developing a standard are openness, balance, transparency, consensus, and due process.
Once the standard has been recognized and accredited by ANSI, will it become a mandatory regulation?
By nature, standards are developed and implemented on a voluntary basis. Local, state, and federal government agencies may adopt or refer to a standard as part of its regulations, but that is up to them. NGWA does not intend to directly advocate that each relevant government agency actively adopt the final standard. NGWA's intent is to have the standard become a significant and substantial reference to these agencies.
Will there be other standards NGWA develops?
After this project is completed, others will be considered according to industry needs. However, the water well construction standard will also need upkeep to make sure advancements in the industry are taken into account.