Accreditation of offset verification bodies and offset verifiers for the purpose of verifying offset project data reports under WAC 173-446-535 must be achieved separately from accreditation for the purpose of verifying reports submitted under chapter 173-441 WAC.

(1) An offset verifier or verification body must meet the following accreditation requirements to provide offset verification services to verify GHG emission reductions and GHG removal enhancements for offset projects listed pursuant to this chapter:

(a) Registration as a third-party verifier with ecology. Registration is required for both the offset verification body and all individuals performing verification services for the verification body.

(b) Demonstration to ecology's satisfaction that the offset verification body has sufficient knowledge of the relevant methods and protocols in this chapter. Certification may be limited to certain types or sources of emissions.

(c) Active accreditation or recognition as a third-party verifier under California ARB's offset verification program or another offset verification standard approved by ecology.

(2) Ecology may modify, suspend, or revoke the accreditation of an offset verification body or a member of the offset verification team based on the accuracy of their signed verification statements, conformance with conflict of interest provisions, or compliance with other requirements of this section.

(3) Accreditation of offset verification bodies and offset verifiers for the purpose of verifying offset project data reports under WAC 173-446-535 must be achieved separately from accreditation for the purpose of verifying reports submitted under chapter 173-441 WAC.

(4) An ecology-accredited offset verification body must make itself and its personnel available for an offset verification services audit by ecology.

(5) An ecology-accredited offset verification body may employ or contract with technical experts who are not accredited by ecology to assist with offset verification services, subject to the following requirements:

(a) All technical experts must be listed on the notice of offset verification services and must be included in the evaluation for conflicts of interest required by WAC 173-446-545.

(b) All technical experts must be under the direct supervision of an ecology-accredited offset verifier while performing verification activities.

(c) Technical experts may assist in underlying offset verification tasks, but may not be responsible for completing any offset verification service(s).

(6) "Direct supervision," for purposes of this section, means daily, on-site, close contact with an ecology-accredited verifier acting as a supervisor to a technical expert during a site visit, who is able to respond to the needs of the technical expert in real time. During a site visit, the supervisor must be physically present, or within four hours travel time and available to respond to the needs of the technical expert.

(7) "Technical expert," for purposes of this section, means a natural person, who is not an ecology-accredited verifier, and who has demonstrated expertise in a particular technical area for which the natural person was hired by the verification body to assist with underlying offset verification task(s) that require a particular expertise. A technical expert may be an employee of the verification body working to get the required experience to become an ecology-accredited verifier.