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Operator Certification Exams

2008 DEP Certification at the WWOAP Conference - Date to be Announced
Check back here at a later date for Announcement...(doc file)
Check back here at a later date for Registration Form...(doc file)
Check back here at a later date for DEP flyer regarding License Upgrades...(ppt file)
Check back here at a later date for DEP flyer regarding Exam selection...(ppt file)

EPA Publishes Technical Guidance Manual for Small Filtered Water Suppliers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a final guidance manual called "Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule Turbidity Provisions." This document, which is intended for small filter plant operators, provides information on the combined filter effluent and individual filter effluent requirements in the Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT1). The LT1 is a Federal and State regulation that establishes a treatment technique to control Cryptosporidium. The rule applies to public water systems serving fewer than 10,000 persons and classified as either a surface water system or a ground water system under the direct influence of surface water.

The manual includes the following major chapters:

Turbidity Requirements
Turbidity Sampling Methods and Turbidimeters
Data Collection and Management
Filter Self-Assessment
Comprehensive Performance Evaluation
Turbidity and the Treatment Process
Treatment Optimization

The LT1 turbidity manual is now available on line at www.epa.gov/safewater/mdbp/lt1eswtr.html. This free file is in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF) and is about 6 megabytes in size.

DEP Offers Reimbursement for Training Expenses

Did you know that PADEP will reimburses some operators for training expenses up to $1,500? You must meet these criteria to qualify:

You work for a small water system (community or non-community) serving 3,300 people or less.
You have taken a PADEP approved training course to prepare for taking the certification exam or to meet the continuing education requirement for your first 3-year renewal.

Reimbursement rates are either $30/hour or $50/hour depending on whether you are paid wages for your services. Limitations are $750 for training courses geared toward preparing for the exam and $750 for courses to meet continuing education requirements.

More details are available by calling DEP at 717-705-4090.

Self Assessment Toolkit for Operators

The National Drinking Water Clearinghouse (NDWC) is offering a Water System Self-Evaluation Tool called “Staying Ahead of the Curve: How well do you know your water system?” This tool was created by the Maryland Center for Environmental Training, with USEPA funding. The kit covers three objectives: measuring the technical, managerial and financial strength of a system; developing capital, operation and maintenance planning strategies and budgeting expertise; and proactively complying with regulatory requirements.

Highlights of HB-1830 Operators Certification Act

The Operators Certification Act was signed on February 21, 2002 and is now known as Act 11. The following is a summary of the "new provisions" of the last version of HB-1830 that supposedly went to the governor's desk for signature. This is not an interpretation just a report on what the sections are. For a full review please read the entire bill.

"Available Operator" means certified operator on site or able to be contacted as necessary to make process control decisions.

"Grandparenting" will be allowed for those current non-certified operators of systems that did not in the past require a certified operator at the request of the owner of the system. This operator will then have to meet the requirements to become certified after a specified period of time.

"Operator in Responsible Charge" means an individual designated by the owner to be the certified operator who makes the process control decisions that directly impact the quality and/or quantity of the water or wastewater.

"Owner" - is anyone who is employed or directs a water or wastewater system including officers, "employes", directors, for both private and any form of government agency or authority.

"Process control decision" - is any action or inaction that, "…may affect the public health or environment."

"Certification Board" - goes to six members. The "new" members are "a certified operator who is the owner or official of a privately owned water or wastewater system, and a member of the general public who is knowledgeable in water systems or wastewater systems.

Criminal background check - applicants for certification or recertification shall submit a report of criminal history record from the PA State Police with the application. Renewal applicants shall submit the police report on a schedule developed by the "board".

Classifications and subclassifications still exist in this version of the act, along with the statement that the examinations for certification shall meet nationally accepted standards which shall "promote reciprocity with other jurisdictions."

The Certification Program Advisory Committee has been expanded to seventeen members, including two additional members who are "owners of a manufactured housing community that have water/wastewater systems". Two extra members can be added to this committee expanding it to nineteen members on a temporary basis to handle specific issues.

"Certification classes " for the wastewater side are still "A" through "F". For the water systems there are classes "A" through "D" based on volume of water treated, and a new "E" class for the distribution side of a system only.

An interim program of regulations will be developed until the final regulations are adopted by the EQB.

Professional engineers can still get their certificates without taking the certification exams, if they can prove that their Professional Engineering Exam or their College or University class exams meet or exceed the requirements for all or a portion of the Operators Certification Examination.

Continuing education will be needed by all applicants for renewal including engineers, and grandfathered certificates. The number of credits to be obtained will be spelled out in the regulations.

Reciprocity is to be based on any Board-approved reciprocity register or if the exam given in another jurisdiction meets the same requirements for Pennsylvania's classifications and subclassifications.

Criminal and civil penalties are still present for both the operator and owner. Criminal penalties can range from $50 to $1,000 for owners for each offense and from $50 to $500 for operators. Civil penalties up to $1,000 per day for each violation for either the owner or operator are stipulated. These penalties "may be assessed whether or not the violation was willful or negligent."

A "Whistle-Blower" provision has been added to protect the person who make a good faith report of a violation that is more than minimal or "merely technical" in nature.