- Statutory Requirements for EPA (§1419, §1420)
| February 1997 |
Initiate Operator Certification Partnership |
| February 1998 |
Publish Information Developed Through Partnership |
| February 1999 |
Publish Certification Guidelines Specifying
Standards |
| February 2001 |
Implement 20% DWSRF Withholding Requirement |
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, EPA is directed
to initiate a partnership with states, water systems, and the public
to develop information on recommended operator certification requirements.
EPA is also required to issue guidelines specifying minimum standards
for certification and recertification of the operators of community
and nontransient, noncommunity public water systems. EPA, through
grants to the states (allocated on the basis of "reasonable costs"),
is required to reimburse training and certification costs for operators
of systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer, including an appropriate
per diem for unsalaried operators, who are required to undergo training
as a result of the Federal requirement. In order to avoid a reduction
of 20% of their annual Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)
allocation, states are required to implement the minimum guidelines
or an equivalent state program.
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Impact on Existing EPA/state Programs under SDWA
- Impact on EPA: Currently, there is no national certification
framework because the 1986 SDWA Amendments did not provide EPA authorization
in this area. EPA's operator certification activities have been
limited to EPA Headquarters' grants to external organizations
for specific projects.
-
Impact on States: Currently, most States have mandatory
operator certification established through State legislation or
regulations. The new SDWA provisions will require some States
to modify their existing programs to meet the Federal guidelines.
In so doing, some States may need to revisit legislation or regulations.
Also, States may have to establish a structure to administer EPA
grant funds provided to the State for reimbursing training and
certification costs of operators.
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Need for Project
Drinking water operator competency is critical for the protection
of public health and the maintenance of safe, optimal, and reliable
operations of water treatment and distribution facilities. Minimum
Federal guidelines ensure that operators have the operational skills,
knowledge, experience, education, and training required to operate
a water system. Once water operators are initially trained and certified,
regular recertification will ensure continual competency. The requirements
to be issued by EPA will provide baseline standards for efficient
and effective State water operator certification programs.
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Detail of Activity
General Approach: EPA is planning to obtained input through
a working group under the National Drinking Water Advisory Council
(NDWAC). EPA will also work with a State workgroup on EPA-State issues.
| Milestones: |
| February 2, 1997 |
Initiated NDWAC Operator Certification Working
Group (the "Partnership"). |
| March 25-26, 1997 |
Held initial
meeting of working group to scope out certification strategy
and to recommend operator training and certification requirements. |
| June-Sept, 1997 |
Held three working group meetings to help develop
guidelines specifying minimum standards for State operator certification
programs |
| October, 1997 |
Partnership presented its recommendations
to the full NDWAC on draft guidelines. Full NDWAC makes formal
recommendation to EPA |
| February 6, 1998 |
EPA published notice of availability in the Federal
Register announcing
Information for States on Recommended Operator Certification
Requirements |
| March 27, 1998 |
EPA published draft guidelines in the Federal
Register for a 90 day public comment period |
| April-June, 1998 |
EPA held three public stakeholder meetings to
receive public comment on the draft guidelines |
| August, 1998 |
Partnership met to discuss public comments on
draft guidelines |
| November, 1998 |
Partnership made recommendations to the full
NDWAC on the final guidelines. Full NDWAC made formal recommendations
to EPA |
| January, 1999 |
EPA HQ and Region held meeting to discuss implementation
issues relating to the operator certification guidelines |
| February 5, 1999 |
EPA published
final guidelines in the
Federal Register |
| March-May, 1999 |
EPA conducted 6 workshops to train states on
the guidelines and discuss implementation issues |
| July 20, 2000 |
EPA issued a proposal on operator certification
reimbursement grants and schedule for review of state operator
certification programs |
| April 18, 2001 |
EPA issued the final Federal Register notice
titled Final Additions
to the Final Guidelines for the Certification and Recertification
of the Operators of Community and Nontransient Noncommunity
Public Water Systems; Final Allocation Methodology for Funding
to States for the Operator Certification Expense Reimbursement
Grants Program [PDF file]. |
-
Scheduled Public Meetings:
All NDWAC working group meetings were open to the public. At this
time, EPA does not plan to hold any additional public meetings.
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EPA Contact Person
Lead Person: Jenny Jacobs
jacobs.jenny@epa.gov
