3745-7-03 Public water system classification and staffing requirements.

 

 

 

State of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

 

 

PUBLIC NOTICE

 

November 30, 2011

 

Request for Comment on Draft Rules

 

Notice is hereby given that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has proposed revisions to the water and wastewater operator certification rules in Chapter 3745-7 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC). The proposed amendments to the OAC are, in part, a result of the five year rule review requirements of Section 119.032 of the Revised Code.

 

The proposed amendments to the water and wastewater operator certification rules add new definitions; establish limits for use of provisions allowing for operators of lower levels of classifications; designate treatment lagoon systems with a design flow of greater than 25,000 gallons per day as Class I; allow for reduced staffing of seasonal Class A or I treatment works during the off-season; revise Class A eligibility requirements to reflect current practices; add provisions for suspension and revocation of a certificate; add language to further specify the types of systems in which records must be maintained for; add clarification regarding the examination process; and remove outdated language.

 

A public hearing pursuant to §119.03 of the Ohio Revised Code will be conducted on January 4, 2012, beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Conference Room B at the Ohio EPA, Lazarus Government Center, 50 West Town Street, Columbus, Ohio.  All interested persons are entitled to attend or be represented and give their written or oral comments on this proposed rule-making.  A presiding officer will be present until all interested persons have been heard.

 

To facilitate scheduling of oral presentations, persons intending to give testimony at the hearing should ensure that Ohio EPA receives notice of such intent by 5:00 p.m. on January 3, 2012.  Persons who provide Ohio EPA with prior notice will be heard ahead of persons who register at the hearing. All visitors to Ohio EPA must register at the Security desk in the lobby upon arrival. Please bring photo identification (such as a valid driver's license).  For security reasons, visitors are required to wear their badge at all times while in the building.  Please arrive early to complete these procedures.  To provide notice of intent to give oral comments at the public hearing, contact Susan Baughman by mail at Ohio EPA, DDAGW, Lazarus Government Center, 50 West Town Street, Suite 700, Columbus, Ohio 43215, or by phone at (614) 644-

2752.

 

In order to ensure that written comments are considered as part of the official record of

 

 

 

 

 

this hearing, written comments must be received by Ohio EPA by the close of business January 4, 2012.  Written comments on the proposed rules may be given to the presiding officer during the hearing, sent by mail to Susan Baughman at the address above, or sent by email to the following address  [e-mail].

To obtain a copy of the proposed rules, contact Donna Roberts at Ohio EPA at [phone] or email at [e-mail].  Please request the "proposed operator certification amendments" and, if a recorded message is left, be sure to include your name, telephone number, and complete mailing address.  There is no charge for proposed rules.  The proposed rules will be available on the Agency web page until their adoption or withdrawal.  The address is:  http://www.epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/rulemaking.aspx#proposed.

Questions concerning this proposed rule-making, other than obtaining copies of the proposed rules, may be addressed to Susan Baughman at Ohio EPA, DDAGW, Lazarus Government Center, 50 West Town Street, Suite 700, Columbus, Ohio 43215 or by phone at [phone].  Email can be sent to  [e-mail].