Section 327IAC5-22-3. Definitions

   The definitions in IC 13-11-2 and 327 IAC 1 and the following definitions apply throughout this rule:

(1) "Acceptable experience" means employment in the actual hands-on operation, maintenance, management, or supervision of a wastewater treatment plant. Acceptable experience shall be obtained under the supervision of a certified operator or by otherwise demonstrating to the commissioner that the applicant's experience meets the requirements described in this rule.

(2) "Applicant" means a:

(A) person seeking:

(i) classification as a wastewater treatment apprentice; or

(ii) certification as a wastewater treatment operator;

whether or not the person is currently employed at a wastewater treatment plant; or

(B) training course provider seeking course approval.

(3) "Application" means a written request submitted to the commissioner under this rule asking for:

(A) classification as a wastewater treatment apprentice;

(B) certification as a wastewater treatment operator; or

(C) training course approval.

(4) "Certificate" means an appropriate document containing the following information:

(A) Affirmation that the named person has fulfilled the requirements for certification as contained in this rule.

(B) The classification of the wastewater treatment certified operator.

(C) The date of issuance.

(D) An identification number unique to each certificate.

(5) "Certification card" means a card issued to a person who has fulfilled the requirements to be a wastewater treatment certified operator and contains the following information:

(A) The name and certificate number of the person.

(B) The classification of the wastewater treatment certified operator.

(C) An expiration date.

(6) "Certified operator" means a person who:

(A) has met the requirements of this rule; and

(B) holds a current certificate and certification card for wastewater treatment.

(7) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the department of environmental management.

(8) "Contact hour" means a fifty (50) to sixty (60) minute instructional session:

(A) approved by the commissioner; and

(B) involving a qualified instructor or lecturer.

Ten (10) contact hours equals one (1) continuing education unit (CEU).

(9) "Design population equivalent" means the PE for which the plant is designed.

(10) "Population equivalent" or "PE" means the calculated population that would contribute the same amount of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) per day using the base of seventeen-hundredths (0.17) pound of five (5) day BOD per capita per day.

(11) "Responsible charge operator" means the wastewater treatment certified operator who makes process control or system integrity decisions about the overall daily operation, maintenance, management, or supervision of a wastewater treatment plant necessary to meet the performance requirements and limits of the assigned permit and any applicable local ordinance or other regulatory requirements. The responsible charge operator must assure that written and electronic monitoring reports are prepared under his or her direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. The responsible charge operator certifies that, based on his or her inquiry of the persons who manage the system or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the responsible charge operator, true, accurate, and complete.

(12) "Training course" means a continuing education course that, as determined by the commissioner, deals with one (1) or more of the following:

(A) Technical matters related directly to wastewater treatment.

(B) General matters related to the responsibilities of a wastewater treatment certified operator.

(13) "Training provider" means a person or organization that conducts or presents a course training session approved under this rule.

(14) "Wastewater treatment apprentice" means a person who has successfully passed the commissioner's wastewater treatment operator's certification examination but has not fulfilled either the educational or experience requirements, or both, necessary to qualify to be a certified operator. A wastewater treatment apprentice shall not be designated as the certified operator in responsible charge of a wastewater treatment plant.

(15) "Wastewater treatment plant" means the system of treatment works, regulatory devices, equipment, and other facilities and appurtenances installed to treat sewage, industrial wastes, and other wastes delivered by a system of sewers and other related facilities, whether owned or operated by the state, a municipality, or a person, firm, or corporation. The term does not include septic tank disposal systems. This is the definition found in IC 13-11-2-258.

(Water Pollution Control Division; 327 IAC 5-22-3; filed Nov 20, 2000, 4:07 p.m.: 24 IR 963; readopted filed Aug 17, 2006, 10:31 a.m.: 20060830-IR-327060183BFA; filed Mar 18, 2008, 2:55 p.m.: 20080416-IR-327060179FRA; readopted filed Jul 30, 2014, 4:04 p.m.: 20140827-IR-327140189BFA)