WSR 17-19-029
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed September 11, 2017, 1:30 p.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 16-13-032.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 246-292-060 Minimum education and experience requirements to become a certified operator, the purpose is to modify experience requirements to increase the number of certified operators available to operate Group A public water systems.
Hearing Location(s): On October 24, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., at the Department of Health, 111 Israel Road S.E., 1st Floor, Room 145, Tumwater, WA 98501. Check in with security guard.
Date of Intended Adoption: October 31, 2017.
Submit Written Comments to: Theresa Phillips, P.O. Box 47820, Olympia, WA 98504-7820, email https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/policyreview, by October 24, 2017.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Theresa Phillips, phone 360-236-3147, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email theresa.phillips@doh.wa.gov, by October 17, 2017.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposal revises operator-in-training experience requirements by changing the more stringent "operating experience" to the broader "water-related" experience for all levels of water treatment plant operator, water distribution manager, and cross-connection control specialists.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Group A public water system purveyors and certified operators anticipate a dramatic decline in the number of certified operators in the near future due to upcoming retirements in the field. The proposed rule will better protect public health by increasing the number of certified operators available for hire. The proposed rule will allow flexibility in filling vacancies and give certified operators the opportunity to develop skills and move up to higher certification levels. The proposed rule creates more flexibility in how applicants for a cross-connection control specialist can obtain the required experience to qualify to become certified which will result in more cross-connection control specialists to fill the gap in vacancies.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 70.119.050.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 70.119.050.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: None
Name of Proponent: Department of health, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Theresa Phillips, 111 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, 360-236-3147; Implementation and Enforcement: Deni Gray, 243 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, 360-236-3140.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting Theresa Phillips, P.O. Box 47820, Olympia, WA 98504-7820, phone 360-236-3147, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email theresa.phillips@doh.wa.gov.
The proposed rule does not impose more-than-minor costs on businesses. Following is a summary of the agency's analysis showing how costs were calculated. The proposed rule impacts individuals seeking certifications. It does not impose regulatory costs on businesses and therefore no small business economic impact analysis is required.
September 11, 2017
John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH
Secretary
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 14-01-003, filed 12/4/13, effective 1/4/14)
WAC 246-292-060 Minimum education and experience requirements to become a certified operator.
(1) Minimum education and operating experience requirements for a water treatment plant operator are in Table 5.
Table 5
WTPO Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Certification Level
Minimum Education Requirement (see Table 7 for equivalents)
Minimum Experience Requirement
((WTPO - OIT
12 years
One of the following:
 
 
•
3 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system;
 
 
•
3 months water-related experience; or
 
 
•
30 hours of relevant water system training (3 CEUs or 3 college credits).))
WTPO 1
12 years
12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant.
WTPO 2
12 years
•
18 months operating experience in a water treatment plant; and
 
 
•
18 months additional water-related experience.
 
 
•
Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement.
WTPO 3
14 years
•
24 months operating experience in a Class 2 or higher rated water treatment plant; and
 
 
•
24 months additional water-related experience.
 
 
•
Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement.
WTPO 4
16 years
•
24 months operating experience in a Class 3 or higher rated water treatment plant; and
 
 
•
24 months additional water-related experience.
 
 
•
Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement.
(2) Minimum education and operating experience requirements for WDS and WDM certification levels are in Table 6.
Table 6
WDS and WDM Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Certification Level
Minimum Education Requirement (see Table 7 for equivalents)
Minimum Experience Requirement
WDS
12 years
6 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system.
((WDM - OIT
12 years
One of the following:
 
 
•
3 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system;
 
 
•
3 months water-related experience; or
 
 
•
30 hours of relevant water system training (3 CEUs or 3 college credits).))
WDM 1
12 years
12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system.
WDM 2
12 years
•
12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system; and
 
 
•
24 months additional water-related experience.
 
 
•
Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement.
WDM 3
14 years
•
12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system; and
 
 
•
36 months additional water-related experience.
 
 
•
Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement.
WDM 4
16 years
•
12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system; and
 
 
•
36 months additional water-related experience.
 
 
•
Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement.
(3) OIT requirements. Applicants for a WTPO or WDM OIT certification must meet the following requirements:
(a) Level 1 must meet the minimum education identified in Table 5 or 6 and either:
(i) Three months operating experience in a distribution system or in a water treatment plant;
(ii) Three months water-related experience; or
(iii) Three relevant college credits or thirty hours (three CEUs) of relevant training.
(b) Levels 2 through 4 must meet the minimum education and water-related experience requirements identified in Table 5 or 6 for the applicable certification level, excluding the operating experience requirements.
(4) The minimum education and operating experience requirements for a CCS are:
(a) Twelve years of education (refer to Table 7 for equivalent education requirements); and
(b) At least six months ((operating)) water-related experience ((in a public water system's water treatment plant, distribution system, or water-related experience implementing a cross-connection control program for a consumer's water system not subject to WAC 246-290-490)).
(((4))) (5) A BAT shall have at least twelve years of education (refer to Table 7 for equivalent education requirements).
Table 7
Minimum Education Requirements and Equivalent Education and Substitutions
Minimum Education Requirement
Equivalent Education and Substitutions
12 years of education
•
High school diploma or GED;
 
•
One year of water-related experience may substitute for each year of education through twelfth grade.
14 years of education
•
High school diploma or GED, and one of the following:
 
 
•
A two-year college degree;
 
 
•
60 college semester credits;
 
 
•
90 college quarter credits; or
 
 
•
90 CEUs from relevant water system training.
 
•
One year of operating experience or water-related experience may substitute for each year of education through twelfth grade.
 
•
Two years of operating experience or water-related experience may substitute for each year of college education.
16 years of education
•
High school diploma or GED, and one of the following:
 
 
•
A four-year college degree;
 
 
•
120 college semester credits;
 
 
•
180 college quarter credits; or
 
 
•
180 CEUs from relevant water system training.
 
•
One year of operating experience or water-related experience may substitute for each year of education through twelfth grade.
 
•
Two years of operating experience or water-related experience may substitute for each year of college education.
(((5))) (6) Water-related experience used to substitute for the minimum education requirements must exceed the minimum experience requirements for certification in Tables 5 and 6 before the experience is used as an equivalent education substitution in Table 7.
(((6))) (7) The department may approve an applicant's relevant excess education or water-related experience that meets the requirements in Tables 5, 6, and 7.