From: Watson, Randy

Sent: Tue Aug 21 13:12:30 2012

To: BELETE Etsegenet

Subject: Randy Watson...Wasterwater System Operator Certification Rulemaking

Importance: Normal

The new fee’s seem to be a new tax on those just wanting to work in the field. It should stay the same fee rate as it is now and actually wording to make it easier for those wanting to get into the field to be able to do just that. Wastewater and Collection has always been a catch 22 program that you have to have time on the job before you can gain access to being able to take the exams. If you have the required schooling you should be able take at least a grade one certification and gain access to the working world. The way it is now most employers will not hire you without a certification but you cannot even test without on the job experience which makes it even harder for those wanting to work in this industry.

These fee raises should include some kind of accountability with the State of Oregon and show how these new dollars will stay with the Certification program two testing sites a year now and changing it to when DEQ wants to test and where they want to test seems to make it even harder for people to attain these certifications. How many people will these new fee’s cover? How many more testing sites, what will the DEQ do to help people get into the field and begin working.

Nothing in the new language helps people getting started in this field of work and adding more expenses won’t help that either.

Randy Watson