From: YELTON-BRAM Tiffany
Sent: Tue Mar 31 15:10:15 2015
To: 'Susan Hansen'
Cc: DECONCINI Nina
Subject: RE: Rule on wastewater plant operators
Importance: Normal
Susan--
The front page of the NPDES permit shows the classification of the wastewater treatment plant and, separately, the collection system. The certification level of the operator has to meet the classification level of the treatment plant or collection system. For Molalla, the wastewater treatment plant needs at least one certified operator at level III and the collection system needs at least one operator at level II.
The city sends us documentation, called a designated operator form, that they have operators that are certified at these levels. They have operators that are certified at the appropriate levels currently. Copies can be provided if you do a public records request.
I cannot answer your question about the advertisement. You should ask the city.
Tiffany
From: Susan Hansen [mailto:foxglovefarm@inbox.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 2:47 PM
To: YELTON-BRAM Tiffany
Cc: DECONCINI Nina
Subject: RE: Rule on wastewater plant operators
Thanks Tiffany. What is the status at this moment of Molalla on the waste water plant supervision - I just talked to a person who claimed he is in charge but has only a Class 111 license. What kind of license does Molalla need to supervise its waste water plant operations? The person with the Class 111 on the phone claimed this ad is for the drinking water plant - is that true and is Class 111 suitable for the wastewater plant. Is this ad for the drinking water plant:
Molalla - Water Plant Operator
Water Plant Operator – City of Molalla, Population 8,800. Salary Range $4,083 - $5,008/mo. DOQ plus an excellent benefit package. This position will assist the Public Works Director with planning, supervising and scheduling the daily activities and operations of the Water Treatment Plant for the City of Molalla. State recognized Level II water treatment certificate and ability to serves as the DRC for water treatment required. A job description and employment application are available in person from City Hall at 117 N. Molalla Avenue, Molalla, OR 97038 or via the City Website at www.cityofmolalla.com. The City of Molalla is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Open until filled.
**Posted 2/6/15**
**Reposted 3/10/15**
-----Original Message-----
From: yelton-bram.tiffany@deq.state.or.us
Sent: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 20:47:10 +0000
Subject: RE: Rule on wastewater plant operators
Hello Susan
Here is a link to our Wastewater Operator Certification page on our website, specifically the statute and rules. http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/opcert/opcert.htm#regs
This section of rule below is germane to your questions.
340-049-0015
General Requirements
(1) Each owner of a wastewater system with an Average Dry Weather Flow (ADWF) of 0.075 MGD (75,000 gallons per day) or greater design capacity must have its system supervised full-time by one or more operators who hold a valid certificate for the type of system, wastewater treatment or wastewater collection, and at a grade equal to or greater than the wastewater system classification as defined in OAR-340-049-0020 and 340-049-0025.
(2) Any wastewater treatment system or wastewater collection system owner with a system having more than one daily shift must have its shift supervisor, if any, certified at no more than one grade lower than the wastewater system classification. The system owner is not required to have a shift supervisor if another properly certified operator is available to supervise operation of the system.
(3) Each owner of a wastewater system with an ADWF less than 0.075 MGD (75,000 gallons per day) design capacity must have its system supervised on a part-time or full-time basis by one or more operators who hold a valid certificate for the type of system, wastewater treatment or wastewater collection, and at a grade equal to or greater than the wastewater system classification.
(4) These rules shall not apply to owners of subsurface sewage disposal systems as defined under ORS 454.605 and installed or constructed under a permit in accordance with 454.655. Based on complexity of the wastewater system, the Department may require an owner of a NPDES or WPCF permitted wastewater system using subsurface sewage disposal with a ADWF greater 0.0025 MGD (2,500 gallons per day) to have its system supervised by one or more operators certified in accordance with these rules.
(5) Each wastewater treatment and wastewater collection system owner must notify the Department in writing of the name of all operators, including shift supervisors, if any, delegated authority by the owner to supervise the operation of its system in accordance with these rules. The written notice must be filed with the Department's Water Quality Division, Operator Certification Program, and include the operator's certificate type, grade, and expiration date.
(6) The system supervisor or shift supervisor is not required to be on site at all times. The system supervisor must be available to the wastewater system owner and to any other operator, and able to immediately respond on site. A shift supervisor must be available and able to immediately respond on site during an assigned shift.
(7) An operator holding a valid Grade I Provisional wastewater treatment or wastewater collection certificate may be designated by a system owner to supervise the operation of a Class I wastewater treatment or wastewater collection system respectively.
(8) The wastewater system owner may re-designate or replace designated operators responsible for supervising system operation with other properly certified operators at any time and must notify the Department in writing within 30 days of replacement or re-designation of operators.
(9) A wastewater treatment or wastewater collection system may not be without an operator as required in Sections (1) or (3) of this rule for more than 30 days. During this period, the system owner must ensure an operator is certified for the type of system at no more than one grade lower than the system classification, and is available to the system owner and to any other operator. This operator must also be delegated authority by the system owner to supervise the operation of the system.
(10) When compliance with requirements in Sections (1) or (3) of this rule is not possible or practicable because the system supervisor is not available or the position is vacated unexpectedly, and another certified operator is not qualified to assume supervisory responsibility, the Director may grant a time extension for compliance with the requirements in response to a written request from the system owner. The Director will not grant an extension longer than 120 days unless the system owner documents the existence of extraordinary circumstances.
(a) The request must justify the need for the time extension and include at least the following:
(A) The date the system supervisor position or availability was or will be vacated;
(B) A time schedule to recruit, hire, or otherwise make available and designate another qualified operator; and
(C) The name of an interim supervisor and the supervisor's certificate type, grade and expiration date.
(b) Any time extension granted will be conditioned on a time schedule for the system owner to obtain the services of a qualified operator to supervise the wastewater system in accordance with these rules, and may be revoked if the system is operated in violation of a NPDES or WPCF permit limit or ORS 468B.025.
(11) For contract operations as defined in OAR 340-049-0010(5), the system owner must have and maintain a written contract on file and, upon request by the Department, must provide a copy of contract provisions for supervising the operation of its system for Department review. Contracts for part-time system supervision allowed under Section 3 of this rule must meet all requirements in 340-049-0070.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 448.410, 468.020 & 468B.030
Stats. Implemented: ORS 448.405 - 448.430, 448.992, 468B.010 - 468B.020, 468B.030 & 468B.050
Hist.: DEQ 4-1988(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 1-29-88; DEQ 23-1988, f. & cert. ef. 9-15-88; DEQ 15-2002, f. & cert. ef. 10-16-02; DEQ 2-2013, f. 1-28-13, cert. ef. 3-1-13
Let me know if you have further questions.
Tiffany
Tiffany Yelton Bram
WQ Source Control Manager
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
2020 SW 4th Ave., Suite 150
Portland OR 97201
Desk 503 229 5219
Mobile 503 975 0046
This spring, DEQ's Northwest Region Office will be moving to a new location - the 700 Lloyd Building at 700 NE Multnomah St., Suite #600, Portland, OR 97232. The target date for operating at the new location is May 26th, 2015.
From: Susan Hansen [mailto:foxglovefarm@inbox.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 1:28 PM
To: YELTON-BRAM Tiffany
Cc: DECONCINI Nina
Subject: Rule on wastewater plant operators
Hi Tiffany,
Is there a law/rule about how long a city can go without a wastewater plant operator? What ways are permissible for cities to fill in until they find a person to hire with the correct credentials? Can you direct me to or send the rules about this issue?
Thanks,
Susan Hansen
Bear Creek Recovery