The Department is establishing licensure requirements and procedures for water distribution system operators. The Department also is making clarifications and changes to existing licensure requirements and procedures for water or domestic wastewater ...

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Departmental

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
62-602: DRINKING WATER AND DOMESTIC WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATORS
62-602.200: Definitions
62-602.230: Approval of Residence or Correspondence Courses
62-602.250: Criteria for Determining Eligible Experience
62-602.270: Eligibility for Operator Examinations
62-602.300: Qualifications for Operator Licensure
62-602.350: Approval of Residence or Correspondence Courses
62-602.360: Licensing Requirements for Non-Florida Operators
62-602.410: Applications for Examination
62-602.420: Applications for License
62-602.430: Application Processing for Examinations and license
62-602.450: Notification to Applicants for Examinations
62-602.500: Examination Administration
62-602.560: Candidates' Post Exam Review
62-602.570: Formal Administrative Hearing Petition and Pre-hearing Review Request
62-602.600: Fees for Operator Examinations and Licensure
62-602.650: Duties of Operators
62-602.660: Technical Manuals
62-602.700: Operator Licensing
62-602.710: Renewal of Operator Licenses
62-602.720: Inactive Status of License
62-602.800: Grounds for Disciplinary Proceedings
62-602.850: Disciplinary Guidelines
62-602.870: Suspension and Revocation of Operator License
62-602.880: Consecutive Public Water System Operator Licenses
62-602.900: Forms for the Operator Certification Program
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Department is establishing licensure requirements and procedures for water distribution system operators. The Department also is making clarifications and changes to existing licensure requirements and procedures for water or domestic wastewater treatment plant operators.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Rule 62-602.200 is being amended to clarify, change, or add definitions of words, phrases, and terms used in Chapter 62-602. Rule 62-602.230 is being amended to specify how the Department will approve training courses for water distribution system operators and to modify how the Department will approve training courses for treatment plant operators. Rule 62-602.250 is being amended to describe eligible water distribution operator experience and to indicate that treatment plant operator experience may be obtained as an employee, volunteer, or contractor and may be obtained at a plant or an electronic control system. Rule 62-602.270 is being amended to add exam eligibility requirements for water distribution operators. Rule 62-602.300 is being amended to specify qualifications for licensure of water distribution operators. Rule 62-602.350 is being repealed because it is superseded by Rule 62-602.230. Rule 62-602.360 is being amended to establish licensing requirements for water distribution operators licensed in other states and to give operators licensed in other states one opportunity to pass an exam without having to complete a training course. Rule 62-602.410 is being amended to add application procedures for water distribution operator exams and to eliminate language that allows persons to apply for an operator exam and license at the same time. Rule 62-602.420 is being amended to add application procedures for water distribution operator licenses. Rule 62-602.430 is being amended to eliminate language that allows persons to apply for an operator exam and license at the same time. Rule 62-602.450 is being amended to clarify that only applicants approved by the Department to take an exam will be notified about the exam. Rule 62-602.500 is being amended to eliminate reference to outdated and unnecessary Department manuals. Rule 62-602.560 is being amended to establish a time limit for post-exam reviews; to specify what documents examinees will be given during post-exam reviews; to state that challenges of exam questions must be submitted in writing during post-exam reviews; and to state that, after a meritorious challenge of an exam question, the Department will regrade only the exams of those examinees who failed but scored a 65 percent or higher. Rule 62-602.570 is being amended to give examinees the opportunity to petition for an administrative hearing within 21 days after the date the Department determines an exam question challenge is without merit and to state that the Department will issue an amended grade notification letter if it discovers during preparation for an administrative hearing that credit should be awarded for an exam question. Rule 62-602.600 is being amended to add exam fees, licensure fees, and license renewal fees for water distribution operators; to eliminate language allowing persons to apply for an operator exam and license at the same time; and to eliminate the opportunity for examinees to request hand scoring of an exam because repeat electronic scoring is conducted. Rule 62-602.650 is being amended to add duties of water distribution operators; to clarify who operators must notify in the event of a wastewater spill or a security breach or emergency/abnormal conditions at a public water system; to require a separate operation and maintenance (O&M) log for each plant; and to require operators to note in O&M logs when they report wastewater spills or security breaches or emergency/abnormal conditions at a public water system. Rule 62-602.660 is being amended to list the latest edition of referenced operation manuals; to reference five new operation manuals; and to eliminate reference to design and construction manuals and two obsolete operation manuals. Rule 62-602.700 is being amended to make a minor clarification. Rule 62-602.710 is being amended to add continuing education requirements for water distribution operators and to add new topics for continuing education. Rule 62-602.720 is being amended to make a minor clarification. Rule 62-602.800 is being amended to establish grounds for disciplinary proceedings for water distribution operators. Rule 62-602.850 is being amended to establish disciplinary guidelines for water distribution operators; to specify a recommended penalty for failure to perform treatment plant or water distribution operation in a manner consistent with standard operating practices; and to recommend a penalty for failure to comply with any Department order previously entered in a disciplinary hearing. Rule 62-602.870 is being amended to establish grounds for suspension or revocation of water distribution operator licenses. Rule 62-602.880 is being amended to state that the Department will no longer issue consecutive public water system operator licenses and will convert all existing consecutive system operator licenses to Level 4 water distribution operator licenses. Rule 62-602.900 is being amended to add application forms for water distribution operator exams and licenses.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 403.869, 403.872 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 403.1842, 403.8532, 403.865, 403.866, 403.867, 403.869, 403.871, 403.872, 403.873, 403.874, 403.875, 403.876 FS.
A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: 3 workshops
1. Monday, October 2, 2006, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Twin Towers Office Building, Room 609, Tallahassee, Florida.
2. Wednesday, October 4, 2006, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: Department of Environmental Protection, Southeast District Office, 400 North Congress Avenue, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, Florida.
3. Thursday, October 5, 2006, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest District Office, 13051 North Telecom Parkway, Temple Terrace, Florida.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 7 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Virginia Harmon, Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, M.S. 3520, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, [phone]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Virginia Harmon, Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, M.S. 3520, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, [phone]. It is also on-line at: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/drinkingwater/docs/602-699PublicWorkshopDraftRulesAug06.pdf.

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE FROM THE CONTACT PERSON LISTED ABOVE.