Public Notice Proposed Rulemaking Governing Operator Certification
Notice is hereby given that the Director of Environmental Protection, under the authority of Sections 6109.23, 6109.04 of the Ohio Revised Code and in accordance with Chapter 119, proposes to amend the following rule of the Ohio Administrative Code:
3745-7-01 Professional operator certification definitions.
3745-7-02 Certified professional operators of record.
3745-7-03 Public water system classification and staffing requirements.
3745-7-04 Treatment works and sewerage system classification and staffing requirements.
3745-7-05 Classification of professional operator certification.
3745-7-06 Certification of operators.
3745-7-07 Professional operator in training.
3745-7-09 Recordkeeping requirements and responsibilities of owners, certified professional operators and certified professional operators of record.
3745-7-10 Professional operator certification advisory council.
3745-7-11 Duties of the council.
3745-7-12 Suspension or revocation of certification.
3745-7-13 Reciprocity.
3745-7-15 Expiration and renewal of professional operator certification.
3745-7-17 Professional operator certification fees.
3745-7-18 Conduct during the application and examination process.
3745-7-19 Examination providers.
3745-7-20 Certification of professional operators who pass an examination from an approved examination provider.
3745-7-21 Contract operations companies and contracted professional operators.
This rule package addresses requirements to have appropriately certified operators at drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities, minimum staffing requirements for those facilities, criteria for becoming certified and maintaining certifications, oversight by an Advisory Council of subject matter experts, training and exam provider approval and contract operations of facilities.
The public comment period will run until May 16, 2025. A public hearing on this proposed rulemaking will be held to consider public comments in accordance with Section 119.03 of the Ohio Revised Code. Ohio EPA will be holding an in-person and virtual public hearing on the rules on May 16, 2025, at 10:30 am. The in-person hearing will be at the same time and date and will be located at Ohio EPA, Suite 700, 50 W. Town Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. During the hearing, the public may submit written comments on the record about the proposed rules if participating virtually and verbally if participating in person.
Citizens who want to participate virtually must register in advance for the meeting at: (LINK)
To facilitate the scheduling of oral presentations, persons intending to give testimony at the hearing should notify the Ohio EPA Public Interest Center, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216- 1049, (614) 644-2160. Prior registration will ensure that registrants are heard ahead of those individuals who register at the hearing. Oral testimony may be limited to five minutes, depending on the number of persons testifying. All interested persons are entitled to attend or be represented and to present oral and/or written comments concerning the proposed rulemaking.
Written testimony should be entered or uploaded below or sent to Rylee Lane at the Division of Drinking and Ground Water (DDAGW) P.O. Box 1049, Columbus Ohio 43216-1049. Written comments may also be submitted to the Hearing Officer at the public hearing. Written testimony will receive the same consideration as oral testimony. All testimony received at the hearing or by close of business on May 16, 2025, will be considered by Ohio EPA prior to final action on this rulemaking proposal. Written comments submitted after this date may be considered as time and circumstances permit.
Questions regarding this rule package should be directed to Rylee Laneat the DDAGW at (614) (752-9725) or at ddagw_rulecomments@epa.ohio.gov.
To receive a copy of the proposed rules, please contact the DDAGW receptionist at
(614) (644-3386). In addition, full copies of all proposed rules are available for review at any Ohio EPA district office and at the Ohio EPA central office. The proposed rules are also accessible on the DDAGW web page at https://epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/DDAGWrules.
Notice is hereby given that the Director of Environmental Protection, under the authority of Sections 6109.23, 6109.04 of the Ohio Revised Code and in accordance with Chapter 119, proposes to amend the following rule of the Ohio Administrative Code:
This rule package addresses requirements to have appropriately certified operators at drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities, minimum staffing requirements for those facilities, criteria for becoming certified and maintaining certifications, oversight by an Advisory Council of subject matter experts, training and exam provider approval and contract operations of facilities.
The public comment period will run until May 16, 2025. A public hearing on this proposed rulemaking will be held to consider public comments in accordance with Section 119.03 of the Ohio Revised Code. Ohio EPA will be holding an in-person and virtual public hearing on the rules on May 16, 2025, at 10:30 am. The in-person hearing will be at the same time and date and will be located at Ohio EPA, Suite 700, 50 W. Town Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. During the hearing, the public may submit written comments on the record about the proposed rules if participating virtually and verbally if participating in person.
Citizens who want to participate virtually must register in advance for the meeting at: (LINK)
To facilitate the scheduling of oral presentations, persons intending to give testimony at the hearing should notify the Ohio EPA Public Interest Center, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216- 1049, (614) 644-2160. Prior registration will ensure that registrants are heard ahead of those individuals who register at the hearing. Oral testimony may be limited to five minutes, depending on the number of persons testifying. All interested persons are entitled to attend or be represented and to present oral and/or written comments concerning the proposed rulemaking.
Written testimony should be entered or uploaded below or sent to Rylee Lane at the Division of Drinking and Ground Water (DDAGW) P.O. Box 1049, Columbus Ohio 43216-1049. Written comments may also be submitted to the Hearing Officer at the public hearing. Written testimony will receive the same consideration as oral testimony. All testimony received at the hearing or by close of business on May 16, 2025, will be considered by Ohio EPA prior to final action on this rulemaking proposal. Written comments submitted after this date may be considered as time and circumstances permit.
Questions regarding this rule package should be directed to Rylee Lane at the DDAGW at (614) (752-9725) or at ddagw_rulecomments@epa.ohio.gov.
To receive a copy of the proposed rules, please contact the DDAGW receptionist at
(614) (644-3386). In addition, full copies of all proposed rules are available for review at any Ohio EPA district office and at the Ohio EPA central office. The proposed rules are also accessible on the DDAGW web page at https://epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/DDAGWrules.
To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, visit https://epa.ohio.gov/ada
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