Staffing.
(2)
Sewerage system staffing.
(a) The owner of a
class I sewerage system shall ensure that a professional operator of record or
a professional operator that is certified in the field of wastewater collection
or water reclamation, class A operators excluded, shall perform visits to any
portion of the sewerage system at least three days per week. The owner of the
sewerage system shall maintain documentation regarding their authorization of
individuals other than the professional operator of record to perform these
visits. The individual performing the visit shall document the visit in the log
book and report any problems to the professional operator of record.
(b) The owner of a class II sewerage system
shall ensure that a professional operator of record or a professional operator
that is certified in the field of wastewater collection or water reclamation,
class A operators excluded, performs visits to any portion of the sewerage
system at least five days per week. The owner of the sewerage system shall
maintain documentation regarding the authorization of individuals other than
the professional operator of record to perform these visits. The individual
performing the visit shall document the visit in the log book and report any
problems to the professional operator of record.
(c) The owner of a class I or II satellite
collection system may have a representative of the owner perform the visits in
lieu of the professional operator of record. The owner of the satellite
collection system shall maintain documentation regarding the authorization of
individuals other than the professional operator of record to perform these
visits. The individual performing the visit shall have the professional
operator of record document the visit in the log book and report any problems
to the professional operator of record.
(3) Exceptions.
(a) Upon application on a form acceptable to
the director by the permittee and the director's approval of the operating plan
described in paragraph (C)(3)(a)(i) of this rule, the director shall reduce the
minimum staffing requirement for a professional operator of record of a class
II, III, or IV treatment works to no less than five days a week for a minimum
of ten hours per week. However, the director shall not grant a reduction to a
treatment works where a professional operator of record cannot respond to
operational problems within one hour. Nor will the director grant a reduction
to a treatment works that has a history of noncompliance with sampling,
reporting, effluent limits or any other violations related to the treatment
process, including but not limited to, grit removal, primary clarification,
aeration, secondary clarification, filtration, sludge, or biosolids handling.
The director also shall not grant a reduction to a treatment works under formal
enforcement excluding enforcement related to combined sewer overflows or
sanitary sewer overflows.
(i) Treatment works
shall submit an operating plan for their facility as part of the application
for a staffing reduction. The operating plan shall include a description of the
level of automation and continuous monitoring at the facility, a standard
operating procedure for any such automation or continuous monitoring equipment,
and a detailed operations schedule showing the number of professional
operators, the certification level, and the number of hours spent at the
treatment works. The description of the continuous monitoring shall include a
description of the calibration frequency, verification of calibration and
records maintenance. Reductions in minimum staffing for the professional
operator of record may be granted in accordance with the criteria in tables A
and B of this rule, either singly or in combination, based on the information
provided in the wastewater treatment facility's operating plan. In no case
shall a reduction of greater than thirty hours per week be granted to a class
III or IV facility and ten hours per week for a class II facility.
Table A: Reductions in minimum professional operator of record
staffing based on wastewater treatment facility staffing levels
|
The professional operator of record staffing may be
reduced by 5 hours per week if:
|
The professional operator of record staffing may be
reduced by 10 hours per week if:
|
The professional operator of record staffing may be
reduced by 15 hours per week if:
|
The professional operator of record staffing may be
reduced by 20 hours per week if:
|
|
Plant staffing at class
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There is another professional operator
certified
|
There is another professional operator
certified
|
There is another professional operator
certified
|
There is another professional operator
certified
|
|
III and IV wastewater treatment
facilities
|
at a level no more than 2 classes below that of the
treatment works or sewerage system onsite at the wastewater treatment facility
2 hours per day 5 days per week
|
at a level no more than 2 classes below that of the
treatment works or sewerage system onsite at the wastewater treatment facility
4 hours per day 5 days per week
|
at a level no more than 2 classes below that of the
treatment works or sewerage system onsite at the wastewater treatment facility
6 hours per day 5 days per week
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at a level no more than 2 classes below that of the
treatment works or sewerage system onsite at the wastewater treatment facility
8 hours per day 5 days per week
|
|
Plant staffing at class II wastewater treatment
facilities
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There is a minimum of a class I professional operator
onsite at the wastewater treatment facility 3 hours per day 5 days per
week
|
There is a minimum of a class I professional operator
onsite at the wastewater treatment facility 4 hours per day 5 days per
week
|
Not applicable
|
Not applicable
|
|
Plant staffing at class II wastewater treatment
facilities
|
There is a minimum of a class I professional operator
in training onsite at the wastewater treatment facility 6 hours per day 5 days
per week
|
There is a minimum of a class I professional operator
in training onsite at the wastewater treatment facility 8 hours per day 5 days
per week
|
Not applicable
|
Not applicable
|
Table B: Reductions in minimum professional operator of record
staffing based on level of automation or continuous monitoring
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The professional operator of record staffing may be
reduced by 5 hours per week if:
|
The professional operator of record staffing may be
reduced by 10 hours per week if:
|
The professional operator of record staffing may be
reduced by 15 hours per week if:
|
The professional operator of record staffing may be
reduced by 20 hours per week if:
|
|
Automation or continuous monitoring at class III and IV
wastewater treatment facilities
|
The wastewater treatment facility has supervisory
control and data acquisition ("SCADA") and continuous monitoring equipment for
monitoring the following: flow, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and
temperature. Additionally monitor for UV intensity or chlorine residual,
whichever is applicable.
|
The wastewater treatment facility is automated with
continuous monitoring for the parameters required in the 5 hour
reduction
|
The wastewater treatment facility is automated with
continuous monitoring for the parameters required in the 5 hour reduction and
the wastewater treatment facility must also have personnel onsite at the
facility or an electronic notification system that notifies the professional
operator of record when there are problems with the wastewater treatment
facility
|
The wastewater treatment facility is automated with
continuous monitoring for the parameters required in the 5 hour reduction and
an electronic notification system or certified professional operators on each
shift that will notify the professional operator of record when there are
problems with the wastewater treatment facility; the wastewater treatment
facility must also have the ability to be operated remotely or have a certified
professional operator respond within 30 minutes
|
|
Automation or continuous monitoring at class II
wastewater treatment facilities
|
The wastewater treatment facility has supervisory
control and data acquisition ("SCADA") and continuous monitoring equipment for
monitoring the following: flow, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and
temperature. Additionally monitor for UV intensity or chlorine residual,
whichever is applicable.
|
The wastewater treatment facility is automated with
continuous monitoring for the parameters required in the 5 hour
reduction
|
Not applicable
|
Not applicable
|
(ii)
Any change in the criteria under which the reduction was approved (e.g., retirement of a professional operator listed
in the approved staffing plan, loss of the professional operator of record,
reduction in the workforce, removal or failure of automation or continuous
monitoring, etc.) will require that the treatment works immediately return to
compliance with the minimum staffing requirements in paragraph (C)(1) of this
rule. This provision does not preclude a treatment works from submitting a
modified operating plan.
(iii) For
a system operating plan to receive director's approval under table B of this
rule, continuous monitors shall be calibrated in accordance with manufacturer
standards or applicable regulations, whichever is more stringent. Calibration
verification shall be conducted at least once per week or in accordance with
applicable regulations, whichever is more stringent. Records of the
calibrations and verifications shall be maintained for three years.
(b) The professional operator of
record for a class II, III, or IV treatment works or class II sewerage system
may be replaced by a backup professional operator or a facility specific
operator with a certificate one classification lower than the treatment works
or sewerage system for a period of up to thirty consecutive days. Facilities
who do not have a designated professional operator of record are excluded from
this exemption. The use of this provision does not require notification to the
agency. This provision may not be used to routinely circumvent minimum staffing
requirements.
(i) In the case of class III and
IV systems which utilize an established flex work schedule of four ten-hour
days, the use of a professional operator with a certificate one classification
less than the facility to staff the facility on the fifth day of the week shall
not be considered an attempt to circumvent the minimum staffing
requirements.
(ii) In the case of
class II systems which utilize an established flex work schedule of two eight
hour days and a four hour day, the use of a professional operator with a
certificate one classification less than the facility or an operator in
training who has passed the class I examination to staff the facility on the
fourth and fifth day of the week shall not be considered an attempt to
circumvent the minimum staffing requirements.
(c) Upon proper justification, such as
military leave, loss of an operator, or long term illness, the director may
authorize the replacement of the professional operator of record for a class
II, III, or IV treatment works or class II sewerage system by a backup
professional operator (facility specific operators excluded) with a certificate
one classification lower than the facility for a period of greater than thirty
consecutive days. Such requests shall be made in writing to the appropriate
district office.
(d) If the
designated professional operator of record is unable to meet the minimum
staffing requirements at a class A, class I sewerage system, or class I
treatment works, then a professional operator with a certificate equal to or
higher than that of the treatment works may serve as the professional operator
of record until such time as the designated professional operator of record is
available. The use of this provision does not require notification to the
agency unless the use of the backup professional operator exceeds thirty
consecutive days. In the event the use of a backup professional operator under
this provision exceeds thirty consecutive days, the owner or professional
operator shall provide notice in accordance with paragraph (A)(2) of rule
3745-7-02 of the Administrative
Code.
(e) Any professional operator
fulfilling the role of a backup professional operator shall be held responsible
for any violations that occur during the period when they are acting as the
backup professional operator.
(f)
In the event that an owner has two separate treatment works, permitted by two
separate NPDES permits, within one hundred feet of each other's property line,
the owner may submit a request on a form acceptable to the director, for a
fifty per cent reduction of the hourly minimum staffing requirements for each
treatment works. The request shall include documentation of the distance
between the two facilities and documentation that the facilities are not under
enforcement and have been in compliance with permit effluent limits, treatment
techniques, sampling, reporting and professional operator certification
requirements for the three years prior to the request. Upon receiving a
complete application, the director may approve the minimum staffing reduction.
Any change in the circumstances under which the reduction was approved (e.g.,
enforcement action entered, violation of the professional operator
certification requirements, monitoring violations, etc.) will require that the
system immediately return to compliance with the minimum staffing requirements
in paragraph (C)(1) of this rule. This provision does not preclude the
treatment works from submitting a modified operating plan. A reduction granted
under this provision in combination with any other reductions available in this
rule shall not reduce the minimum staffing requirements at a class II, III, or
IV facility to less than five days per week for a minimum of ten hours per
week.
(g) Upon submission of an
application by the permittee and approval by the director, the staffing
requirements of seasonal class A or class I treatment works may be reduced in
the off season in accordance with the following system classification chart. In
order to document seasonal operations, the permittee shall submit a form
acceptable to the director documenting the system shut down date and the
proposed reopening date. The application shall include documentation that
enough wastewater has been removed from the system to prevent discharge to
waters of the state and contain a contingency plan to lower the level in the
plant in the event there is a potential to discharge effluent to waters of the
state. Care should be taken by the owner and professional operator to ensure
enough wastewater is left in the tanks to prevent the tanks from shifting.
|
System Classification
|
Staffing Requirement During the Off Season
|
|
Class A
|
1 visit every month
|
|
Class I
|
1 visit every 2 weeks
|
During the off season the professional operator of record
shall visually confirm via flow monitoring, if applicable, that the treatment
works is not discharging and does not have the potential to discharge
wastewater. The verification shall be documented during the visits referenced
above as part of the operation and maintenance records specified in rule
3745-7-09 of the Administrative
Code. A discharge from the treatment works during the reduced staffing period
is prohibited. The permittee shall notify the agency on a form acceptable to
the director prior to resuming operations. Discovery of a discharge to waters
of the state during a period of reduced staffing shall result in a revocation
of the authorization for reduced staffing requirements and a prohibition on
further approval for a period of five years.
For the purposes of this rule, "seasonal operations" means the
temporary ceasing of a discharge for a period of no less than sixty consecutive
days.
(h) Controlled
discharge lagoons shall only be required to meet the minimum staffing
requirements above during periods of discharge. When discharge is not
occurring, the professional operator of record shall visit the facility at
least once every two weeks.
(i)
Alternative for systems with design capacity less than or equal to fifteen
hundred gallons per day.
(i) Systems may
employ a service provider registered in accordance with rule
3701-29-03 of the Administrative
Code in lieu of a class A operator as indicated in paragraph (B)(2) of this
rule if the system has a design capacity of less than or equal to fifteen
hundred gallons per day and are similar to a system authorized for installation
as a household sewage treatment system with approval for that use in accordance
with Chapter 3718. of the Revised Code and Chapter 3701-29 of the
Administrative Code. The installation shall include the appropriate fail safe
mechanisms established for the approved systems (e.g. telemetering or lockout)
and tertiary treatment as appropriate. For systems operating under the terms
and conditions of this alternate service provider provision, the permittee
shall submit a copy of an active service contract with the service provider
annually, in accordance with the conditions of the system's NPDES
permit.
(ii) Systems operating
under paragraph (C)(3)(i)(i) of this rule are not subject to the minimum
staffing requirements in paragraph (C)(1) of this rule.
(j) Class II, III, IV wastewater treatment
facilities or class II collection systems may be exempt from staffing
requirements on federal holidays, up to a maximum of twenty per cent of the
weekly minimum staffing requirement (both in days and hours), without prior
agency approval, provided the following criteria are met:
(i) System is not under formal enforcement
excluding enforcement related to combined sewer overflows or sanitary sewer
overflows.
(ii) The operator of
record, or appropriately certified backup operator, can respond in person to an
emergency within one hour.
(k) An operator of record of a class III or
IV wastewater treatment facility, may attend offsite meetings related to
operations and administration of the wastewater treatment facility, for a
maximum of ten percent of the facility's weekly minimum staffing requirement,
without prior agency approval, provided the following criteria are met:
(i) System is not under formal enforcement
excluding enforcement related to combined sewer overflows or sanitary sewer
overflows.
(ii) The operator of
record, or appropriately certified backup operator, can respond in person to an
emergency within one hour.
(iii)
The operator of record records the offsite meeting in the logbook.
(iv) The system does not have a minimum
staffing reduction approved in accordance with paragraph
(C)(3)(a)
(C)(3)(b) of this rule.
