Section 327 IAC 5-23-2 - DefinitionsAuthority: IC 13-14-8; IC 13-18-11-13
Affected: IC 13-11-2-258; IC 13-18-11
Sec. 2.
In addition to the definitions in IC 13-11-2 and 327 IAC 5-1.5, the following definitions apply throughout this rule:
(1) "Acceptable experience" means employment in the actual hands-on operation, maintenance, management, or supervision of a wastewater treatment plant that:(A) is obtained under the supervision of a certified operator; and(B) demonstrates to the commissioner that the applicant's experience meets the requirements described in this rule.(2) "Applicant" means a: (A) person who has submitted a state application form seeking:(i) classification as an apprentice; or(ii) certification as a wastewater treatment plant operator; whether or not the person is currently employed at a wastewater treatment plant; or
(B) training course provider seeking course approval.(3) "Application" means a written request submitted to the commissioner asking for: (A) classification as an apprentice;(B) certification as a wastewater treatment plant operator; or(C) training course approval.(4) "Apprentice" means a person who has successfully passed the wastewater treatment certification examination but has not fulfilled either the educational or experience requirements, or both, necessary to qualify to be a certified operator for a specific classification.(5) "Certificate" means an appropriate document issued by the department containing the following information:(A) The name of the person being certified.(B) Affirmation that the named person has fulfilled the requirements for certification contained in this rule.(C) The classification of the wastewater treatment certified operator.(D) The date of issuance.(E) An identification number unique to each certificate.(6) "Certification card" means a card issued by the department to a person who has fulfilled the requirements to be a wastewater treatment certified operator and contains the following information:(A) The name and certificate number of the person.(B) The classification of the wastewater treatment certified operator.(7) "Certified operator" means a person who:(A) has met the requirements of this rule; and(B) holds a current certificate and certification card for wastewater treatment issued by the department.(8) "Contact hour" means an instructional session of at least fifty (50) minutes duration that: (A) is approved by the commissioner; and(B) led by a qualified instructor or lecturer.(9) "Design population equivalent" means the population equivalent for which the plant is designed.(10) "Full time" means working at the wastewater treatment plant for a minimum of one thousand five hundred sixty (1,560) hours each year.(11) "General contact hour" refers to a contact hour from an industrial session that addresses general matters that enhance the performance of the certified operator's responsibilities but are not directly related to wastewater treatment plant and sewer system operations, maintenance, management, or supervision.(12) "Industrial treatment plant" means a wastewater treatment plant owned by either a private or government entity that is designed and operated to treat primarily wastewater from industrial processes, but does not include a POTW that receives and treats a portion of incoming wastewater from industrial processes.(13) "Nonindustrial treatment plant" refers to a POTW, semipublic facility, privately owned treatment work, state or federally owned wastewater treatment facility that primarily treats sanitary wastewater, as defined in 327 IAC 2-1.3-2(47).(14) "Population equivalent" or "PE" means the calculated population that would contribute the equivalent amount of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) per day using a base of seventeen-hundredths (0.17) pound of five (5) day BOD per capita per day.(15) "Responsible charge experience" means the amount of time an operator works at the wastewater treatment plant in responsible charge of the plant, a work shift, or a major unit of treatment.(16) "Responsible charge operator" or "operator in responsible charge" means one (1) of the following: (A) The wastewater treatment certified operator officially designated by the principal executive of the NPDES permit holder or owner of the wastewater treatment plant.(B) An operator who makes process control or system integrity decisions about the overall daily operation, maintenance, management, or supervision of a wastewater treatment plant necessary to meet the performance requirements and limits of the assigned permit and any applicable local ordinance or other regulatory requirements.(17) "Technical contact hour" refers to a contact hour from an instructional session that addresses technical matters related directly to wastewater treatment plant and sewer system operations, maintenance, management, or supervision.(18) "Training course" means an instructional session that deals with one (1) or more of the following, as determined by the commissioner:(A) Technical matters related directly to wastewater treatment.(B) General matters related to the responsibilities of a wastewater treatment certified operator.(19) "Training provider" means a person or organization that conducts or presents a training course approved under this rule.(20) "Wastewater treatment plant" has the meaning set forth in IC 13-11-2-258 and also includes wastewater treatment plants in Indiana owned or operated by the federal government.Water Pollution Control Division; 327 IAC 5-23-2; filed 11/6/2023, 10:44 a.m.: 20231206-IR-327180365FRAReadopted filed 10/18/2024, 1:57 p.m.: 20241113-IR-327230810RFA