Section 096-531-5 - Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC)The owner of a treatment plant shall designate a minimum of one person to be the ORC who has direct responsibility to successfully manage and supervise the operation of the wastewater treatment plant. Other employees under the supervision or management of an Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC) may but need not be certified.
A. The ORC must hold a certification classification of a level equal to or greater than the classification of the wastewater treatment plant.B. The ORC must have active status as defined in section 6 below.C. A registered professional engineer (P.E.) in good standing may be designated by the owner to be the ORC of a treatment plant of any classification without obtaining additional certification.D. The owner of a wastewater treatment plant may contract with an individual contract operator or contract operations firm to meet the ORC requirements. Contract agreements must be submitted to the Department and are subject to review and approval as follows:1) The owner may initiate an interim contract agreement with the contract operator or contract operations firm for up to 90 days, provided the interim contract is submitted to the Department within 24 hours of initiation. The contracted operator may serve as the ORC during the term of the interim contract.2) The owner must obtain Department approval of a final contract agreement before the expiration of the interim contract or, in the absence of an interim contract, prior to initiation.E. An operator certified under the Biological classification will be considered qualified by the Department to operate a P/C or SITS of the same grade or lower without obtaining additional certification.06-096 C.M.R. ch. 531, § 5