001 The director will issue Class L, Class I, Class II, Class III, Class IV, Industrial I, Industrial II, Industrial III, and Industrial IV certificates to operators who pass the respective certification test and also meet the education and experience requirements.
002 Class L and Class I, wastewater treatment facility owners are eligible to obtain temporary certificates for their operators.
002.01 A temporary certificate issued pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-15,135 is valid for a period of one year from the date of hire.
002.02 The Class L temporary certificate and the Class I temporary certificate are operator and site specific and may not be transferred to another facility or operator.
002.03 The director will not issue a temporary certificate at any Class L and Class I wastewater treatment facilities in consecutive years without acceptance of written justification of due cause or extenuating circumstances.
002.04 Owners may request a temporary certificate for their operator within 30 days of hiring the operator.
003 Owners of non-compatible industrial wastewater treatment facilities are eligible to obtain temporary certificates for their uncertified operators.
003.01 The director may issue a temporary certificate to an applicant who is a new operator at an Industrial I wastewater treatment facility in accordance with Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-15,135.
003.02 The temporary certificate is operator specific and site specific and may not be transferred to another facility or operator.
003.03 The director will not issue a temporary certificate at any wastewater treatment facility in consecutive years without acceptance of written justification of due cause or extenuating circumstances.
003.04 Owners may request a temporary certificate for their operator within 30 days of hiring the operator.
004 Provisional certification will be issued to applicants who pass the certification test for any level of classification but do not meet all of the educational and experience requirements. Operator(s) may request removal of provisional status upon completion of education and experience requirements.
004.01 The owner of a wastewater treatment facility may request the department to allow an operator with a provisional certificate to be in DRC of their wastewater treatment facility.
004.02 The director may authorize an operator with a provisional certificate to be in DRC of a wastewater treatment facility if the operator has obtained a level of provisional certification which is equivalent to the facility classification.
005 New or promoted employees hired as operators in a wastewater treatment facility will have up to twelve months (from hiring date) to obtain the required level of certification of the position, provided the employee takes the certification exam at least once within six months of hiring or promotion.
Enabling Legislation: Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-15,130(1),(3),(9); 81-15,131; 81-15,132; 81-15,133; 81-15,135 and 81-15,138.