Title 197 - NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Chapter 7 - OPERATOR CERTIFICATE RENEWAL
001 Certificates shall expire two years from the date of issuance.
002 The department shall notify the certified operator regarding expiration at the last known address at least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date of the certificate. Failure of the department to notify the certified operator of expiration does not relieve the certified operator of the responsibility for renewal. Late renewals will be accepted by the department no more than ninety (90) days beyond the expiration date.
003 As a prerequisite for renewal, each certified operator shall obtain a minimum of two (2) CEU's of training approved by the department during the two (2) years prior to expiration. Excess CEU's earned in a two (2) year interval may be carried over into the next two (2) year interval up to the maximum amount of one (1) CEU. For non-compatible industrial operators, at least 0.3 CEUs ( 3 contact hours) of the required 2.0 CEUs shall be training in operations of industrial facilities. An operator that is certified as both a Municipal and non-compatible Industrial operator needs only 2.0 CEUs total to renew both licenses. At least 0.3 CEUs (3 contact hours) must be training in the operation of industrial facilities.
003.01 All CEU's for initial qualifications or certificate renewal shall be subject to review for approval to insure that the training is applicable to wastewater treatment facility operation and meets CEU criteria. Identification of approved training, appropriate CEU assignment, and verification of successful completion is the responsibility of the department. Training records shall be maintained by the operator and submitted to the department as part of application for certificate renewal.
003.02 Qualified education programs include all wastewater courses and related technical courses, workshops, correspondence courses, and other education experiences approved by the department. Examples of qualified programs and their eligible CEU's include:
003.02A College level course for three (3) quarter hours or two (2) semester hours credit - 3 CEU's.
003.02B One year of applicable post-high school education (45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours) - 45 CEU's.
003.02C Courses related to operation of wastewater treatment plants offered by the University of California at Sacramento - 4.5 or 9.0 CEU’s.
003.03 Training may be provided by wastewater operator personnel to other operators. This type of training may meet CEU requirements as long as prior approval of training to be provided is obtained from the department. Training submitted to the department for approval must meet the following criteria:
003.03A Instruction should be provided by an operator certified at a level equal to or greater than the classification level of the facility whose operator is receiving instruction, or by a trainer that has submitted information demonstrating qualifications for specific training activities.
003.03B An outline of the training to be provided should be submitted and should include the time allotted to each main topic.
003.03C A list of the teacher's objectives should be submitted documenting the essential points of the instruction, need-to-know information and the methods used to illustrate these principles.
003.04 Written evidence of successful completion of the training must be submitted to the department by the instructor within thirty (30) days following the training and a copy provided to the operator for his/her training record.
004 The certificate renewal fee as prescribed in Appendix C shall accompany the renewal application.
005 The certificate renewal date may be changed for the convenience of the certified operator with adequate justification, at the discretion of the director. Renewal fees will be prorated in such cases.
Enabling Legislation: Neb. Rev. 81-15,130(1)(4)(7)(8) and 81-15,138.
Legal Citation: Title 197, Ch. 7, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
1200 "N" Street, Suite 400
P.O. Box 98922
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
(402) 471-2186