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Process vs. Non-Process: AKA the 50% Rule
As an operator of a system in Maryland that provides drinking water for our citizens and treats the waste generated by our daily activates, you play an important role in protecting both public health and the environment of Maryland. The process of certifying operators in Maryland is governed by regulations and standards which you need to meet in order to be in compliance.
The original intent of the certification training requirements was to ensure that the operators of water and waste systems maintained an adequate level of technical knowledge about the processes they operated at their facility.
Over a number of years many non-process technical training events were approved for certification hours because the topics were relevant to operations. Some examples would be maintenance of equipment, safety topics, math skills, and lab testing.
More recently, the intent of the regulations was reviewed by the Board of Waterworks and Waste Systems Operators. The Board became aware of a trend in the industry related to the types of training being submitted to renew certificates. Specifically, many operators were renewing their certificates without taking any process type of training. In fact, an operator could renew his/her certificate without taking one process related class.
This review of the intent of the regulations resulted in the 50% rule which is now in effect. The rule requires that a minimum of half the training used for renewal hours is process related. Any training event where at least 50% of the material covered is approved for process control will be designated as a ‘process’ class. All others will be designated as non-process. Operators must have at least 50% of their credits in process to renew or gain their certification.
Maryland Center for Environmental Training
Wins
Its
Fourth National Aegis Award
What is the difference between conventional septic systems and nitrogen
reducing onsite sewage disposable systems? Find out in “Onsite Sewage
Disposal Systems: Protecting Your System, Preserving the Bay,” the Aegis
award-winning DVD from the Maryland Center for Environmental Testing and
the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).
“Onsite Sewer
Disposal Systems” explains how the Bay Restoration Fund (BRF) can assist
homeowners in upgrading their septic systems to avoid excess nutrient
loading in the Chesapeake Bay, as well as how the MDE conducts water
quality sampling and performs septic system surveys.
The video won a 2006
Aegis Training and Education Award. “We are truly thrilled receive this
award. It means a lot to have your staff recognized for the quality of
their work and their commitment to our region.”” said Karen Brandt,
director of MCET at the College of Southern Maryland. This is MCET’s fourth
Aegis Award. Previous Aegis Awards were granted to “Environmentally Sound
Practices in the Ready Mix Industry”, “Environmentally Sound Practices in
the Homebuilders Industry” and “Uncovering the Mystery in Your Backyard: A
Homeowners Guide to Septic Systems.”
Now in its 17th year,
the Aegis Awards are one of the video industry’s premiere video/film
production contests in the United States. It is the only competition in
which production work is judged by working film professionals.
Since 1983, MCET has
provided training video production services, primarily in the areas of
water and wastewater management, hazardous waste, and health and safety in
partnership with Maryland’s local and state government and businesses
including the ready mixed concrete, marinas, homebuilders and aggregates
industries.
“Onsite Sewer
Disposal” will air on various local access channels and is available for
showing at public venues including libraries and community groups. For more
information or to request video contact MDE at 410-537-4195 or
info@mcet.org.
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