257 CMR 2.00 — Certification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Facilities

Disclaimer

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) provides this file for download from its Web site for the convenience of users only.

Please be aware that the OFFICIAL versions of all state statutes and regulations (and many of the MassDEP policies) are only available through the State Bookstore or from the Secretary of State’s Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) Subscription Service. When downloading regulations and policies from the MassDEP Web site, the copy you receive may be different from the official version for a number of reasons, including but not limited to: • The download may have gone wrong and you may have lost important information. • The document may not print well given your specific software/ hardware setup. • If you translate our documents to another word processing program, it may miss/skip/lose important information. • The file on this Web site may be out-of-date (as hard as we try to keep everything current). If you must know that the version you have is correct and up-to-date, then purchase the document through the state bookstore, the subscription service, and/or contact the appropriate MassDEP program.

257 CMR: BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF OPERATORS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES 257 CMR 2.00:CERTIFICATION OF OPERATORS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES Section 2.01: Purpose and Authority 2.02: Definitions 2.03: Application for Certification 2.04: Exemptions 2.05: Examinations 2.06: Operator Status 2.07: Issuance and Renewal of Certification 2.08: Emergency and Provisional Facility Certification 2.09: Renewal and Revocation Provisions 2.10: Education Requirements 2.11: Operator Descriptions 2.12: Grades of Wastewater Treatment Facility Operators 2.13: Classification of Wastewater Treatment Facilities 2.14: Violations and Penalties 2.15: Permit for Discharge

257 CMR 2.00 Certification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Facilities

2.01 Purpose and Authority

2.01: Purpose and Authority The purpose 257 CMR 2.00 is to set forth a process for the evaluation and certification of operators of wastewater treatment facilities in order to insure the facilities' proper management, operation and maintenance. Authority for 257 CMR 2.00 is found in M.G.L. c. 21, §§ 34A and 34B.

2.02 Definitions

2.02: Definitions Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is an index of the amount of oxygen that will be consumed by the decomposition of the organic matter in wastewater. Board shall mean the Board of Certification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Facilities established in M.G.L. c. 21, § 34A. Certificate means a certificate of competency issued by the Board stating that the holder has met the requirements for a specified grade and status of wastewater treatment plant operator through the Board's certification program. Each certification issued by the Board shall be valid only for the individual to whom it is issued and may not be transferred. Continuing Education Unit (CEU) refers to a certain number of training contact hours. One CEU equals ten TCH's. Some seminars, workshops, training courses, and college courses have official CEU values. Contract Operations means the operation, and/or management and/or maintenance of a wastewater treatment facility by someone other than the permittee of the facility. Inactive Operators refers to retired operators or operators with "when and if" status. Reciprocity means the certification of a person who has passed a written examination in another state and meets the experience requirements of Massachusetts or a person who meets the requirements of a reciprocity registry accepted by the Board. Reciprocity Registry refers an organization which grants reciprocity to its members across state and international borders. Training Contact Hours (TCH) refers to the hours of training an operator has had in the last calendar year. Each seminar, workshop, training course, or college course will have a specific training hour value as rated by the Board. Each CEU equals ten TCH per year.

Effective 12/6/2013

257 CMR: BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF OPERATORS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES

2.02 continued

2.02: continued Wastewater Treatment Facility - means any and all devices, processes, and properties, real or personal, used in the storage, treatment, disposal, recycling, reclamation or reuse of waterborne pollutants, but not including any sewer system. Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator (WTP0) means the person who is in responsible charge of operations during all working shifts of a wastewater treatment facility. A WTP0 cannot be an official who does not spend his working hours at the treatment facility. In any wastewater treatment facility requiring more than one shift, a certified operator shall be present who shall have a grade commensurate with the duties required during that shift, as determined by the Board.

2.03 Application for Certification

2.03: Application for Certification (1) Any person desiring to be certified as a wastewater treatment plant operator by examination shall file an application with the Board not later than 45 days preceding the date of a scheduled examination. (2) Any person desiring to be certified by reciprocity shall file an application with the Board providing: (a) proof of having passed a written test in another state; (b) resume explaining job duties, responsibilities, and dates of employment at each facility; (c) flow diagrams of each facility worked at; and (d) copy of rules and regulations for certification in state certified; or (e) proof of acceptable reciprocity registration. (3) Any person desiring to obtain emergency certification must submit a request in writing to the Board setting forth the necessity for such certification. Applications for emergency certification will be acted on by the Board pursuant to 257 CMR 2.08. (4) Any person desiring to obtain provisional certification must submit a request in writing to the Board setting forth the necessity for such certification. Applications for provisional certification will be acted on by the Board pursuant to 257 CMR 2.08. (5) All applications shall be signed under oath by the applicant.

2.04 Exemptions

2.04: Exemptions The following treatment systems are exempt from certified operator requirements: (a) lime chip neutralization; (b) neutralizing less than 100 gallons per day; (c) small scale silver recovery; (d) oil/water separators using gravity separation, also known as “MDC traps”; and (e) closed loop systems.

2.05 Examinations

2.05: Examinations (1) The Board will prepare examinations to be used in determining the knowledge, ability, and judgment of applicants for operator certification. Examinations will be prepared for industrial, municipal and combined operator grades as set forth in 257 CMR 2.12. (2) Examinations will be held at least twice a year at places and times established by the Board. Notice of examination will be published in newspapers of general circulation and trade, industry, or professional publications.

Effective 12/6/2013

257 CMR: BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF OPERATORS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES

2.05 continued

2.05: continued (3) The passing score on examinations shall be the correct response to 66% of the examination questions for examination grades 1 & 2 Municipal and Industrial. The passing score on examinations for grades 3 and 4 Municipal and Industrial and 5 combined shall be the correct response to 65% of the examination questions. The passing score on examination for grade 6 combined shall be the correct response to 70% of the examination questions.

Effective 12/6/2013

257 CMR: BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF OPERATORS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES NON-TEXT PAGE

Effective 12/6/2013

257 CMR: BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF OPERATORS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES

2.05 continued

2.05: continued (4) All examinations shall be graded by the Board or its designees. The applicant shall be notified of the outcome in writing. Examination papers will not be returned to the applicant. (5) Upon written request of the applicant, the applicant's examination shall be made available for review at the Boston Office, Division of Water Pollution Control. (a) An examinee may apply in writing to review his examination within 30 days from the date of the Board's notification to the examinee of the examination results. (b) During the review process, the examinee must declare their intention in writing for a formal appeal of specific questions. The examinee shall provide the Board with documentation in support of the appeal within 30 days after reviewing their exam. The burden of proof is on the examinee. (c) The Board shall review properly filed appeals and shall notify the examinee in writing of the results of the appeal.

2.06 Operator Status

2.06: Operator Status In addition to assignment of grade to operators, operators shall be assigned a status by the Board as follows: (1) Operator-in-Training Status. Upon passing an examination, the Board shall review the applicant's experience, education and training. If the applicant is working at a wastewater treatment facility but does not meet the experience qualifications established in 257 CMR 2.12 for the grade passed, the applicant shall receive Operator-in-Training Certification. The Chief Operator of a facility cannot hold this certification unless approved by the Board. (2) When and If Status. An applicant may take an examination for any grade. If the applicant passes the examination, is not working in the field and/or does not have experience as defined in 257 CMR 2.12(2) to qualify for full certification, the Board will issue a When and If Status (W&I). When the W&I operator gains employment at a wastewater treatment facility and notifies the Board in writing, the Board shall review the operator's status and upgrade it to Operator-in-Training or Full Operator Status. (3) Full Operator Status. Full operator status refers to an operator who has passed a certification examination and meets all experience requirements set forth in 257 CMR 2.12 for a specified wastewater treatment facility.

2.07 Issuance of Certificates

2.07: Issuance of Certificates (1) Upon satisfactory fulfillment of the requirements provided herein, the Board shall issue to the applicant a certificate. The certificate shall indicate the operator's grade pursuant to 257 CMR 2.12 and state the class of treatment plant which the operator is qualified to operate pursuant to 257 CMR 2.13. Changes in the grade or status of an operator shall be reflected by documentation issued by the Board. (2) Certificates shall be valid provided renewal is made in accordance with 257 CMR 2.04 and 2.09 unless revoked for cause or replaced by a certificate of higher grade. (3) Certificates shall be valid unless the Board determines that the holder has not used reasonable care, judgment, and application of their knowledge in the performance of their duties. No certificate shall be valid if it was obtained through fraud, deceit or the submission of inaccurate data concerning the individual's qualifications.

Effective 12/6/2013

257 CMR: BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF OPERATORS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES

2.08 Emergency and Provisional Facility Certification

2.08: Emergency and Provisional Facility Certification (1) By a majority vote and for good cause shown, the Board may grant emergency certification to an operator to work at a specified facility in a position for which the operator is not otherwise certified. The Board may grant a Chief Operator an Emergency Certification only if the request for Emergency Certification is approved by the appropriate regional DEP/DWPC section chief. Emergency Certification shall not be granted to employees or managers of contract operations and maintenance firms. Emergency Certification shall be valid for no longer than six months and cannot be renewed. (2) By a majority vote, the Board may issue a Provisional Certification to any operator who meets all of the requirements for a specified grade applied for except that the applicant has not passed the appropriate examination. A Provisional Certification shall be issued only after the applicant has failed the applicable examination and Emergency Certification previously granted has expired, shall be of no more than six months duration, and cannot be renewed. The Chief Operator of a facility may not hold Provisional Certification unless allowed by the Board.

2.09 Renewal and Revocation Provision

2.09: Renewal and Revocation Provision (1) Until December 31, 1996, operator certification shall be renewed annually. Operators initially certified or renewing certification after December 31, 1995, shall renew certification by demonstrating that they have earned 10 or more Training Contact Hours during the previous calendar year. Inactive operators will not be required to obtain the necessary TCH's, but must pay the annual renewal fee. If an Inactive operator becomes Active, the operator must obtain the necessary TCH's annually thereafter. It is the responsibility of the Inactive operator to notify the Board of a change in status. (2) Operators active during the years 1993 through 1995 shall each obtain 30 TCH's at some point during that three year period. (3) The Board may revoke the certificate of an operator following a hearing conducted pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A before a majority of the Board when the Board finds that the operator has practiced fraud or deception or that reasonable care and judgment and the application of knowledge and ability was not used in the performance of their duties; or that the operator is incompetent or unable to properly perform their duties. An appeal from the decision of the Board may be made to the Superior Court. (4) The Board may revoke the certificate of an operator who fails to pay the renewal fee or obtain the required training contact hours. Reinstatement following revocation shall be by written examination.

2.10 Education Requirements

2.10: Education Requirements Commencing December 31, 1995, and annually thereafter, operators must demonstrate to the Board in their application for renewal that they have earned ten or more Training Contact Hours in the previous calendar year. If, during the past year, the operator has passed a certification examination which upgrades their certification, this shall equal 10 TCH's.

2.11 Operator Descriptions

2.11: Operator Descriptions Assistant Chief Operator - Grade 1-4 facilities. The person in direct responsible charge during the absence of the Chief Operator. Certification required for this position may be one grade below the grade of the plant. Assistant Chief Operator - Grade 5, 6, and 7 facilities. The person in direct responsible charge during the absence of the chief operator. Certification required is equal to the grade of the plant.

Effective 12/6/2013

257 CMR: BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF OPERATORS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES

2.11 continued

2.11: continued Chief Operator - In all plants, the person in overall direct responsible charge of the wastewater treatment facility at all times. The certification required for this position is equal to the grade of the plant. Shift Operator - In all plants, the person in direct responsible charge of a particular shift at a wastewater treatment facility. The certification required for this position is based upon the job duties and responsibilities assigned and determined by the points accrued on one's particular shift. Total points shall not include those for laboratory and BOD, or other units not in operation on the assigned shift. Weekend Operator - The person in direct responsible charge of the weekend operation of a wastewater treatment facility. The certification required for this position is based upon the job duties and responsibilities assigned and determined by the points accrued on one's particular weekend shift. Total points shall not include those for laboratory and BOD or units not operational on weekends.

2.12 Grades of Wastewater Treatment Facility Operators

2.12: Grades of Wastewater Treatment Facility Operators (1) There shall be seven grades of operators to coincide with the classification of plants set forth in 257 CMR 2.13. Operator grades shall be issued which correspond to the class of facility which the operator is qualified to operate. (2) Experience, to be acceptable, shall be the result of satisfactory accomplishment of work. Education-Experience equivalents are set forth below: EducationExperience Equivalent Master's Degree5 years (in one of the fields below) Bachelor's Degree in --4 years Engineering; Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical, or Sanitary. Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Bacteriology, or Public Health Associates Degree in the above3 years or Wastewater Treatment Technology Bachelor's Degree in other fields3 years Graduation from High School or2 years its equivalent Short courses in wastewater treatment and related technical fields may qualify applicants for additional experience equivalents ranging from three to eighteen months as determined by the Board. Additional education experience may only be added up to the maximum per grade level. (3) Operators shall possess experience and/or education as follows: (a) Grade 1 Operators shall have passed a Grade 1 examination and possess at least one year of experience at a level of responsibility comparable to that of a Class I plant or higher. Education may be substituted for not more than six months of experience. (b) Grade 2 Operators shall have passed a Grade 2 examination and possess at least three years of experience at a level of responsibility comparable to that of a Class 1 plant or higher. Education may be substituted for not more than two years of experience. (c) Grade 3 Operators shall have passed a Grade 3 examination and possess at least five years of experience at a level of responsibility comparable to that of a Class 2 plant or higher. Education may be substituted for not more than three years of experience.

Effective 12/6/2013

257 CMR: BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF OPERATORS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES

2.12 continued

2.12: continued (d) Grade 4 Operators shall have passed a Grade 4 examination and possess at least six years of experience at a level of responsibility comparable to that of a Class 3 plant or higher. Education may be substituted for not more than four years of experience. (e) Grade 5 Operators shall have passed a Grade 5 examination and possess at least six years of experience at a level of responsibility comparable to that of a Class 4 plant or higher. Education may be substituted for not more than four years of experience. (f) Grade 6 Operators shall have passed a Grade 6 examination and possess at least seven years of experience at a level of responsibility comparable to that of a Class 5 plant or higher. Education may be substituted for not more than five years of experience. (g) Grade 7 Operators shall have passed a Grade 6 examination and possess at least eight years of experience at a level of responsibility comparable to that of a Class 6 plant or higher. Education may be substituted for not more than five years of experience.

2.13 Classification of Wastewater Treatment Facilities

2.13: Classification of Wastewater Treatment Facilities (1) Each municipal wastewater treatment facility shall be classified by the Board as either 1M, 2M, 3M, 4M or 5, 6, or 7 for large or complex facilities. Each industrial wastewater treatment facility shall be classified as either 1I, 2I, 3I, 4I, or 5, 6, or 7 for large or complex facilities. The increasing numerical class indicates increasing complexity of operation and a higher level of training, knowledge, and experience required for operation. (2) The class of a facility shall be established by adding together all rating values reflecting the complexity of operation for units which are present in the facility, as set forth below: Rating Values for Classification of Facilities UnitRating Aeration; mechanical or diffused air greater than 0.5 MGD10 less than 0.5 MGD 6 Aeration; sludge, re-aeration 3 Aeration; pure oxygen greater than 0.5 MGD10 BOD Removal1 and up* Carbon Filter2-5 Carbon absorption in an Industrial facility5 Carbon reactivation10 Centrifuge8 Chemical addition2 points per chemical Chlorination pre, gas or liquid2 Chlorination post, gas or liquid2-5 Clarifier, tube settling or inclined plate2-5 Clariflocculation6 Coagulation and Neutralization5 Comminution1 Condenser2 Cooling Tower1-3 Dechlorination2 Denitrification5 Dissolved Air Flotation5 Electrodialysis5 Electrolytic Recovery5

Effective 12/6/2013

257 CMR: BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF OPERATORS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES

2.13 continued

2.13: continued UnitRating Equalization2 Evaporators2-5 Extended Aeration greater than 0.1 MGD, less than 0.5 MGD6 Extended Aeration equal to or less than 0.1 MGD4 Flash Mixing1 Flow measurement1 Flocculation1 Grit Chamber, Aerated2 Grit Chamber manually cleaned1 Grit Chamber mechanical grit removal2 Heat Exchangers2 High rate filtration units less than 0.1 MGD1 greater than 0.1 less than 0.5 MGD2 greater than 0.5 less than 1.0 MGD3 greater than 1.0 MGD4 Hypochlorite generation5 Hypochlorination pre and/or post1 Hydrocyclones (grit removal)3 Imhoff tanks3 Incineration10 Instrumentation1-5 Ion Exchange2-5 Laboratory1-3 Land Irrigation, spraying2 Land Irrigation, direct discharge2 Membrane Filtration3-5 Nitrification10 Odor Control2-5 Oil Separation2 Oxidation Ditch5 Oxygen Generation10 Ozonation5 Polishing Filter2 Post-aeration (cascade)1 Post-aeration (mechanical)2 Pre-aeration1 Primary Settling; airlift or manual sludge removal3 Primary Settling; mechanical sludge removal5 Primary sludge holding and mixing2 Pumping (in plant)3 Pumping stations under operator's control1 Reaction Vessel3 Reverse osmosis5 Rotating Biological Contactors4

Effective 12/6/2013

257 CMR: BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF OPERATORS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES

2.13 continued

2.13: continued UnitRating Rotating Biological Contactors; multiple stage7 Rotary Drum Dryers5 Sand filters; multi media, automatic backwash3-4 Sand filters; intermittent2 Sand filters; polishing1 Sand filters; subsurface1 Screens (mechanical)1 Scum Concentrator2 Secondary settling; airlift or manual sludge removal3 Secondary settling; mechanical sludge removal5 Septage facilities2-5 Sludge blending2 Sludge composting2-5 Sludge drying beds2 Sludge digestion; aerobic4 Sludge digestion; heated and mixed anaerobic10 Sludge digestion; heated and unmixed, anaerobic8 Sludge digestion; unheated2 Sludge elutriation3 Sludge incinerators10 Sludge press; belt8 Sludge press; plate and frame2-8 Sludge storage2 Sludge thickeners; gravity5 Sludge thickeners; flotation5 Stabilization ponds; non-aerated1 Stabilization ponds; aerated3 Stripping Air 2-5 Steam2-5 Trickling filters; high rate4 Trickling filters; staged4 Trickling filters; standard rate2 Ultraviolet disinfection2-5 Vacuum filter10 Wet Air Oxidation10 Design BOD in Pounds/Day x "f"

• BOD Removal Rating =1000 "f" = 0.3 for primary treatment and 0.8 for secondary or higher facilities.

Effective 12/6/2013

257 CMR: BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF OPERATORS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES

2.13 continued

2.13: continued (3) Wastewater treatment facilities shall be classified according to the following cumulative rating value: ClassCumulative Rating Value Class 1 (M or I)1-7 Class 2 (M or I)8-20 Class 3 (M or I)21-30 Class 4 (M or I)31-50 Class 5 (C)51-65 Class 6 (C)66-80 Class 7 (C)81 or more (4) Class 1 (I) and Class 2 (I) facilities which have fewer than three units or a rating of 20 or fewer points shall be considered Type I facilities for the purposes of 310 CMR 4.00. (5) Class 1 (I) and Class 2 (I) facilities with greater than three units or a rating of more than 20 points and Class 3 (I), Class 4 (I), Class 5, Class 6, and Class 7 facilities shall be considered Type II facilities for the purposes of 310 CMR 4.00. (6) The Board may establish a rating value for any unit not shown on the table. The Board may change the classification of a particular wastewater treatment facility when there are site-specific factors affecting the complexity of the treatment process.

2.14 Violations and Penalties

2.14: Violations and Penalties No person shall manage, operate or maintain a wastewater treatment facility unless the individual in charge of the facility is in possession of a currently valid certificate issued pursuant to 257 CMR 2.07. Any person who violates any provision of 257 CMR 2.00 or any valid regulation, order or permit issued by the Board; or who knowingly makes any false representation in any application required under 257 CMR 2.03 shall be punished by a fine of not more than $2500 per day of such violation or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, or shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $2500 per day of such violation, which may be assessed in an action brought on behalf of the Commonwealth in any court of competent jurisdiction or an Administrative Penalty pursuant to M.G.L. c. 21A, § 16.

2.15 Permit for Discharge

2.15: Permit for Discharge (1) Rating System for Permit Categories. (a) Unit Operations is defined as any component of a process that could be utilized solely or combined to attain a specific objective. The rating system is based on the number of specified unit operations in a proposed wastewater treatment facility and the total number of points assigned to each unit operation. (b) Type I Facility -any facility that has less than three unit operations as listed and has a rating of < 20 points. (c) Type II Facility -any facility that has three or more unit operations as listed or has a rating of > 20 points. (2) The following is the list of unit operations commonly used in wastewater treatment systems. Absorption/Adsorption

• Carbon5
• Ion Exchange5

Effective 12/6/2013

257 CMR: BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF OPERATORS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES

2.15 continued

2.15: continued Biological Wastewater Treatment

• Activated Sludge6
• Contact beds (anaerobic)5
• RBC5
• Sand Filters4
• Trickling Filters4 Chemical Precipitation (reaction vessel) Clarification
• Primary5
• Secondary5
• Tertiary5 Chrome Reduction5 Cooling water (contact and non-contact)2 Cyanide Destruction5 Dentention basins, Swales, Infiltration trenches2 Disinfection5 Equalization2 Evaporation
• Single2
• Multiple5 Filtration/Sludge Dewatering
• Cartridge3
• Centrifuge8
• Filter Press8
• Membrane5
• Vacuum Filter10 Flocculation/Mixing/Coagulation5 Flotation5 Neutralization/pH Adjust
• Single3
• Multiple5 Oil/Water Separation
• Gravity fed2
• Baffled5 Pumping (in-plant)3 Settling
• With manual sludge removal3
• With mechanical sludge removal5 Sludge Blending/Thickening5 Sludge Drying (mechanical dryers)5 Silver Recovery Unit5 Stripping (Air/Steam)5 REGULATORY AUTHORITY 257 CMR 2.00: M.G.L. c. 21, §§ 34A and 34B.

Effective 12/6/2013