Authority: IC 13-14-8; IC 13-18-11-1.5; IC 13-18-11-10.5; IC 13-18-11-13

Affected: IC 13-18-11

Sec. 3.4. (a) For purposes of this rule, grandparenting is the process through which the commissioner may issue operator certification to a person who has been working at a water treatment plant or water distribution system that, before the effective date of this rule, was not required to be under the supervision of a certified operator. An operator certificate to be conferred through grandparenting may be issued if:

1. (1) the owner or governing body meets the criterion of subsection (b); and
2. (2) the recipient of the certificate abides by the requirements of subsection (d).

(b) The commissioner may issue an operator certification in the operator grade appropriate to the classification of water treatment plant or water distribution system where the recipient has been an employee acting in the capacity of an operator making process control decisions that affect the quality or quantity of water from the treatment plant or distribution system if the owner or governing body submits an application to the commissioner before September 1, 2002, requesting certification of each person intended to be designated as one (1) of the facility's operators in responsible charge.

(c) A certification conferred under grandparenting shall be as follows:

1. (1) Valid only at the site where the person receiving the grandparent certification gained operator experience.

2. (2) Valid for three (3) years during which time the operator must do the following:

   1. (A) Fulfill the continuing education requirements for the grade of operator certification that has been conferred through grandparenting as listed in section 7.5 of this rule in order to be eligible for certification renewal according to section 7(e)(3) of this rule.
   2. (B) Successfully complete an operator training course specified by the commissioner.

3. (3) Invalid if the classification of the water treatment plant or water distribution system changes to one (1) requiring a certified operator with more extensive education or experience qualifications, such as may be based on any of the following:

   1. (A) Increased capacity.
   2. (B) An increase in population served.
   3. (C) A basic change in the method of water treatment.
   4. (D) Another change in conditions that causes a more difficult or complex operation.
4. (4) The commissioner may allow a grandparented operator to continue operation of a system where the classification has changed under subdivision (3) if the operator demonstrates to the commissioner that the facility will be properly operated. For a grandparented operator to continue operation of a system where the classification has changed under subdivision (3), a written request must be made by the owner of the public water system.

(d) If an operator certified under grandparenting according to this section:

1. (1) fails to meet the continuing education requirements of section 7.5 of this rule within the required time according to subsection (c)(2); or
2. (2) goes to work at water treatment plant or water distribution system other than the one that the grandparent certification was conferred;

then the grandparent certification is voided and the operator must become certified according to the requirements of this rule.

(Water Pollution Control Division; 327 IAC 8-12-3.4; filed Nov 20, 2000, 4:11 p.m.: 24 IR 982; filed Oct 24, 2006, 3:03 p.m.: 20061122-IR-327050255FRA; readopted filed Oct 18, 2024, 1:57 p.m.: 20241113-IR-327230810RFA)