Illinois Code § 13.5

§ 13.5.

Sewage works; operator certification. (a) For the purposes of this Section, the term "sewage works" includes, without limitation, wastewater treatment works, pretreatment works, and sewers and collection systems. (b) The Agency may establish and enforce standards for the definition and certification of the technical competency of personnel who operate sewage works, and for ascertaining that sewage works are under the supervision of trained individuals whose qualifications have been approved by the Agency. (c) The Agency may issue certificates of competency to persons meeting the standards of technical competency established by the Agency under this Section, and may promulgate and enforce regulations pertaining to the issuance and use of those certificates. (d) The Agency shall administer the certification program established under this Section. The Agency may enter into formal working agreements with other departments or agencies of State or local government under which all or portions of its authority under this Section may be delegated to the cooperating department or agency. (e) This Section and the changes made to subdivision (a)(4) of Section 13 by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly do not invalidate the operator certification rules previously adopted by the Agency and codified as Part 380 of Title 35, Subtitle C, Chapter II of the Illinois Administrative Code. Those rules, as amended from time to time, shall continue in effect until they are superseded or repealed. (Source: P.A. 93-170, eff. 7-10-03.) (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-50) Sec. 13.5. Sewage works; operator certification. (a) For the purposes of this Section, the term "sewage works" includes, without limitation, wastewater treatment works, pretreatment works, and sewers and collection systems. (b) The Agency may establish and enforce standards for the definition and certification of the technical competency of personnel who operate sewage works, and for ascertaining that sewage works are under the supervision of trained individuals whose qualifications have been approved by the Agency. (c) The Agency may issue certificates of competency to persons meeting the standards of technical competency established by the Agency under this Section, and may promulgate and enforce regulations pertaining to the issuance and use of those certificates. (d) The Agency shall administer the certification program established under this Section. The Agency may enter into formal working agreements with other departments or agencies of State or local government under which all or portions of its authority under this Section may be delegated to the cooperating department or agency. (e) This Section and the changes made to subdivision (a)(4) of Section 13 by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly do not invalidate the operator certification rules previously adopted by the Agency and codified as Part 380 of Title 35, Subtitle C, Chapter II of the Illinois Administrative Code. Those rules, as amended from time to time, shall continue in effect until they are superseded or repealed. (f) The Agency shall establish an operator-in-training wastewater-operator program through which an applicant who does not possess a high school diploma or its equivalent may act as an operator-in-training working under a certified wastewater operator if the applicant demonstrates all of the following: (1) The applicant is capable of performing the required duties without endangering the health and well-being of the populace. (2) The applicant is capable of maintaining and properly operating the structures and equipment entrusted to the applicant's care. (3) The applicant is capable of conducting and maintaining the facility in a safe manner. (4) The applicant has passed any examinations that are required by the Agency to be considered an operator in training. (5) The applicant must work under the direct supervision of a certified operator who holds a certificate of technical competency of the appropriate class for the wastewater treatment or pretreatment works. The Agency may adopt any rules needed to implement this subsection (f). (Source: P.A. 104-50, eff. 1-1-26.)