Operator-in-charge and master operator

Operator-in-charge and master operator. (1) The owner of a licensed business shall in writing designate to the department the operator-in-charge of the business based upon the type of business and method of septage disposal as follows: (a) If a septage servicing business does not conduct any land application of septage, the operator-in-charge shall be a grade T or a grade L master operator. (b) If a septage servicing business does conduct any land application, the operator-in-charge shall be a grade L master operator. (2) Applicants for master operator shall accrue at least 1600 hours of experience working in the operator’s designated grade certification, including land application experience if grade L, over at least one calendar year, participate in a mandatory training class sponsored by the department, and pass examinations associated with that training class in order to become certified as a master operator. The class and examinations may be taken prior to obtaining the required experience. The time and experience requirements shall be documented by the applicant through submittal of a notarized certification statement. The department may verify information submitted on a case-by-case basis. Master operator grade certification shall be consistent with the person’s operator certification grade. (3) The mandatory training class for certifying a master operator shall be offered at least twice a year and shall cover topics relevant to the septage servicing business and shall cover both land application and disposal of septage at wastewater treatment facilities. (4) Owners shall notify the department in writing of any change of the designated operator-in-charge within 15 days of the change. (5) The master operator designated by the owner as the operator-in-charge shall agree to the designation in writing. The written agreement shall be submitted and approved by the department prior to approving the master operator as the operator-in-charge of the business. (6) The department may convert a master operator to a certified operator in any of the following circumstances: (a) A grade L master operator requests the department in writing to convert the certification to a grade L certified operator. (b) A grade T master operator requests the department in writing to convert the certification to a grade T certified operator. (c) The department converts the certification as specified under s. NR 114.24 (2) .