Sec. 10.5. (a) The commissioner may issue a certificate to a person under this chapter if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The person is an operator in responsible charge of a water treatment plant or water distribution system that was:

(A) in operation before September 2, 2000; and

(B) required to have a certified operator for the first time under rules adopted in accordance with guidelines published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register at 64 FR 5916 et seq.

(2) The owner of the water treatment plant or water distribution system applies for a certificate for the operator in responsible charge before September 1, 2002.

(3) The certificate issued by the commissioner:

(A) is site specific; and

(B) may not be transferred to another operator.

(4) The certificate will become invalid if the classification of the water treatment plant or water distribution system for which the certificate was issued changes to a higher level.

     (b) A person certified under subsection (a) must meet all requirements for certification renewal that apply to the classification of the water treatment plant or water distribution system to renew the certificate under this chapter.

     (c) A person certified under subsection (a) who commences work for a different water treatment plant or water distribution system must meet the initial certification requirements for the plant or system.

     (d) Notwithstanding section 14 of this chapter, a water treatment plant or water distribution system that meets the conditions of subsection (a)(1) may continue to operate if the water treatment plant or water distribution system applies to the commissioner for certification of the operator in responsible charge of the water treatment plant or water distribution system as provided in this section.

As added by P.L.132-2000, SEC.10.