There is established in the Department of Environmental Protection an Advisory Committee on Water Supply and Wastewater Licensed Operator Training. Committee members shall be appointed by the commissioner for three-year terms as follows: four members who shall be representatives of the department; two members who shall be representatives selected from a list prepared by the New Jersey Section American Water Works Association; one member who shall be a licensed operator; two members of the Water Pollution Control Association; two members who shall be selected from a list prepared by the Authorities Association of New Jersey, one of whom shall be from a water authority, and one from a wastewater treatment authority; one member who shall be selected from a list prepared by the New Jersey Business and Industry Council; three members who shall be selected from a list prepared by educational institutions in the State conducting courses in water supply or wastewater treatment operations, or which conducted an appropriate course in the immediately preceding academic year, one of whom shall be the Director of the Office of Continuing Professional Education at Cook College, the State University of Rutgers; and two members who shall be selected from environmental groups in the State actively concerned or involved in water quality or wastewater treatment. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term.

The advisory committee shall meet at least once a year, and shall organize itself in such manner and hold its meetings in such places as it deems most suitable. The department shall provide staff assistance to the advisory committee, to the extent that monies are available therefor.

The advisory committee shall advise the department on the training and licensing of water supply and wastewater treatment operators and on related matters, or on any other matter referred to it by the department. The advisory committee shall review the training programs for, and identify the training needs of, water supply and wastewater treatment operators, and shall approve the annual allocations of monies for wastewater treatment operators’ training programs from sums available in the “Wastewater Treatment Operators’ Training Account,” established pursuant to section 13 of P.L.1990, c.28 (C. 58:10A-14.5).

L.1990,c.28,s.14.