(a) Each septage management firm operator shall attend a training course approved pursuant to subsection (d) of this section of no less than four hours of instruction per year. New septage management firm operators and those that have not operated a septage management firm in the 24 months preceding the submittal of an application shall complete the training before commencing operation.

(b) Each septage land application site operator shall attend a training course approved pursuant to subsection (d) of this section of no less than three hours of instruction per year. New septage land application site operators and those that have not operated a septage land application site in the 24 months preceding the submittal of an application shall complete the training before commencing operation. The Department shall notify all septage management firm operators of changes to rules no later than 30 days after those changes have been adopted by the Commission and shall post all septage management program rules to its website.

(c) Upon the completion of the permit requirements under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-291.1 and the training requirements under this section, the Department shall issue the septage management firm a certificate to operate as a registered portable sanitation firm or a registered septage management firm, or both.

(d) The Department shall develop and maintain a list of approved instruction courses that have a direct or indirect relevance to septage management firms, septage land application site operators, and septage detention or treatment facility operators. The instruction courses shall be technical in nature and address business management practices, professional ethics, quality assurance, codes, or similar topics which facilitate professional development and serve to safeguard health, safety, and welfare of citizens. The Department may approve additional training courses on a case-by-case basis. (2001-505, s. 1.2; 2021-83, s. 2.)