The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has initiated this rulemaking to allow for the creation of a combined very small wastewater treatment and collection system classification for communities with 500 connections or less.  Operators struggle with obtaining the various licenses currently required for the different aspects of very small facility operation.  This difficulty in obtaining more than one license results in there being too few properly licensed operators.  This lack of properly licensed operators places the facilities in danger of being out of compliance with the rules that require they use the services of properly licensed operators.  Smaller systems, due to their relative simplicity of operation, are good candidates for operation by individuals with combined licenses.  Associated with this rulemaking is the need for the Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses (IBOL) to establish a very small wastewater system operator license.  DEQ is working with IBOL to coordinate rulemaking activities.

DEQ received no public comments, and the rule has been adopted as initially proposed.

This rule was adopted as a temporary rule by the Board in February 2009 and is currently effective. The pending rule will be effective upon adjournment of the 2010 legislative session if approved by the Legislature.