Section 13627.

(a) Supervisors and operators of those wastewater treatment plants described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 13625 shall possess a certificate of appropriate grade. Subject to the approval of regulations by the state board, supervisors and operators of those wastewater treatment plants described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 13625 shall possess certificates of the appropriate grade. All certificates shall be issued in accordance with, and to the extent recommended by the advisory committee and required by, regulations adopted by the state board. The state board shall develop and specify in its regulations the training necessary to qualify a supervisor or operator for certification for each type and class of plant. The state board may accept experience in lieu of qualification training. For supervisors and operators of water recycling treatment plants, the state board may approve use of a water treatment plant operator of appropriate grade certified by the State Department of Public Health pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 106875) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code in lieu of a wastewater treatment plant operator certified by the state board, provided that the state board may refuse to approve use of an operator certified by the department or may suspend or revoke its approval of the use of an operator certified by the department if the operator commits any of the prohibited acts described in Article 7 (commencing with Section 3710) of Chapter 26 of Division 3 of Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations.

(b) The regional water quality control board, with jurisdiction for issuing and ensuring compliance with applicable water reclamation or waste discharge requirements, shall notify the department in writing if, pursuant to an inspection conducted under Section 13267, the regional board makes a determination that there are reasonable grounds for not issuing, or for suspending or revoking, the certificate of a certified water treatment plant operator who is operating or supervising the operation of a water recycling treatment plant. The department shall make its determination regarding the issuance, suspension, or revocation of a certificate in accordance with Section 106876 of the Health and Safety Code.

(c) For purposes of this section, "water recycling treatment plant" means a treatment plant that receives and further treats secondary or tertiary effluent, or both, from a wastewater treatment plant.

(d) A person employed as a wastewater treatment plant supervisor or operator on the effective date of regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be issued an appropriate certificate if the person meets the training, education, and experience requirements prescribed by regulations.

(e) The state board may refuse to grant, suspend, or revoke any certificate issued by the state board to operate a wastewater treatment plant, or may place on probation, or reprimand, the certificate holder upon any reasonable ground, including, but not limited to, all of the following reasons:

(1) Submitting false or misleading information on an application for a certificate.

(2) The employment of fraud or deception in the course of operating the wastewater treatment plant.

(3) A certificate holder's failure to use reasonable care or judgment in the operation of the plant.

(4) A certificate holder's inability to perform operating duties properly.

(5) Willfully or negligently violating, or causing, or allowing the violation of, waste discharge requirements or permits issued pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq.).

(f) The state board shall conduct all proceedings for the refusal to grant a certificate, and suspension or revocation of a certificate, pursuant to subdivision (e), in accordance with the rules adopted pursuant to Section 185.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 288, Sec. 50. Effective January 1, 2011.)