ENTITLED, An Act
revise certain water supply and treatment system operator certification
provisions to comply with the requirements of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section
1.
That chapter 34A-3 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as
follows:
All water treatment plants and water distribution systems required by section 1419 of the federal
Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended to January 1, 2000, shall be under the supervision of an
operator whose competency is certified by the secretary in a grade corresponding to the
classification of the plant or system. Certificates of proper classification shall be issued without
examination to the operators of plants and systems not requiring certified operators under
§
34A-3-
4 before the effective date of this Act. The governing body or owner of the water system shall
designate such persons in writing to the secretary by January 1, 2001. A certificate so issued is valid
only for that operator and that plant or system. The certificate shall be marked, restricted. If the
water treatment or distribution system is classified to a higher level, the operator shall meet the
initial certification requirements for the system's new classification. An operator issued a restricted
certificate pursuant to this section shall comply with all rules promulgated pursuant to
§
34A-3-24,
for certificate renewal and training of certified operators. A restricted certificate may be revoked
pursuant to
§
§
34A-3-21 to 34A-3-23, inclusive, as provided for in this chapter and the rules
promulgated pursuant to
§
34A-3-24. The secretary may promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26
to provide for the issuance and renewal of certificates and other requirements for certified operators
under this section and as otherwise may be necessary to implement the requirements of the federal
Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended to January 1, 2000, in a state drinking water program
approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Signed January 27, 2000.