Okla. Admin. Code § 252:100-17-24

Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024

Section 252:100-17-24 - Standards for municipal waste combustor operator training and certification

(a) Each chief facility operator and shift supervisor shall obtain and maintain a current provisional operator certification from either the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) [QRO-1-1994 Standard for the Qualification and Certification of Resource Recovery Facility Operators] or a State certification program no later than the date 6 months after the startup of a MWC unit or 12 months after the date of State plan approval, whichever is later.

(b) Each chief facility operator and shift supervisor shall have completed full certification or submitted an application, that has been accepted by the appropriate certification program, for a full certification exam with either the ASME [QRO-1-1994 Standard for the Qualification and Certification of Resource Recovery Facility Operators] or a State certification program no later than the date 6 months after the startup of a MWC unit or 12 months after the date of State plan approval, whichever is later.

(c)

(1) No owner or operator of a MWC unit shall allow the unit to be operated at any time unless one of the following persons is on duty:

(A) A fully certified chief facility operator.

(B) A provisionally certified chief facility operator who has met the qualification requirements specified in ASME [QRO-1-1994 section 2.2.2] and has made an application for a full certification exam following the ASME [QRO-1-1994 section 4.3.1] application process, according to the schedule specified in paragraph (b) of this section.

(C) A fully certified shift supervisor.

(D) A provisionally certified shift supervisor who has met the qualification requirements specified in ASME [QRO-1-1994 section 2.2.2] and has made an application for a full certification exam following the ASME [QRO-1-1994 section 4.3.1] application process, according to the schedule specified in paragraph (b) of this section.

(2) The requirement specified in paragraph (c) of this section shall take effect no later than the date 6 months after the startup of a MWC unit or 12 months after the date of State plan approval, whichever is later.

(3) If both the certified chief facility operator and certified shift supervisor are unavailable, a provisionally certified control room operator who is on-site at the MWC may fulfill the requirement in paragraph (c) of this section. Depending on the length of time that a certified chief facility operator and certified shift supervisor are away, the owner or operator of the affected facility must meet one of three criteria:

(A) When the certified chief facility operator and certified shift supervisor are both off site for 12 hours or less, and no other certified operator is on site, the provisionally certified control room operator may perform the duties of the certified chief facility operator or certified shift supervisor.

(B) When the certified chief facility operator and certified shift supervisor are off site for more than 12 hours, but for two weeks or less, and no other certified operator is on site, the provisionally certified control room operator may perform the duties of the certified chief facility operator or certified shift supervisor without notice to, or approval by, the Director. However, the owner or operator of the affected facility must record the period when the certified chief facility operator and certified shift supervisor are off site and include that information in the annual report as specified in 40 CFR 60.59b(g)(5).

(C) When the certified chief facility operator and certified shift supervisor are off site for more than two weeks, and no other certified operator is on site, the provisionally certified control room operator may perform the duties of the certified chief facility operator or certified shift supervisor without approval by the Director. However, the owner or operator of the affected facility must take two actions:

(i) Notify the Director in writing. In the notice, state what caused the absence and what actions are being taken by the owner or operator of the facility to ensure that a certified chief facility operator or certified shift supervisor is on site as expeditiously as practicable.

(ii) Submit a status report and corrective action summary to the Director every four weeks following the initial notification. If the Director provides notice that the status report or corrective action summary is disapproved, the municipal waste combustion unit may continue operation for 90 days, but then must cease operation. If corrective actions are taken in the 90-day period such that the Director withdraws the disapproval, municipal waste combustion unit operation may continue.

(4) A provisionally certified operator who is newly promoted or recently transferred to a shift supervisor position or a chief facility operator position at the municipal waste combustion unit may perform the duties of the certified chief facility operator or certified shift supervisor without notice to, or approval by, the Director for up to six months before taking the ASME QRO certification exam.

(d) All chief facility operators, shift supervisors, and control room operators at MWC units must complete the EPA or State MWC operator training course no later than the date 6 months after the date of startup of the MWC or by 12 months after the date of State plan approval, whichever is later.

(e) The requirement specified in paragraph (d) of this section does not apply to chief facility operators, shift supervisors, and control room operators who have obtained full certification from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers on or before the date of State plan approval.

(f) The owner or operator may request that the DEQ waive the requirement specified in paragraph (d) of this section for chief facility operators, shift supervisors, and control room operators who have obtained provisional certification from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers on or before the date of State plan approval.

(g) The owner or operator of a MWC unit shall develop and update on an annual basis, a site-specific operating manual. The operating manual shall, at a minimum, address the elements of MWC unit operation specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(11) of this section.

(1) A summary of the applicable standards under this Part.

(2) A description of basic combustion theory applicable to a MWC unit.

(3) Procedures for receiving, handling, and feeding MSW.

(4) MWC unit start-up, shutdown, and malfunction procedures.

(5) Procedures for maintaining proper combustion air supply levels.

(6) Procedures for operating the MWC unit within the standards established under this Part.

(7) Procedures for responding to periodic upset or off-specification conditions.

(8) Procedures for minimizing particulate matter carryover.

(9) Procedures for handling ash.

(10) Procedures for monitoring MWC unit emissions.

(11) Reporting and recordkeeping procedures.

(h) The owner or operator of a MWC unit shall establish a training program to review the operating manual according to the schedule specified in paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this section. The training shall be provided to each person who has responsibilities affecting the operation of the unit including, but not limited to, chief facility operators, shift supervisors, control room operators, ash handlers, maintenance personnel, and crane/load handlers.

(1) Each person specified in paragraph (h) of this section shall undergo initial training no later than the date specified in paragraph (h)(1)(A), (h)(1)(B), or (h)(1)(C), whichever is later.

(A) The date 6 months after the date of startup of the unit.

(B) The date prior to the day the person assumes responsibilities affecting MWC unit operation.

(C) Twelve months after date of State plan approval.

(2) Annually, following the initial review required by paragraph (h)(1) of this section, each person specified in paragraph (h) of this section shall review the operating manual updates, any operational lessons learned/experiences of the past year, and provide for review of any section which an employee requests.

(i) The operating manual required by paragraph (h) of this section shall be kept in a readily accessible location for all persons required to undergo training under paragraph (h) of this section no later than 6 months after start-up or 12 months after the date of State plan approval. The operating manual and records of training shall be available for inspection by the DEQ upon request.

Okla. Admin. Code § 252:100-17-24

Added at 15 Ok Reg 2591, eff 6-25-98; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 1165, eff 7-1-09