Chapter NR 499

Chapter NR 499

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR SOLID WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY OPERATORS

NR 499.01   Applicability; purpose.

NR 499.02   Definitions.

NR 499.03   Exemptions.

NR 499.04   Solid waste treatment facilities.

NR 499.05   Identification of persons or positions involved in the operation of a solid waste treatment facility.

NR 499.06   Certification levels.

NR 499.07   Solid waste treatment facility operator initial training program requirements.

NR 499.08   Review and approval of training programs.

NR 499.09   Solid waste treatment facility operator examination and certification.

NR 499.10   Solid waste treatment facility operator refresher training, certification renewal and expiration.

NR 499.11   Fees.

NR 499.12   Suspension and revocation of certifications.

Ch. NR 499 Note Note: Corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, January, 1997, No. 493.

NR 499.01 NR 499.01 Applicability; purpose.

NR 499.01(1) (1) Applicability. This chapter applies to any person participating in or responsible for the operation of a solid waste treatment facility that burns solid waste, to owners of solid waste treatment facilities and to any person who offers training programs for solid waste treatment facility operators.

NR 499.01(2) (2) Purpose. This chapter is adopted under s. 285.51, Stats., to establish by rule a program for the training and certification of solid waste treatment facility operators.

NR 499.01 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1993, No. 453, eff. 10-1-93.

NR 499.02 NR 499.02 Definitions. The definitions contained in ch. NR 400 apply to the terms used in this chapter. In addition, the following definitions apply to the terms used in this chapter:

NR 499.02(1) (1) “Approved training program” means a curriculum developed by a facility or an independent sponsor and approved by the department under this chapter for the purpose of training solid waste treatment facility operators.

NR 499.02(2) (2) “Burndown” means the final cycle in the operation of a solid waste treatment facility in which solid waste is no longer being charged, burners are designed to shut off automatically after a specified period of time, charging doors are locked and the equipment is allowed to cool.

NR 499.02(3) (3) “Certificate” means a printed document issued by the department, pursuant to this chapter, stating that the named individual has met the competency requirements established for a solid waste treatment facility operator.

NR 499.02(4) (4) “Certified operator” means a person who has completed an approved training program, passed an examination in accordance with this chapter, and has been issued a certificate by the department.

NR 499.02(5) (5) “Chief facility operator” means a person who has completed an approved training program and passed a department examination at this certification level. A chief facility operator is responsible for the overall supervision and monitoring of performance of a solid waste treatment facility and facility personnel.

NR 499.02 Note Note: Chief facility operator responsibilities are in s. NR 499.06.

NR 499.02(6) (6) “Crematory” means a facility that has a combustion device for the purpose of burning exclusively human corpses or animal bodies.

NR 499.02(7) (7) “Independent sponsor” means any person other than the department or a solid waste treatment facility that develops an approved training program.

NR 499.02(8) (8) “Interim chief facility operator” means a shift operator temporarily assigned the duties of a chief facility operator.

NR 499.02(10) (10) “Refresher training” means training that a certified operator is required to receive on an annual basis to review past training topics and to receive an update on new regulations, practices or procedures.

NR 499.02(11) (11) “Revocation” means an action by the department that withdraws an operator’s certification for the remaining term of the certification.

NR 499.02(12) (12) “Shift operator” means a person who has completed an approved training program and passed a department examination at this certification level. A shift operator is responsible for the supervising and monitoring of performance of a solid waste treatment facility and facility personnel during an assigned shift.

NR 499.02(13) (13) “Solid waste” has the meaning given in s. 285.01 (40), Stats.

NR 499.02(14) (14) “Solid waste treatment” or “treatment” has the meaning given in s. 289.01 (39), Stats.

NR 499.02(15) (15) “Solid waste treatment facility” or “facility” means any facility for solid waste treatment that uses any process that involves burning to change the physical, chemical or biological character or composition of solid waste. This includes an incinerator as defined in s. NR 500.03 (108).

NR 499.02(16) (16) “Suspension” means an action by the department that temporarily withdraws an operator’s certification pursuant to this chapter.

NR 499.02 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1993, No. 453, eff. 10-1-93.; r. (9), Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

NR 499.03 NR 499.03 Exemptions. The following solid waste treatment facilities are exempt from the requirements of this chapter:

NR 499.03(1) (1) Facilities described in s. 287.07 (7) (bg), Stats.

NR 499.03(2) (2) Facilities for the treatment of hazardous waste.

NR 499.03(3) (3) Solid waste treatment facilities for high-volume industrial waste as defined in s. 289.01 (17), Stats.

NR 499.03(4) (4) Facilities that use burning for treatment of contaminated soil.

NR 499.03(5) (5) Facilities for the treatment of landfill gases.

NR 499.03(6) (6) Air curtain destructors as defined in s. 289.51 (1) (a), Stats.

NR 499.03(7) (7) Facilities that burn alone, or in combination with fossil fuels, waste wood, residual oil or waste solvents.

NR 499.03(8) (8) Facilities that use incinerators solely as control devices or control systems for the purpose of complying with emission limitations or emission control requirements pursuant to chs. NR 400 to 499.

NR 499.03(9) (9) Any crematory.

NR 499.03(10) (10) Any wastewater sludge incinerator.

NR 499.03 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1993, No. 453, eff. 10-1-93.

NR 499.04 NR 499.04 Solid waste treatment facilities.

NR 499.04(1) (1) Applicability. This section applies to any owner or operator of a solid waste treatment facility that is not exempt under s. NR 499.03.

NR 499.04(2) (2) Operational requirements. Any person who owns a solid waste treatment facility shall meet the following requirements:

NR 499.04(2)(a) (a) There shall be one or more certified operators on the site of a solid waste treatment facility at all times during the facility’s hours of operation, determined as follows:

NR 499.04(2)(a)1. 1. The hours of operation do not include the burndown cycle for facilities that do not have air pollution control devices.

NR 499.04(2)(a)2. 2. The hours of operation include the burndown cycle for facilities that have air pollution control devices.

NR 499.04(2)(b) (b) Each solid waste treatment facility shall employ at least one certified operator. The level of operator certification required shall be as follows:

NR 499.04(2)(b)1. 1. Any facility that does not have an air pollution control device shall employ at least one shift operator.

NR 499.04(2)(b)2. 2. Any facility that has an air pollution control device shall employ at least one chief facility operator or interim chief facility operator.