New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) training

Due to state budget cuts in Massachusetts, the state`s Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) shifted its wastewater operator certification and training program to a new consortium of training organizations, led by NEIWPCC. Since July 2005, the operator training, certification exams, and renewals have been fully coordinated by NEIWPCC. All renewal applications are submitted to NEIWPCC and will be processed and reviewed, along with the training contact hour requirements.

NEIWPCC is pleased to announce a new training opportunity – an Internet-based operator training course focused on wet weather issues and impacts at wastewater treatment facilities.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 outlined new policies and practices for the underground storage tank community aimed at decreasing release rates and improving tank safety and compliance. The act included requirements for secondary containment, delivery prohibition, 3-year inspections, state reporting, public record requirements, and operator training. With a phased-in implementation approach, operator training requirements are the last portion that states must address as states are required to have enforcement authority for programs in place as of August 1, 2009.

In addition to running the state’s wastewater operator certification and training program, NEIWPCC also coordinates the Massachusetts Title 5 Onsite Wastewater Training and Certification of Soil Evaluators and System Inspectors. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection transferred the programs to NEIWPCC in 2004, and we now conduct the training and exams as well as chair the Onsite Advisory Committee (OAC) that was established to oversee these efforts.