NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON
CHANGES TO HAWAII ADMINISTRATIVE RULES (HAR),
TITLE 11, CHAPTER 25,
“RULES RELATING TO CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM OPERATORS”
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DOCKET NO. R-25-03-18
The Department of Health (DOH) will receive written comments and hold a public hearing on proposed changes to Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Chapter 11-25, Rules Relating to Certification of Public Water System Operators. The proposed significant changes are summarized as follows:
1. The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) definition will be revised to bring Hawaii’s standards into line with the national standard, however the number of contact hours that an operator will need to earn to maintain his or her certification will not change.
2. The initial certification period after examination will be altered after an operator passes an exam in order to place the operator in his or her correct certification expiration year as soon as possible.
3. Certification fees will be increased for the first time since program initiation in 1993 to make the program better supported financially to reduce how much the State has to pay of increased costs of running the program. Also, the current fees are lower than similar certification fees in Hawaii and in other states from which operators solicit reciprocity.
The public hearing will be held on Oahu on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 8:30 a.m., in the Red conference room of 2385 Waimano Home Road, Uluakupu Building 4, Pearl City. Persons desiring to speak are asked to submit two (2) copies of their statement before or at the hearing. Written statements will also be accepted until 4:15 p.m. on May 9, 2018 at the Safe Drinking Water Branch (SDWB) Oahu address noted below.
Copies of the proposed rules and documents explaining the proposed changes are available for review Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 7:45 a.m. until 4:15 p.m., at the following locations:
Oahu SDWB, 2385 Waimano Home Rd., Uluakupu Bldg. 4, Pearl City, 96782, phone 586-4258, contact: Jodi Yamami
Kauai DOH District Health Office, 3040 Umi St., Lihue, 96766, phone
241-3323
Maui DOH, District Health Office, 54 High St., Wailuku, 96793, phone
984-8234
Hawaii DOH, District Health Office, 75 Aupuni St. #201, Hilo, 96720, phone 933-0407, contact: Theresa McGeehan-Takiue
Internet http://health.hawaii.gov/sdwb/
The proposed rules will also be mailed at no cost upon request. To obtain copies, download the documents from the website (stated above), call the SDWB at (808) 586-4258, or write to the Oahu address above.
For more information, please contact Ms. Jodi Yamami of the SDWB at the above address or at (808) 586-4258. Neighbor island residents may call the SDWB via the following direct toll free numbers:
Kauai: 274-3141 ext. 64258
Maui: 984-2400 ext. 64258
Hawaii Island: 974-4000 ext. 64258
Molokai and Lanai: 1-800-468-4644, ext. 64258
Requests for special needs due to disability or language will be accommodated if such request is made at least seven (7) days prior to the scheduled hearing. For those who use a TTY/TDD, please call through Verizon Hawaii Telephone Relay Service, at 1-711 or 1-877-447-5991.
Please notify anyone you know who would be interested in this matter.
VIRGINIA PRESSLER, M.D.
Director of Health
(SA1082840 4/2/18)
