The Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s (IDEM) OWQ Compliance Branch wants to take this opportunity to let you know about a number of things that are happening:
Operator Certification: IVY Tech is ready for you!
You have probably already heard that IDEM has been working with Ivy Tech to administer the wastewater operator certification exams electronically. The good news is that service is now up and running and available to anyone who qualifies to sit for the exam. You will still need to submit an application to IDEM as you always have. IDEM will then send you an approval letter that will give you the option of going to Ivy Tech at your convenience rather than waiting for IDEM to schedule the test. When applying, please use the updated application form from our website at www.idem.IN.gov/5088.htm. Once on this page click on “forms and applications” and look for our application form, which is number 47289.
After you receive your approval letter you can book a reservation on line at any of the 25 IVY Tech testing facilities around the state and take your exam whenever you are ready. Testing at IVY Tech is in a controlled environment, and is generally available six days per week and at various hours. Under this new arrangement, you will be informed of your score as soon as you complete your test, so you won’t have to worry for two weeks while you wait for your test results. There is a nominal fee of $30 to use the IVY Tech testing facilities in addition to the $30 IDEM application fee.
Those who don’t pass the exam can reapply and sit for the exam again after 30 days rather than having to wait six months as in the past. When you pass the test, you should expect to get your new certificate much sooner than previously, and it will be retroactive to the date you passed the exam.
NetDMR
IDEM continues to promote NetDMR as a better way for you to submit your DMRs and MROs/MMRs. This free web-based application checks your DMR for missing data and violations before you submit it, avoiding many of the errors encountered when using the paper DMRs. You can submit your DMR and MRO or MMR, along with other reports such as the noncompliance report, all using the electronic signature that is part of your NetDMR account, without ever having to print, sign, or mail any paper.
As of the end of November, over 25% of Indiana NPDES and IWP permit holders are using NetDMR.
Proposed Federal eReporting Rule
In early December, EPA again published this rule in the Federal Register and asked for public comments. We are expecting the final rule to be issued about one year from now. Once the federal eReporting Rule becomes final, Phase 1 will require all NPDES holders to begin submitting their DMRs electronically within one year. IDEM is working to get permittees enrolled in NetDMR now to avoid the rush. Of course, IDEM thinks there are other really good reasons to enroll in NetDMR now, including the ease in submitting documents without the need to print, sign and mail them.
Phase 2 of the proposed Rule will require all other reports to be submitted electronically within two years of the effective date. These reports include pretreatment annual reports, sludge reports, SSO/bypass/overflow reports, biomonitoring reports, NOIs and NOTs for general permits and any other report that you now submit on paper. IDEM, EPA and other states are currently in discussion about Phase 2 implementation requirements.
New IDEM MRO/MMR forms
We have developed a set of new MRO and MMR forms to be submitted along with DMRs. These new MROs and MMRs replace the old versions, and should be submitted with the January 2015 DMRs. The new forms can be found at http://www.idem.IN.gov/5104.htm.
By using NetDMR to submit your NPDES DMR data each month, you no longer need to hand-sign the MRO/MMR forms. When using NetDMR, enter/key the appropriate names on both the signature blanks on the new MRO/MMR forms, save as a “pdf” document (name it correctly), attach it to the NetDMR form and submit it.
Bypass/Overflow/SSO reports
We want everyone to know that we consider it very important that all bypass/overflow and SSO events are reported to IDEM. Please use the April 2013 version of form 48373, and please submit them as an e-mail attachment to wwreports@idem.IN.gov rather than sending them by fax.
For More Information
Questions about NetDMR can be sent by e-mail to IDEM at NetDMR@idem.IN.gov, or by calling Rose McDaniel at (317) 233-2653. You may call Rebecca McMonigle with questions about wastewater certification at (317) 232-8791. You may call Tonja Fuller-White with questions about wastewater operator continuing education at (317) 233-0479.