Dear
iwritetodayaspresidentandonbehalfofthe5,100-membernonprofitFlorida WaterandPoliutionControlOperatorsAssociation(FWPCOA)opposingthe water/wastewateroperatorinterstatelicensingreciprocityprovisionsofHouse Bill(HB)23:WaterandWastewaterFacilityOperators.
TheFWPCOAwasformedin1940fortheexpresspurposeof professionalizingFloridaswaterandwastewateroperationsthroughtrainingand certification.OurvolunteersdevelopedandadministeredFloridasvoluntary operatorcertificationprogramforsome20yearsbeforeitwasadoptedbythe legislatureasmandatoryin1971.Sincethen,wehaveworkedwiththeFlorida DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection(FDEP)anditspredecessoragenciesto updateandenhanceFDEP strainingandlicensingprotocols,producingaFlorida operatorlicensingsystemthatisrecognizedasoneofthestrongestintheUnited States.Giventheuniquewatersupplyandwastewatermanagementchallenges presentedbyFloridasgrowingpopulation,ourcitizensdeservenoless.
TheFDEP slicensingexaminationsaretheveryheartofFloridas program.Theyaredesignedtoassurethatthemenandwomenchargedwith operatingthesefacilitiesfullyunderstandandarepreparedtorespond instantaneously,atanyhourofanyday,tochangingoperationalconditionsthat maythreatenpublichealthortheenvironment. Trainingandlicensingexams focusonprocesses,procedures,equipment,andtechnologiesmostcommonly usedinFlorida.Moreover,sectionsofeachexamdealwithFloridaspublichealth andenvironmentalregulations,whichareclearlyuniquetothestate.NoFlorida residentmaylegallyleadashiftatanyFloridapublicwatersupply,water distribution,orwastewatertreatmentfacilitywithouthavingdemonstrated masteryofthissubjectmatterbypassingFloridaslicensingexam;however,the reciprocityprovisionsofHB23willallownon-Floridaresidentstodoso.
TheFWPCOAisquiteawareofthecurrentnationwidelaborshortageand theassociatedrecruitmentchallengesitpresentsforcertainwater/sewer operatoremployers;however,itsmembershipdoesnotbelievethatwaivingthe operatorsobligationtoempiricallydemonstrateessentialknowledgeserves Floridaspublichealthandenvironmentalinterest,nordoesitbelievethatdoing
sowillmeaningfullyaddressrecruitmentissues.Mostwater/seweremployersare awarethatrecruitmentproblemsarelessasupplythanademandissueandhave adjustedtheiremploymentconditionstocompeteinalabormarketthatis increasinglychallengingforallemployers.
Summarizing,astheoriginatorofFloridasexistingwater/wastewater operatorlicensingsystem,anationwidemodelofwhichallFloridianscanbe proud,FWPCOAstronglyopposesHB23initscurrentform,specificallythe provisionsthatallowout-ofstateoperatorstobelicensedwithouthaving successfullycompletedFDEP soperatorlicensingexamination.
Wewillbepleasedandhonoredtoassistinredraftingthebilltorequire FDEPtoformalizeasystemforevaluatingout-ofstatecredentialsandexempting qualifiedapplicantsfromlowercertificationlevelexams,butwecannotsupport anyinitiativethatcompelsorallowslicensingofout-of-stateoperatorswithout successfulcompletionofanFDEPwater/wastewateroperatorexamination.
ThankyoufortakingthetimetoreadandconsiderFWPCOA sposition. i hopethatyouwillcontactmeifwecanbeoffurtherassistance.
Sincerely,
/7
PatrickMurphy,President FWPCOA