(A) Requirements to become a qualified
data collector (QDC).
(1) Level 1
requirements.
(a) An individual may obtain level 1 QDC status by documenting
completion of a basic water quality monitoring program designed for public
awareness and education. Successful completion of a level 1 training from a QDC
trainer approved by the director shall result in automatic approval as a level
1 QDC if the trainee provides name and contact information at the training.
Individuals automatically approved as level 1 QDCs shall be included on the
list of approved QDCs on the credible data website at:
http://www.epa.ohio.gov/dsw/credibledata/index.aspx.
(b) The director shall determine the acceptability of the basic
water quality monitoring training based on factors including, but not limited
to, the following:
(i) Whether the training
is affiliated with a national, state or local organization that actively
encourages and supports surface water monitoring.
(ii) Whether the training
is affiliated with a program that has maintained, or intends to maintain, data
collection efforts spanning more than one year.
(iii) Confirmation that
the training received by participants includes basic water quality principles,
the use of field instrumentation, sample collection and preservation and data
recording techniques.
(2) Level 2 requirements.
Four categories of level 2 QDC status are available. Applicants may apply for
one or more of the following in any combination:
(a) Stream habitat assessment.
(i) The applicant shall
demonstrate through education or experience a general knowledge of stream and
riverine physical forms and habitat features. The director may develop training
and testing for this knowledge.
(ii) Within the past one
year, the applicant shall have attended training and achieved a passing mark in
stream habitat assessment "Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index"
(QHEI) testing offered by Ohio EPA or a person authorized pursuant to this
chapter to provide such training.
(b) Primary headwater stream habitat assessment.
(i) The applicant shall
demonstrate through education or experience a general knowledge of stream and
riverine physical forms and habitat features. The director may develop training
and testing for this knowledge.
(ii) Within the past one
year, the applicant shall have attended training and achieved a passing mark in
"Headwater Habitat Evaluation Index" (HHEI) testing offered by Ohio
EPA or a person authorized pursuant to this chapter to provide such
training.
(c) Benthic macroinvertebrate biology.
[Comment: The stream habitat and biocriteria
training is strongly encouraged for QDCs in the level 2 macroinvertebrate
specialty. The stream habitat and biocriteria training provides a broad-based
understanding of how Ohio EPA uses biology to assess stream health.]
(i) The applicant shall
demonstrate through education or experience a general knowledge of stream and
riverine or lake physical forms and habitat features. The director may develop
training and testing for this knowledge.
(ii) The applicant shall
demonstrate through education or experience knowledge of and the ability to
accurately use macroinvertebrate taxonomic references and dichotomous keys to
identify midwestern aquatic macroinvertebrates to the level of
family.
(iii) Within one hundred
eighty days prior to submission of a level 2 QDC application, the applicant
shall have achieved a passing mark in a macroinvertebrate taxonomic
identification examination administered by Ohio EPA or a person authorized
under this chapter to administer such an examination.
(iv) The applicant shall
have college-level course credit in aquatic invertebrate zoology or practical
experience in the identification of aquatic macroinvertebrates.
(v) The applicant shall
have completed and achieved passing marks in undergraduate core course work in
limnology, aquatic biology, environmental sciences or a related discipline, or
has two years of practical experience in environmental assessment
work.
(vi) The applicant shall
have one year of practical experience involving work in developing water
quality sampling and analysis plans, quality assurance plans, and data quality
objectives processes. The director may develop testing for this
knowledge.
(d) Chemical water quality assessment.
(i) The applicant shall
demonstrate through education or experience a general knowledge of stream and
riverine or lake physical forms and habitat features. The director may develop
training and testing for this knowledge.
(ii) The applicant shall
have completed and achieved passing marks in undergraduate core course work in
a biological, chemical, microbiological, natural or physical science, or has
two years of pertinent laboratory experience performing water quality testing
and analysis, or has two years of pertinent experience in chemical or
microbiological water quality data analysis, interpretation and report writing.
The director may develop training and testing for this knowledge.
(iii) The applicant shall
have one year of practical experience involving work in developing chemical or
microbiological surface water quality sampling and analysis plans, quality
assurance plans, and data quality objectives processes. The director may
develop testing for this knowledge.
(iv) The applicant shall
have one year of practical experience involving surface water quality sampling
techniques and water quality sampling equipment. The director may develop
testing for this knowledge.
(3) Level 3 requirements.
Five categories of level 3 QDC status are available. Applicants may apply for
one or more of the following in any combination:
(a) Primary headwater stream habitat
assessment.
(i) The applicant shall
demonstrate through education or experience a general knowledge of stream and
riverine physical forms and habitat features. The director may develop training
and testing for this knowledge.
(ii) Within the past one
year the applicant shall have attended training and achieved a passing mark in
"Headwater Habitat Evaluation Index" (HHEI) testing offered by Ohio
EPA or a person authorized pursuant to this chapter to provide such
training.
(b) Fish community biology.
[Comment: Approval as a level 3 QDC in fish
community biology requires training and testing in QHEI.]
(i) The applicant shall,
within the past one year, have attended training to conduct fish assessments
and habitat assessments and achieved a passing mark in a program offered by
Ohio EPA or a person authorized under this chapter to administer such
training.
(ii) The applicant shall
satisfy the requirements of stream habitat assessment in paragraph
(A)(2)(a)(ii) of this rule.
(iii) The applicant shall
demonstrate knowledge of Ohio EPA electrofishing sampling protocols and data
assessment procedures. This knowledge shall be tested under provisions in
paragraph (A)(3)(b)(i) of this rule.
(iv) The applicant shall
demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to accurately use fish taxonomic
references and dichotomous keys to identify midwestern fish to the level of
species. This knowledge shall be tested under provisions in paragraph
(A)(3)(b)(i) of this rule.
(v) The applicant shall
have college-level course credit in ichthyology or two years of experience in
the identification of midwestern fish species.
(vi) The applicant shall
have completed and achieved passing marks in undergraduate core course work in
limnology, aquatic biology, environmental sciences or a related discipline, or
has two years of practical experience in environmental assessment
work.
(vii) The applicant shall
have two years of practical experience involving work in developing biological
water quality sampling and analysis plans, quality assurance plans, and data
quality objectives processes. The director may develop testing for this
knowledge.
(viii) The applicant
shall have two years of practical experience in using electrofishing sampling
techniques.
(c) Benthic macroinvertebrate biology.
(i) The applicant shall
demonstrate through education or experience a general knowledge of stream and
riverine physical forms and habitat features. The director may develop training
and testing for this knowledge.
(ii) The applicant shall,
within the last two years, have attended training to conduct macroinvertebrate
assessments and achieved a passing mark in a program offered by Ohio EPA or a
person authorized under this chapter to administer such training.
(iii) The applicant shall
have knowledge of Ohio EPA macroinvertebrate field sampling, laboratory
analysis, and data assessment procedures. This knowledge shall be tested under
provisions in paragraph (A)(3)(c)(i) of this rule.
(iv) The applicant shall
have knowledge of and the ability to accurately use macroinvertebrate taxonomic
references and dichotomous keys to identify midwestern aquatic
macroinvertebrates to the level of taxonomy used by Ohio EPA. This knowledge
shall be tested under provisions in paragraph (A)(3)(c)(i) of this
rule.
(v) The applicant shall
have college-level course credit in aquatic invertebrate zoology or two years
of practical experience in the identification of aquatic
macroinvertebrates.
(vi) The applicant shall
have completed and achieved passing marks in undergraduate core course work in
limnology, aquatic biology, environmental sciences or a related discipline, or
has two years of practical experience in environmental assessment
work.
(vii) The applicant shall
have two years of practical experience involving work in developing biological
water quality sampling and analysis plans, quality assurance plans, and data
quality objectives processes. The director may develop testing for this
knowledge.
(d) Stream salamander community assessment.
(i) The applicant shall have knowledge of Ohio EPA primary
headwater assessment field sampling protocols and data assessment
procedures.
(ii) The applicant shall
satisfy the requirements of stream habitat assessment in paragraph
(A)(3)(a)(ii) of this rule.
(iii) The applicant shall
have knowledge of and the ability to accurately use taxonomic references and
dichotomous keys to identify larval and adult stream salamanders to the level
of species.
(iv) Within the past two
years, the applicant shall have attended training to conduct stream salamander
assessments and achieved a passing mark in an equivalent training program
offered by Ohio EPA or a person authorized under this chapter to administer
such training.
(v) The applicant shall
have college-level course credit in herpetology or two years experience in the
identification of midwestern stream salamanders.
(vi) The applicant shall
have completed and achieved passing marks in undergraduate core course work in
limnology, aquatic biology, environmental sciences or a related discipline, or
has two years of practical experience in environmental assessment
work.
(vii) The applicant shall
have two years of practical experience involving work in developing water
quality sampling and analysis plans, quality assurance plans, and data quality
objectives. The director may develop training and testing for this
knowledge.
(e) Chemical water quality assessment.
(i) The applicant shall
demonstrate through education or experience a general knowledge of stream and
riverine or lake physical forms and habitat features. The director may develop
training and testing for this knowledge.
(ii) The applicant shall
have completed and achieved passing marks in undergraduate core course work in
a biological, microbiological, chemical, natural or physical science, or has
four years of pertinent laboratory experience performing water quality testing
and analysis, or has four years of pertinent experience in chemical or
microbiological water quality data analysis, interpretation and report writing.
The director may develop training and testing for this knowledge.
(iii) The applicant shall
have two years of practical experience involving work in developing chemical or
microbiological surface water quality sampling and analysis plans, quality
assurance plans, and data quality objectives processes. The director may
develop testing for this knowledge.
(iv) The applicant shall
have two years of practical experience involving surface water quality sampling
techniques and water quality sampling equipment. The director may develop
testing for this knowledge.
(f) In lieu of the training set forth in paragraph (A)(3) of this
rule, an applicant may serve a six-month apprenticeship under the mentorship of
a level 3 QDC in the same specialty. For level 3 fish and macroinvertebrate
certification, field collection and taxonomic identification must be included
as part of the apprenticeship. The QDC shall monitor, assess and document the
apprentice and provide an interim and final written evaluation of the
apprentice to the director. The director reserves the right to perform
unannounced audits during the apprenticeship period. Accepting the
apprenticeship as fulfillment of level 3 QDC qualifications shall be at the
discretion of the director. If accepted, the applicant must take and pass the
level 3 test for the specialty following the completion of the
apprenticeship.
(g) The director retains the discretion to certify an applicant
as level 3 QDC based upon a demonstration by the applicant of a combination of
equivalent education and experience to that set forth in paragraphs (A)(3)(a)
to (A)(3)(f) of this rule, along with the applicant successfully passing a test
to be administered by Ohio EPA concerning the specific specialties for which
the applicant is requesting QDC status.
(B) Application and initial
approvals.
(1) An applicant seeking
to become a QDC shall submit to the director a complete and current application
on forms provided by the director. The application shall include documentation
demonstrating that the applicant completed water quality monitoring training
described in paragraph (A) of this rule. Applications must be submitted within
the time limits provided in paragraph (A) of this rule. The director may grant
a waiver extending the period during which the applicant must apply for QDC
status if the applicant can document that extenuating circumstances prevented a
timely submission. The director may require the applicant to furnish additional
documentation pertaining to the application.
(2) An applicant shall
submit copies of official transcripts from the appropriate educational
institution and official training certifications or alternate required
documentation to verify that the applicant meets the educational and training
requirements set forth in paragraph (A) of this rule.
(3) The level 2 and level
3 applicants shall certify that all information submitted in support of the
application is true, accurate, and complete and that the applicant has not been
convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2911.21 of the Revised
Code (criminal trespass) or a substantially similar municipal ordinance within
the previous five years. Failure to include the certification shall render the
application incomplete.
(4) Ohio EPA shall
conduct a completeness review of the application and shall notify the applicant
in the event the application is incomplete. Ohio EPA shall not consider an
incomplete application and shall notify the applicant of the reasons the
application is incomplete and of any additional information required for
further consideration.
(5) The director shall
either approve or deny a complete application by sending a letter to the
applicant. If the director denies the application, the director shall identify
the deficiencies upon which the denial of the application is
based.
(6) The director shall
maintain a list of approved, active QDCs. The active QDC list shall provide the
organization with which the QDC is affiliated, the approval level and
specialty, the QDC number, and expiration date of the status. The current QDC
list shall be displayed on the credible data web page at:
http://www.epa.ohio.gov/dsw/credibledata/current_QDCs.aspx.
(C) Expiration and renewals.
(1) Status as level 1 QDC
shall not expire and a renewal application is not required.
(2) Status as a level 2
QDC shall automatically expire five years after the date of approval of the
application unless the approval has been renewed.
(3) Status as a level 3
QDC shall automatically expire two years after the date of approval of the
application unless the approval has been renewed or a timely renewal
application has been submitted in accordance with this rule. Notwithstanding
the above, status as a level 3 QDC shall automatically be renewed for a period
of three years without submission of an application, where the QDC has
submitted data while in the status of a level 3 QDC and the director has
determined the data to be level 3 data. The automatic renewal process can
proceed on a rolling basis and each three-year renewal period shall be deemed
effective beginning on the date the last sample was collected, or for taxonomic
identification of benthic macroinvertebrates the date the last sample was
processed, under the confines of an approved study plan. The data shall have
been submitted to the agency.
(4) Renewal applications.
Except as provided in paragraph (C)(3) of this rule, an applicant seeking
renewal of the applicant's status as a level 2 or level 3 QDC shall submit
to the director a renewal application prior to the date of expiration of the
applicant's status as a level 2 or level 3 QDC.
(a) Renewal application and requirements.
(i) Renewal applications
shall be on forms for that purpose available from Ohio EPA.
(ii) The renewal
application shall provide a means to re-submit the original application, if
appropriate, or to update and amend the original application as
necessary.
(iii) Ohio EPA shall
approve or deny the renewal application in accordance with the procedures set
forth in paragraphs (B)(4) and (B)(5) of this rule.
(iv) Renewal of level 2
QDC status is contingent upon the applicant's demonstration of active
participation, in that specialty, in the credible data water quality monitoring
program within the last two years. The director may develop and offer refresher
QDC training. Successful completion of refresher training can substitute for
active participation.
(v) Renewal of level 3
QDC status is contingent upon the applicant's demonstration of active
participation (at that level and in that specialty) in the credible data water
quality monitoring program within the prior two years. The director may develop
and offer refresher QDC training. Successful completion of refresher training
can substitute for active participation.
(vi) Active participation
means that the QDC has participated in activities under this program at the
level and specialty of the applicant's QDC certification during the period
the applicant's certification was valid including, for level 3 fish,
macroinvertebrate, and salamander certification, field collection and taxonomic
identification, and including the submission of data approved at the
appropriate level, collected under an approved project study plan.
(b) Renewal grace period.
(i) A QDC with expired
level 2 status may submit a renewal application for a period of one year after
the expiration date.
(ii) A QDC with expired
level 3 status may submit a renewal application for a period of three months
after the expiration date.
(iii) A QDC with expired
status may submit data if the project was initiated prior to the expiration
date, providing the QDC submits an approvable renewal application within the
time periods indicated by paragraph (C)(4) of this rule.
(iv) A QDC with a lapsed
status extending beyond these time periods shall submit a full application as
specified in paragraph (B) of this rule.
(D) Revocation.
(1) The director may
revoke an individual's status as a QDC upon finding that the QDC has taken
any of the following actions:
(a) Fraudulently obtained or attempted to obtain QDC status or
renewal thereof.
(b) Knowingly or negligently submitted misleading, inaccurate, or
false data to Ohio EPA.
(c) Consistently failed to attain the necessary standards for
study design, field collection methods, laboratory techniques, or quality
assurance and quality control procedures for the collection of credible data
under this chapter.
(2) Upon making a finding
under paragraph (D)(1) of this rule, the director shall first issue a proposed
action revoking QDC status in accordance with Chapter 3745-49 of the
Administrative Code.
(3) The director shall
notify the QDC of a proposed action under paragraph (D)(2) of this rule. The
notice shall be by certified mail and shall set forth the period of
ineligibility proposed by the director, the proposed effective date thereof,
the reason therefor, and the procedure for appealing the action.
(4) Revocation of QDC
status shall state a period during which the individual shall not apply for
such status. After the period of ineligibility has expired, the former QDC may
apply for status as a QDC under this chapter.
(E) Trainers and testing.
(1) An individual seeking
to become a QDC trainer for level 1 credible data shall include with the
application to become a level 1 QDC trainer, documentation demonstrating all of
the following:
(a) The applicant has successfully completed training offered
through an educational monitoring program or a citizen monitoring program
designed specifically for teaching the technical and leadership skills to group
leader candidates.
(b) The applicant has credentials establishing that the
individual is a qualified instructor in an organization that operates or
participates in an educational monitoring program or a citizen monitoring
program.
(c) The applicant agrees to submit to Ohio EPA information
provided by trainees seeking level 1 QDC status at the time of the level 1
training activity.
(2) Training required for level 2 or
level 3 QDC status shall be performed by Ohio EPA, Ohio EPA's contractors
or a third-party trainer having qualifications as a subject matter
expert.
(a) Qualification as a subject matter expert. A person interested
in offering the training required for level 2 or level 3 QDC shall have the
following qualifications:
(i) Technical competence
in the pertinent subject matter.
(ii) Five or more years
of practical experience performing the full set of skills required for the QDC
level and specialty.
(iii) A post-secondary
educational degree in a scientific field related to the specialty.
(iv) Documented
experience in presenting technical training offered through classes, field
trips, seminars, workshops or conferences.
(b) Third party trainer requirements. A person interested in
offering training shall submit a written application to the director with the
following information:
(i) A resume that
documents technical competence, education and employment history.
(ii) A basic description
of the expected training and testing services to be provided.
(iii) A detailed training
content manual for the specialty offered.
(c) The director shall either approve or deny the application by
sending a letter to the applicant. If the director denies the application, the
director shall identify the deficiencies upon which the denial of the
application is based.
(3) Testing.
(a) Third party trainers may test level 2 QDCs provided the
trainers coordinate with Ohio EPA on test content, scoring and test result
notification.
(b) All level 3 QDC trainees shall be tested by Ohio EPA or Ohio
EPA's contractors.
(F) Notwithstanding paragraph (E) of this
rule, an individual, or an individual who works for an organization, contracted
by Ohio EPA to conduct QDC training shall be an approved QDC trainer for the
life of that contract. Trainers' qualifications shall be evaluated by Ohio
EPA staff as part of the contract process.