Section 3737.881 | Certifying underground storage tank systems installers.
(A) The state fire marshal shall certify underground storage tank systems installers who meet the standards for certification established in rules adopted under division (D)(1) of this section, pass the certification examination required by this division, and pay the certificate fee established in rules adopted under division (D)(5) of this section. Any individual who wishes to obtain certification as an installer shall apply to the state fire marshal on a form prescribed by the state fire marshal. The application shall be accompanied by the application and examination fees established in rules adopted under division (D)(5) of this section.
The state fire marshal shall prescribe an examination designed to test the knowledge of applicants for certification as underground storage tank system installers in the installation, repair, abandonment, and removal of those systems. The examination shall also test the applicants' knowledge and understanding of the requirements and standards established in rules adopted under sections 3737.88 and 3737.882 of the Revised Code pertaining to the installation, repair, abandonment, and removal of those systems.
Installer certifications issued under this division shall be renewed biennially, upon submission of a certification renewal form prescribed by the state fire marshal, provision of proof of successful completion of continuing education requirements, and payment of the certification renewal fee established in rules adopted under division (D)(5) of this section. In addition, the fire marshal may from time to time prescribe an examination for certification renewal and may require applicants to pass the examination and pay the fee established for it in rules adopted under division (D)(5) of this section.
The state fire marshal may, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew an installer's certification or renewal thereof after finding that any of the following applies:
(1) The applicant for certification or certificate holder fails to meet the standards for certification or renewal thereof under this section and rules adopted under it;
(2) The certification was obtained through fraud or misrepresentation;
(3) The certificate holder recklessly caused or permitted a person under the certificate holder's supervision to install, perform major repairs on site to, abandon, or remove an underground storage tank system in violation of the performance standards set forth in rules adopted under section 3737.88 or 3737.882 of the Revised Code.
As used in division (A)(3) of this section, "recklessly" has the same meaning as in section 2901.22 of the Revised Code.
(B)(1) Any person who wishes to sponsor a training program for underground storage tank system installers may do so if both of the following conditions are met:
(a) The person holds an underground storage tank installer certificate in good standing.
(b) The person has applied for, and received, approval from the fire marshal to sponsor an underground storage tank installer training program.
(2) The state fire marshal may, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, deny an application for, suspend, or revoke a training program approval after finding that the training program does not or will not meet the standards for approval established in rules adopted under division (D)(4) of this section.
(C) The state fire marshal may conduct or cause to be conducted training programs for underground storage tank systems installers as the fire marshal considers to be necessary or appropriate. The state fire marshal is not subject to division (B) of this section with respect to training programs conducted by employees of the office of the state fire marshal.
(D) The state fire marshal shall adopt, and may amend and rescind, rules doing all of the following:
(1) Defining the activities that constitute supervision over the installation, performance of major repairs on site to, abandonment of, and removal of underground storage tank systems;
(2) Establishing standards and procedures for certification of underground storage tank systems installers;
(3) Establishing standards and procedures for continuing education for certification renewal, subject to the provisions of section 5903.12 of the Revised Code relating to active duty military service;
(4) Establishing standards and procedures for approval of training programs for installers;
(5) Establishing fees for applications for certification or approval under this section, the examinations prescribed under division (A) of this section, the issuance and renewal of certificates under division (A) of this section, and attendance at training programs conducted by the fire marshal under division (C) of this section. Fees received under this section shall be credited to the underground storage tank administration fund created in section 3737.02 of the Revised Code and shall be used to defray the costs of implementing, administering, and enforcing this section and the rules adopted thereunder, conducting training sessions, and facilitating prevention of releases.
(a) The application fee for an underground storage tank systems installer certification shall be three hundred dollars;
(b) The renewal fee for an underground storage tank systems installer certification shall be three hundred dollars.
(6) That are necessary or appropriate for the implementation, administration, and enforcement of this section.
(E) Nothing in this section or the rules adopted under it prohibits an owner or operator of an underground storage tank system from installing, making major repairs on site to, abandoning, or removing an underground storage tank system under the supervision of an installer certified under division (A) of this section who is a full-time or part-time employee of the owner or operator.
(F) On and after January 7, 1990, no person shall do any of the following:
(1) Install, make major repairs on site to, abandon, or remove an underground storage tank system unless the activity is performed under the supervision of a qualified individual who holds a valid installer certificate issued under division (A) of this section;
(2) Act in the capacity of providing supervision for the installation of, performance of major repairs on site to, abandonment of, or removal of an underground storage tank system unless the person holds a valid installer certificate issued under division (A) of this section;
(3) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, sponsor a training program for underground storage tank systems installers unless the person has received approval from the fire marshal to do so.
(G) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the state fire marshal shall issue an installer's certification or a training program certificate in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:
(1) The applicant holds an installer's license or certification or a training program license or certificate in another state.
(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as an installer of underground storage tank systems in a state that does not issue one or both of those certifications.
The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.
Last updated December 29, 2023 at 5:34 AM
Available Versions of this Section
- September 28, 2012 – House Bill 490 - 129th General Assembly [ View September 28, 2012 Version ]
- April 6, 2023 – Amended by House Bill 509 - 134th General Assembly [ View April 6, 2023 Version ]
- December 29, 2023 – Amended by Senate Bill 131 (GA 134), House Bill 509 (GA 134) [ View December 29, 2023 Version ]