text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Wastewater Treatment Operator 
  Training and Certification Act of 1993''.
  
  SEC. 2. OPERATOR TRAINING.
  
      Section 109 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
  1259) is amended to read as follows:
  
  ``SEC. 109. OPERATOR TRAINING.
  
      ``(a) National Program.--
              ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall develop and 
          implement a national program to train individuals in the 
          operation of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment 
          works and other facilities with a water pollution control 
          purpose.
              ``(2) Requirements for training program.--The training 
          program under this section shall include--
                      ``(A) the preparation of undergraduate students 
                  enrolled in institutions of higher education to enter 
                  an occupation that involves the design, operation, and 
                  maintenance of wastewater treatment works;
                      ``(B) inservice training to improve and advance the 
                  knowledge and skills of individuals employed in fields 
                  related to the design, operation, and maintenance of 
                  wastewater treatment works; and
                      ``(C) preservice training to be provided to high 
                  school graduates who are not employed to carry out the 
                  operation and maintenance of a wastewater treatment 
                  works at the time the training is provided.
      ``(b) Training Program Grants.--
              ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall make grants to, 
          or offer to enter into contracts with, the appropriate 
          officials of institutions of higher education, or combinations 
          of the institutions, and State agencies to support the 
          development and implementation of wastewater treatment training 
          programs pursuant to this section.
              ``(2) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
          enactment of paragraph (5), the Administrator shall publish 
          guidance that specifies the minimum elements of the wastewater 
          training programs referred to in paragraph (1). The guidance 
          shall indicate the relative emphasis that shall be given to--
                      ``(A) facility design, operation, and maintenance;
                      ``(B) undergraduate, inservice, and preservice 
                  training; and
                      ``(C) training for industrial and municipal 
                  facilities.
              ``(3) Solicitation of proposals.--Not later than 18 months 
          after the date of enactment of paragraph (5), the Administrator 
          shall solicit proposals from institutions of higher education, 
          or combinations of the institutions, and State agencies to 
          provide training services.
              ``(4) Training grants.--The Administrator shall, to the 
          extent adequate funds are available, award training grants to 
          institutions of higher education, or combinations of the 
          institutions, and State agencies for each fiscal year.
              ``(5) Considerations for awarding grants.--In awarding a 
          training grant under this subsection, the Administrator shall 
          consider--
                      ``(A) the demonstrated capability of the applicant 
                  to provide training services;
                      ``(B) the degree to which the proposed program is 
                  consistent with the guidance published pursuant to 
                  paragraph (2);
                      ``(C) the results of any evaluation conducted 
                  pursuant to paragraph (7); and
                      ``(D) the degree to which the geographic area to be 
                  served by the program that is the subject of the grant 
                  proposal will, in combination with other programs 
                  funded pursuant to this section, ensure the reasonable 
                  availability of training programs throughout the United 
                  States.
              ``(6) Allocation of grants.--In allocating available grant 
          funds among training programs, the Administrator shall consider 
          the need for training in the area served, as reflected in the 
          report to Congress issued pursuant to section 112(b).
              ``(7) Review and evaluation.--The Administrator shall 
          provide for the review and evaluation of each training program 
          that receives funding pursuant to this section not later than 3 
          years after the program initially receives the funding, and 
          every 3 years thereafter.
      ``(c) Training Needs.--The Administrator shall develop and maintain 
  a system for forecasting the supply of, and demand for, various 
  professional and other occupational categories needed for the 
  prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution in each 
  region, State, or area of the United States.''.
  
  SEC. 3. OPERATOR CERTIFICATION.
  
      (a) In General.--Section 110 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
  Act (33 U.S.C. 1260) is amended to read as follows:
  
  ``SEC. 110. OPERATOR CERTIFICATION.
  
      ``(a) In General.--
              ``(1) Certification.--The Chief Operator of a publicly 
          owned treatment works that has a permit issued pursuant to 
          section 402, and such additional personnel as may be designated 
          by the Administrator, shall be required to be certified as 
          proficient pursuant to this section by a State that has a 
          certification program that is approved by the Administrator.
              ``(2) Effective date.--The requirement referred to in 
          paragraph (1) shall become effective on the date that is 4 
          years after the date of enactment of paragraph (4), unless the 
          Administrator extends the effective date pursuant to paragraph 
          (3).
              ``(3) Extension.--The Administrator may extend the 
          effective date of the requirement referred to in paragraph (1) 
          for a period of not to exceed 3 years on a facility-specific 
          basis if the Administrator determines that, with respect to a 
          facility, adequate opportunity to seek certification did not 
          exist during the period described in paragraph (2).
              ``(4) Certification granted to individual.--Each 
          certification of proficiency issued by the appropriate official 
          of a State under this section shall be granted to the 
          individual that receives the certification and shall not be 
          granted to the treatment works where the individual is 
          employed.
              ``(5) Period of certification.--A certification of 
          proficiency issued under this section shall be effective during 
          the 5-year period beginning on the date of certification. An 
          individual may be recertified on termination of the 5-year 
          period (and on termination of each subsequent 5-year period) if 
          the individual complies with inservice training and related 
          education requirements for the certification.
              ``(6) Statutory construction.--Nothing in this section is 
          intended to be construed to prevent a State from requiring more 
          frequent certification than is specified in paragraph (5).
      ``(b) Guidelines.--
              ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
          enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall publish 
          guidelines specifying minimum standards for certification of 
          operators by a State pursuant to this section.
              ``(2) Requirements for guidelines.--
                      ``(A) In general.--The guidelines described in 
                  paragraph (1) shall specify minimum standards for a 
                  Chief Operator of a publicly owned treatment works and 
                  for such additional personnel as the Administrator 
                  determines appropriate for proficiency certification.
                      ``(B) Additional standards.--In addition to the 
                  standards referred to in subparagraph (A), the 
                  guidelines shall establish such additional standards as 
                  the Administrator determines necessary to ensure 
                  proficiency in the operation of large, complex 
                  treatment systems. The guidelines may provide for 
                  onsite assessment in any case in which the assessment 
                  is necessary to determine proficiency.
              ``(3) Treatment works operator's manual.--Not later than 1 
          year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
          Administrator shall publish a treatment works operator's manual 
          that describes essential knowledge and skills of--
                      ``(A) a Chief Operator; and
                      ``(B) such additional personnel as the 
                  Administrator determines appropriate to receive 
                  operator proficiency certification.
      ``(c) State Programs.--
              ``(1) In general.--Beginning on the date of publication of 
          the guidelines under subsection (b), the Governor of a State 
          may submit to the Administrator, in such form as the 
          Administrator may require, a certification program under this 
          section.
              ``(2) Program approval.--
                      ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall review 
                  and approve or disapprove a program submitted pursuant 
                  to paragraph (1) not later than 90 days after the 
                  submittal of the application. The Administrator shall 
                  approve the application on the basis of a determination 
                  that--
                              ``(i) the State certification program will 
                          be consistent with the guidelines published 
                          pursuant to subsection (b);
                              ``(ii) the State has committed to implement 
                          the program by not later than 1 year after the 
                          date of approval of the application; and
                              ``(iii) the State agrees to provide to the 
                          Administrator such information concerning the 
                          program as the Administrator may request.
                      ``(B) Programs in effect before the submittal of an 
                  application.--With respect to any State that submits an 
                  application pursuant to this subsection concerning a 
                  State certification program that was implemented before 
                  the date of submittal of the application, in making a 
                  decision whether to approve the application, the 
                  Administrator may consider the effectiveness of the 
                  program in effect on the date of submittal of a program 
                  pursuant to this subsection.
              ``(3) Disapproval of program.--In any case in which the 
          Administrator disapproves a program, the Administrator shall 
          provide to the State a written statement of the reasons for 
          disapproval. The State may, not later than 90 days after 
          receipt of the statement of the Administrator, submit to the 
          Administrator such modifications to the application as may be 
          necessary. Not later than 30 days after receipt of the revised 
          application, the Administrator shall approve or disapprove the 
          revised application.
              ``(4) Additional requirements.--A State may establish a 
          certification requirement in addition to the requirements 
          established pursuant to this section.''.
      (b) Enforcement.--Section 309(g)(1)(A) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 
  1319(g)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ``110(a),'' after ``violated 
  section''.
  
  SEC. 4. SCHOLARSHIPS.
  
      (a) Relationship to Training Grant Program.--Section 111(3) of the 
  Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1261(3)) is amended by 
  striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following new subparagraph:
              ``(C) that the institution is participating in, or has 
          participated in, the training grant program under section 
          109(b); and''.
      (b) Representation of Minorities and Women.--Section 111(3)(D) of 
  such Act (33 U.S.C. 1261(3)(D)) is amended--
              (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i); and
              (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``, and 
          (iii) the institution will make reasonable efforts to ensure 
          representation of minorities and women in the program.''.
  
  SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS AND AUTHORIZATIONS.
  
      Section 112 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
  1262) is amended--
              (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting after the first 
          sentence the following new sentence: ``The term shall include 
          any community college, technical college, or State 
          environmental agency.'';
              (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following 
          new subsection:
      ``(b) The Administrator shall, not later than 2 years after the 
  date of enactment of the Wastewater Treatment Operator Training and 
  Certification Act of 1993, and not less frequently than every 2 years 
  thereafter, submit a report to Congress concerning the implementation 
  of training, certification, and scholarship programs under sections 
  109, 110, and 111. Each report submitted to Congress under this 
  subsection shall include a forecast of the supply of, and demand for, 
  water pollution control professionals.''; and
              (3) in subsection (c)--
                      (A) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(c)''; and
                      (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                  paragraph:
      ``(2) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Environmental 
  Protection Agency to carry out sections 109 and 111, $15,000,000 for 
  each of fiscal years 1994 through 2000.''.
target: Wastewater Treatment Operator Training and Certification Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to revise provisions concerning training grants and contracts to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) implement a national program to train persons in the operation of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment works and other water pollution control facilities; (2) make grants to, or contracts with, institutions of higher education to support such programs; and (3) publish guidance on the minimum elements of such programs. 
  Requires chief operators and other designated personnel of publicly owned treatment works to be certified as proficient by the Administrator.  Directs the Administrator to publish:  (1) guidelines on minimum standards for certification; and (2) a treatment works operator's manual.  Authorizes the delegation of authority for a certification program to a State, subject to certain conditions. 
  Makes certifications valid for a five-year period.  Permits recertification for an additional five years provided that the individual complies with in-service training and related education. 
  Requires institutions of higher education, in addition to other requirements for receiving scholarships for individuals planning to enter occupations involving treatment works, to:  (1) have participated in the treatment works training program; and (2) ensure representation of minorities and women in the scholarship program. 
  Authorizes appropriations.
feat_title: Wastewater Treatment Operator Training and Certification Act of 1993