Improved Tribal Operator Services through Partnerships With financial Support from Presentation at RCAP National Training Conference New Orleans, LA April 26, 2018 I work for the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) We are primarily here to learn about infrastructure funding opportunities ITCA is not a funding providerImportant message Funder acknowledgement The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer

The Importance of Safe Drinking Water & Sanitation “The need for safe and reliable drinking water and effective wastewater management is fundamental to the health, safety, welfare, economic viability and self-determination goals of Tribal communities throughout Indian Country”

ITCA National Tribal Water & Wastewater Operator Certification Program Developed in 1983 Performs a critical function to ensure that water and wastewater operators have the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to provide adequate and reliable drinking water and sanitation services to Tribal communities in a sustainable manner that is protective of both human health and the environment. by Tribes, for Tribes Advisory Committee Tribal Operator Workgroup

ITCA National Tribal Water & Wastewater Operator Certification Program Federal Register Aug. 10, 2010 2005 2008 EPA Approved the ITCA Program

ITCA Tribal Operator Certification Professional Certification ITCA is a U.S. EPA-approved Provider of Tribal Operator Certification Annually provides 19 different types of operator training classes for Tribal drinking water and wastewater system operators; Provides standardized certification examinations to Tribal water and wastewater system operators and managers; and Administers professional certification to Tribal personnel. Professional Certifications Water Treatment-Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 (U.S. EPA approved) Water Distribution-Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 (U.S. EPA approved) Very Small Water Systems – VSWS (U.S. EPA approved) Wastewater Collection-Levels, 1, 2, 3, and 4 Wastewater Treatment-Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 Utility Management Certification-Level 1 W/WW Operators on Front Lines of protecting public health National system ensuring operations by qualified professionals State Programs do not have jurisdiction in Indian Country ThereforeTribal Program 17 Professional Certifications, including utility management

Nationwide Tribal Operator Certification Services EPA-approved by tribes, for tribes Tribal Op-Cert programs ITCA Inter Tribal Council of Arizona Regions 5-10 95% of all Tribal public water systems (956 total) USET United South & Eastern Tribes Regions 1-4

The ITCA National Tribal Water & Wastewater Operator Certification Program

Operator Certification and NAWMA’s Case Study of Leveraging and Synergy Example of “win-win-win” scenario Coordination and Collaboration Raise Awareness of Options for Operator Certification Announcement of Training Opportunities Certification Exams

2014-2018 Native American Water Masters Association (NAWMA) Events EPA REGION 5 July 12-14, 2016: 2016 NAWMA Expo in Granite Falls, MN EPA REGION 6 October 28, 2014: NM Chapter NAWMA Meeting in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM April 22, 2015: NM Chapter NAWMA Meeting in Sandia Pueblo, NM September 10, 2015: NM Chapter NAWMA Meeting in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM May 11, 2016: NM Chapter NAWMA Meeting in Acoma, NM August 30, 2017: NAWMA Meeting during ITCA Tribal Water Summit, Albuquerque, NM EPA REGION 9 March 30, 2016: NAWMA Meeting in Smith River, CA February 8, 2018: NAWMA Meeting in San Carlos, AZ EPA REGION 10 June 17, 2015: NAWMA Meeting in Canyonville, OR July 15, 2015: NAWMA Meeting in Portland, OR August 6, 2015: NAWMA Meeting in Pendleton, OR October 15, 2015: NAWMA Meeting in Snoqualmie, WA May 18, 2016: NAWMA Meeting as part of ITCA Training Course in Sequim, WA

2015 RCAC & EPA Region 9 Tribal Drinking Water Conference Paper-Booklet Exam Session EXAM TYPE LEVEL NO. OF EXAMINEES PASSING CERTIFIED Very Small Water System --- 4 50% 1 Water Distribution 2 100% Water Treatment 0% 3 Wastewater Treatment 5 TOTAL EXAMINEES: 16 62.5% 8

2018 RCAC & EPA Region 9 Tribal Drinking Water Symposium Paper-Booklet Exam Session Workshop Sessions: Water Loss & Non-Revenue Water Distribution System & Operator Exam Topics

RCAC Trainings with ITCA Certification Exam Sessions 2017-2018 September 15, 2017 – Alpine, CA (3) Water Distribution – Level 1 (1) Water Distribution – Level 2 (1) Water Treatment – Level 1 March 7, 2018 – Thermal, CA (4) Water Distribution – Level 1 (1) Water Treatment – Level 2 March 15, 2018 – Upper Lake, CA (5) Water Distribution – Level 1 May 10, 2018 – Smith River, CA now open for registration

Changes to the National Standardized Exams

Changes to the National Standardized Exams The Psychometric Process = credential development and maintenance that is scientifically based and legally defensible Includes commitment to regular evaluation and revision that is guided by professional Psychometricians and conducted by committees of volunteer subject-matter experts (SMEs) In 2017, there was a “reboot” of the national standardized exams Starting at the beginning with new Job Task Analyses In the process, public health regulations were REMOVED from the Job Analysis, the Need-to-Know Criteria, and the exams

Operator Credentialing Agency Responses Some operator credentialing agencies take the position that: Facility/system compliance with public health regulations as an fundamental, integral part of the roles and responsibilities of an operator; and It is the responsibility of the operator credentialing agency to measure a candidate’s understanding of the applicable public health regulations; and Reciprocity is not an option for an operator credential that is issued by a jurisdiction that does not measure the candidate’s regulatory understanding.

Federal Baseline Regulatory Exam Modules ITCA and Arizona are jointly developing Federal Baseline Regulatory Exam Modules The purpose is to supplement the new 2017 standardized certification exams with psychometric tools for assessment of a candidate’s understanding of applicable federal baseline regulations. This process is being guided by consultant psychometricians and will rely on volunteer subject-matter experts from the following three groups. Representatives from the regulated community (operators and utility personnel); and Experts on federal regulations; and Experts from partnering entities (State Op-Cert Programs and TA providers)

Action by ITCA and Arizona

A Word about Jurisdiction On matters of jurisdiction involving Indian Country, there are often case-specific circumstances and complexities that must be taken into account. In General Terms: Water and wastewater facilities that operate on Federal Trust Tribal Lands are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and must comply with federal regulations. Water and wastewater facilities that operate on Federal Trust Tribal Lands are typically not regulated by a state unless there are multi-jurisdictional circumstances. Tribal operators seeking certification with a state may now be accountable for knowing state-specific regulations that may not be congruent with the regulations that are actually enforced by the primacy agency on Tribal Lands.

2214 North Central Avenue | Phoenix, Arizona 85004 p 602.258.4822 |f 602.258.4825 www.itcaonline.com Funding Acknowledgement Disclaimer: This material is based upon work supported under a grant by the Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Rural Utilities Service.