1. 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

2. 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”

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. The ITCA National Tribal Water & Wastewater Operator Certification Program

8. 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

9. 2014-2018 Native American Water Masters Association (NAWMA) Events
EPA REGION 5
July 12-14, 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Changes to the National Standardized Exams

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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)

17. Action by ITCA and Arizona

18. 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.

19. 2214 North Central Avenue | Phoenix, Arizona 85004
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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.