**DRINKING WATER PRIMACY AGENCY CONTACTS for the Operator Certification
Program**

**Delaware**

[Edward Hallock](mailto:Edward Hallock) (Edward.Hallock@state.de.us)\
Program Administrator, Office of Drinking Water\
Delaware Health and Social Services\
Blue Hen Corporate Center - Suite 203\
Dover, DE 19901\
302-741-8590

**District of Columbia**

Washington Aqueduct Division\
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers\
5900 MacArthur Boulevard, NW\
Washington, DC 20016-2514

[Lloyd Stowe](mailto:lloyd.d.stowe@wad01.usace.army.mil)
(lloyd.d.stowe@wad01.usace.army.mil)\
Chief, Plant Operations Branch\
202-764-2702\
\
[Tom Jacobus](mailto:thomas.p.jacobus@wad01.usace.army.mil)
(thomas.p.jacobus@wad01.usace.army.mil)\
General Manager\
202-764-0031

**Maryland**

[Nancy Reilman](mailto:nreilman@mde.state.md.us)
(nreilman@mde.state.md.us)\
Division Chief, MDE-SDWA Implementation\
Montgomery Park Business Center\
1800 Washington Boulevard\
Baltimore, MD 21230\
410-537-3710

**Pennsylvania**

**[Contact for Award Program ONLY]{.underline}:**

[Alison Shuler]{.underline} (<ajs28@psu.edu>)

Environmental training and Small Public

Water Systems

Technology Assistance Centers at

Penn State Harrisburg

777 W. Harrisburg Pike, TL 170

Middletown, PA 17057

717-948-6399

**[Contact for Operator Certification Program]{.underline}:**

[Veronica \"Nicki\" Kasi](mailto:vkasi@state.pa.us)
(vbkasi@state.pa.us)\
Chief, Technical Assistance and Outreach Division\
PA Department of Environmental Protection\
P.O. Box 8467\
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8467\
717-772-4053

**Virginia**

[Mark Anderson](mailto:MarkC.Anderson@vdh.virginia.gov)
(MarkC.Anderson@vdh.virginia.gov)\
Training & ERG Coordinator\
Virginia Department of Health\
Madison Building\
109 Governor Street, Room 632\
Richmond, VA 23219\
804-864-7514

**West Virginia**

West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources\
Capitol and Washington Streets\
1 Davis Square, Suite 200\
Charleston, WV 25301-1798

[Bill Toomey](mailto:wtoomey@wvdhhr.org) (wtoomey@wvdhhr.org)\
Manager, Source Water Assessment Program/Training Certification Section\
304-558-6746

[Dawn Newell](mailto:dawnnewell@wvdhhr.org) (dawnnewell@wvdhhr.org)\
Assistant Manager, Training & Certification Section\
304-558-6993

**2006 Award Recipient**

**Mr. Christopher DeWald, City of Staunton Water Treatment Plant in
Staunton, VA**

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="0.9951388888888889in"
height="0.7569444444444444in"}

**2007 Award Recipient**

**Mr. John Inghram, Putnam Public Service District Facility in Putnam,
WV**

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="0.9972222222222222in"
height="0.7215277777777778in"}

![](media/image3.wmf){width="0.4673611111111111in"
height="0.425in"}![](media/image4.wmf){width="0.46805555555555556in"
height="0.40208333333333335in"}![](media/image5.wmf){width="0.5097222222222222in"
height="0.3958333333333333in"}![](media/image3.wmf){width="0.4673611111111111in"
height="0.425in"}

> ![](media/image6.png){width="1.1868055555555554in"
> height="1.1743055555555555in"}

**Purpose**

The Professional Operator Excellence Award promotes professionalism of
the operator, acknowledges and encourages leadership and innovation of
operators in the protection of drinking water here in Region III
(Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and
West Virginia).

.

**Award Description**

This is an individual regional award given to an operator(s) who
exemplifies exceptional work practices on the job and in their
community. Contributions advance the health and safeness of potable
water for customers. The selected nominee(s) for this award will receive
a suitable plaque, properly engraved during an award ceremony organized
by the drinking water primacy agency.

**Award Categories**

Nominations are solicited for two (2) categories for this award: (1)
small water system operators serving less than 3,300 customers and (2)
large water system operators serving over 3,300 customers. This category
may be revised in the future, if needed, based on discussions between
EPA RIII and its States.

**Eligibility**

The award is open to individuals in Region III that represent certified
operators striving for excellence in providing healthy, safe potable
water for community and non-community water supply systems. Nominees
must have been a certified operator in good standing for five (5) years
or more with no lapse in certification renewal. Winners of this award
will not be eligible for another nomination for three (3) years.

**Frequency of Award:** Once a year.

**Award Criteria**

a)  Rule compliance -- work being done in preparation for new rule
    implementation (i.e., ST2/LT2, GWR); work reflects consistent
    compliance of regulatory requirements at the public water system;

b)  Innovative approaches to cost reduction (e.g., asset management;
    water conservation (e.g., energy & efficiency); environmental
    management systems and optimizing treatment plant performance);

c)  Community outreach -- e.g., public tours of water plant, visit
    schools, utilizing media to spread message about healthy, safe,
    potable water;

d)  Educational efforts -- internal training of standard operating
    procedures;

e)  Peer recognition -- speaks to the integrity, ethical and technical
    level of the nominee (e.g., previous awards received);

f)  Other special efforts or significant achievements.

**\*** Special consideration for meeting this criterion will be given to
small system operators [only]{.underline}.

**Selection Process**

a.  Candidates for this regional award must be endorsed by both the
    applicable drinking water primacy agency and EPA RIII (with the
    exception of PA see contact info.);

b.  Candidates for this regional award will be nominated by the
    applicable drinking water primacy agency to EPA RIII for selection
    (with the exception of PA see contact info.).

c.  All nominations shall be forwarded to

> Wanda F. Johnson via email (<johnson.wandaf@epa.gov>) or post:
>
> U.S. EPA, Region III
>
> Office of Drinking Water & Source Water Protection 1650 Arch Street
> (3WP21) Philadelphia, PA 19103
>
> d\) Nominations will be evaluated and ranked by an EPA RIII awards
> panel based on input from each State to select the candidate that best
> meet the award criteria.

e.  The selected candidate will be notified by EPA and/or the drinking
    water primacy agency (with the exception of PA see contact info.)

f.  The deadline for state nominations will be March 15^th^ of each
    year.

g.  The selection process may be revised in the future based on
    discussions with EPA Region III and its States if needed.

**Award Process**

> EPA and the drinking water primacy agency will present the award to
> the winner in the winner's community or the award will be presented in
> conjunction with a community event. The event will be publicized. EPA,
> State and local officials, local citizens and citizen groups will be
> invited to participate.
>
> **Publicity**
>
> States will promote this Award Program in the same capacity that the
> Operator Certification Program is promoted (e.g., articles,
> newsletters, web posting, etc.). The Award Program may be announced
> and this brochure may be given out at conferences and meetings of
> industry representatives, government associations, civic groups, etc.
>
> You can also view this information and print out a nomination form at:
> <http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/drinking/index.htm>