For many years, the department
has required that individuals engaged in the observation and documentation of
visible emissions be certified pursuant to the requirements of EPA Method 9.
The training and certification program is generally known as visible emissions
certification or, more commonly, "smoke school".
The department is currently
changing the administration of its smoke school training program. Historically,
the department had an exclusive contract with a training provider to
offer smoke school at six locations throughout the year. The department intends
to allow other training providers to offer smoke school courses in Florida. We
are making this change in response to suggestions by training providers that
indicated an interest in offering smoke school courses in the state.
Pursuant to the department’s statutory authority, we have drafted a rule that
specifies certain basic visible emissions training and certification
requirements for individuals and training providers. Starting
February 26, 2004, the department will allow any smoke school
training provider that meets the rule requirements to offer
courses in Florida, and we will recognize the certification of
individuals that attend such courses.
Individuals who are
certified under this program will notice several positive changes starting
February 26, 2004. The requirements that individuals must attend a classroom
session every three years and field certification every six months in order to
keep their certification valid will not change. However, the draft rule
requirements will allow for shorter classroom sessions, and the department
will no longer require that individuals successfully complete a written exam
at the end of the classroom session. Also, the draft rule clarifies that the
classroom and field certifications are separate, so that individuals will no
longer have to repeat their classroom training early because of a lapse in
field certification. The addition of other training providers may increase
the numbers and locations of smoke schools within the state.
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