1. Except as specifically provided in NRS 445A.625 to 445A.645, inclusive, the Commission shall:

(a) Adopt regulations carrying out the provisions of NRS 445A.300 to 445A.730, inclusive, including standards of water quality and amounts of waste which may be discharged into the waters of the State.

(b) Adopt regulations providing for the certification of laboratories that perform analyses for the purposes of NRS 445A.300 to 445A.730, inclusive, to detect the presence of hazardous waste or a regulated substance in soil or water.

(c) Adopt regulations controlling the injection of fluids through a well to prohibit those injections into underground water, if it supplies or may reasonably be expected to supply any public water system, as defined in NRS 445A.840, which may result in that system’s noncompliance with any regulation regarding primary drinking water or may otherwise have an adverse effect on human health.

(d) Advise, consult and cooperate with other agencies of the State, the Federal Government, other states, interstate agencies and other persons in furthering the provisions of NRS 445A.300 to 445A.730, inclusive.

(e) Determine and prescribe the qualifications and duties of the supervisors and technicians responsible for the operation and maintenance of plants for sewage treatment.

2. The Commission may by regulation require that supervisors and technicians responsible for the operation and maintenance of plants for sewage treatment be certified by the Department. The regulations may include a schedule of fees to pay the costs of certification. The provisions of this subsection apply only to a package plant for sewage treatment whose capacity is more than 5,000 gallons per day and to any other plant whose capacity is more than 10,000 gallons per day.

3. In adopting regulations, standards of water quality and effluent limitations pursuant to NRS 445A.300 to 445A.730, inclusive, the Commission shall recognize the historical irrigation practices in the respective river basins of this State, the economy thereof and their effects.

4. The Commission may hold hearings, issue notices of hearings, issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence, administer oaths and take testimony as it considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this section and for the purpose of reviewing standards of water quality.

5. As used in this section, “plant for sewage treatment” means any facility for the treatment, purification or disposal of sewage.

(Added to NRS by 1973, 1709; A 1979, 1027, 1915, 1916; 1981, 81; 1985, 763; 1991, 696; 2003, 2113)