Final answer:
A technician must comply with any new EPA regulations, and it is their responsibility to remain informed and follow these regulations. There is no automatic grandfathering period, nor immediate requirement for recertification after regulation changes; however, staying compliant may require new training or certification.
Step-by-step explanation:
When EPA regulations change after a technician becomes certified, it becomes the technician's responsibility to comply with any future changes in the law. The technician is not automatically grandfathered in for any period such as a year, nor is there a requirement for immediate recertification through online testing or attending a class. However, the technician must stay informed and follow all new regulations going forward to remain in legal compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This compliance may sometimes require new training or certification depending on the nature of the regulatory changes.
Legislators and EPA analysts are responsible for crafting these command-and-control regulations, which are often shaped by political compromises and can include various exemptions and loopholes. This may influence how new regulations are implemented and might affect existing versus new firms differently. Additionally, the EPA delegates certain responsibilities such as permitting, monitoring, and enforcement to state and tribal governments but maintains a set of national environmental standards.