How close must the remote operator of a facility be to the facility to legally operate it?

How close must the remote operator of a facility be to the facility to legally operate it?

• A. Within 50 miles by car
• B. Within 100 miles by air travel
• C. Within 200 miles by ground travel
• D. Within 500 miles

Answer: (C)

Operators must be close enough to reach the facility promptly to supervise operations, handle routine tasks, and respond to emergencies. The distance is measured by ground travel because it reflects actual time and ability to get to the site, not just a straight-line or aerial distance. Being within 200 miles by road ensures the remote operator can typically arrive in a reasonable timeframe to perform required duties, calibrate equipment, take samples, adjust controls, and address alarms or outages. The other options either impose too-tight or impractical limits or rely on travel methods that don’t guarantee timely on-site access. So, the required proximity is within 200 miles by ground travel.