August through December 2013 is “CEC Training for OSCs . . .” months on EPA’s Contaminated Site Clean-Up Information (CLU-IN) website (http://www.clu-in.org). Beginning August 14, 2013, various topics relevant to EPA On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) and other EPA staff will be presented in 2- to 4-hour webinar sessions. Below are descriptions of each webinar and a list of instructors received to date. Visit http://clu-in.org/live/ for up-to-date information and to register for each session.

CEC Training for OSCs… Oil Inspector 3500.1 Refresher
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern

Instructor:
Mark Howard, EPA Office of Emergency Management

Session Description:
The Oil Inspector 3500.1 Refresher is for EPA personnel conducting Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) or Facility Response Plan (FRP) inspections. EPA Order 3500.1 requires all EPA oil inspectors to undergo at least 4 hours of annual refresher training. This training satisfies the annual refresher requirement. The course reviews some of the basic components of the initial SPCC and FRP training rule and updates the student as to new policy developments over the past year.

By taking this course, participants will achieve the following objectives:

• Obtain a brief review of key points from the initial SPCC/FRP training.
• Provide an understanding of the technical issues associated with double walled tanks.
• Understand how regulatory changes may affect the behavior of the regulated community.
• Learn what outreach materials are available for the regulated community, including a Plan template for qualified facilities and containment calculation spreadsheets
• Review the National inspection targeting policy
• Review the National return to compliance policy

The course is presented by technical staff from the EPA’s Office of Emergency Management who drafted the final rule action. The target audience for this course is OSCs, SPCC inspectors and other staff who need to update their refresher credentials.

Registration is available through: http://augrefresher.eventbrite.com
This session is open to EPA employees only.

CEC Training for OSCs…RCRA for OSCs
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern

Instructors:
Paul Peronard, EPA Region 8
Dave Phillips, Tetra Tech, Inc.

Session Description:
RCRA for OSCs explains the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requirements that apply or are relevant and appropriate to most cleanups under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). This session will focus on specific technical and regulatory issues that OSCs address in treating, transporting, and disposing of waste.

Registration is available at http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/register/new.cfm?date=720.

CEC Training for OSCs … Oil Spill Response Part 1
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern

Instructors:
Doug Kodama, EPA Region 2
Earl Liverman, EPA Region 10
Jim Mullins, Tetra Tech, Inc.
Greg Weigel, EPA Region 10

Session Description:
This two-part webinar training is designed to provide participants with the basic knowledge and understanding necessary to respond to an oil spill incident. Upon completion of the course, the participants have an understanding of:

• The EPA’s statutory and regulatory authority for responding to oil spills;
• The physical properties of oil;
• The behavior, effects and fate of oil in aquatic environments;
• The main tasks an OSC is responsible for during oil spill response;

The webinar does not address oil spill response tactics and field techniques, as this is better suited to a face-to-face or field training. The target audience for this course is new and mid-career OSCs with an interest in learning about oil spill response. Part 2 of this webinar is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 7, 2013.

Registration is available at http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/register/new.cfm?date=703.

CEC Training for OSCs … Oil Spill Response Part 2
Thursday, November 7, 2013
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern

Instructors:
Doug Kodama, EPA Region 2
Earl Liverman, EPA Region 10
Jim Mullins, Tetra Tech, Inc.
Greg Weigel, EPA Region 10

Session Description:
This two-part webinar training is designed to provide participants with the basic knowledge and understanding necessary to respond to an oil spill incident. Upon completion of the course, the participants have an understanding of:

• The EPA’s statutory and regulatory authority for responding to oil spills;
• The physical properties of oil;
• The behavior, effects and fate of oil in aquatic environments;
• The main tasks an OSC is responsible for during oil spill response;

The webinar does not address oil spill response tactics and field techniques, as this is better suited to a face-to-face or field training. The target audience for this course is new and mid-career OSCs with an interest in learning about oil spill response. This session is a continuation of the webinar scheduled for Wednesday, November 6, 2013.

Registration is available at http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/register/new.cfm?date=702.

CEC Training for OSCs … Pesticide Emergencies (FIFRA ER for OSCs)
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern

Instructors:
Kathy Halbur, EPA Region 5
Dan Heister, EPA Region 10
Jim Mullins, Tetra Tech, Inc.
Bob Whittier, EPA Region 10

Session Description:
Accidental release or indiscriminate discharge of pesticides and pesticide wastes into the environment can harm people and contaminate soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater. Responding to these incidents can pose unique concerns because most pesticides are designed to harm or kill pests, and can similarly harm or kill people. This is a 3-hour webcast training that provides practical information on the characteristics of common pesticides and pesticide formulations, human health and ecological hazards associated with sources of pesticide exposure, environmental fate of pesticides, identification and use of chemical–specific information, legal and regulatory considerations and emergency response involving pesticide incidents.

The target audience for this course is new and mid-career EPA OSCs with an interest in learning about reasonable steps to respond quickly and decisively to threats posed by accidental release or indiscriminate discharge of pesticides and pesticide wastes. This course assumes some CERCLA response experience and is well suited to OSCs with 2 to 7 years of experience, or any OSC with a specific interest in a response involving pesticides. The webcast should also be of interest to State and local emergency responders.

Registration is available at http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/register/new.cfm?date=709.

CEC Training for OSCs … Pipeline Emergencies
Thursday, November 14, 2013
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern

Instructors:
Earl Liverman, EPA Region 10
Jim Mullins, Tetra Tech, Inc.

Session Description:
Approximately 327,000 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines, 1.8 million miles of natural gas distribution pipelines and 161,000 miles of liquid pipelines safely transport natural gas and a range of liquid petroleum products daily. Like any industry that deals with hazardous materials, there are potential risks in the manufacturing and transportation processes. Pipeline Emergencies is a 3-hour webinar training course that provides practical information on how to respond safely and effectively to pipeline incidents and emergencies.

The purpose of the course is to provide participants with the knowledge and understanding of the EPA’s regulatory authority regarding pipeline emergency planning and response operations, how pipelines operate, the common products that may be transported through both transmission and distribution pipeline systems, the various roles and responsibilities among emergency responders and government and industry when responding to an incident and pipeline emergency response operations.

The target audience for this webinar course is new and mid-career On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) with an interest in learning about pipeline emergencies. This webinar does not address tactics and field methodology as that information is better suited for face-to-face or field demonstration training.

Registration is available at http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/register/new.cfm?date=701.

CEC Training for OSCs … Access Fundamentals
Monday, November 18, 2013
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern

Session Description:
Access Fundamentals is a two hour webinar that will describe the authorities available to On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) for obtaining access to private property to conduct investigations and removal actions. Specifically, the webinar will discuss (1) sources and limitations on entry authority under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), and EPA policy and guidance; (2) preparing to seek consent to enter from property owners; and (3) tools used to document consent. This webinar is a companion to the webinar, Access: Protecting EPA’s Interests and Avoiding Personal Liability. Both webinars are recommended for all OSCs who want to learn more about the authorities and responsibilities for obtaining access to private property.

Registration is available at http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/CECOSC9/.
This session is open to EPA employees only.

CEC Training for OSCs …Access: Protecting EPA’s Interests and Avoiding Personal Liability
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern

Instructor:
Cliff Villa, EPA Region 10

Session Description:
Access: Protecting EPA’s Interests & Avoiding Personal Liability is a two hour webinar designed to help OSCs identify (1) potential pitfalls that could lead to liabilities for EPA and its OSCs; and 2) strategies to reduce the risk of such liabilities. Potential pitfalls may arise under common law, statutory authority, or the U.S. Constitution. One major pitfall may arise from the 4th Amendment, which can be a basis for lawsuits against federal employees who enter private property improperly. OSCs have also faced the threat of personal liability for alleged infringement of other Constitutional rights, violations of the federal Privacy Act, tort claims for personal injuries to contractors, and many other legal theories. Fortunately, there are legal protections for federal employees and many relatively simple ways to reduce the threat of liability so that OSCs can focus on their job of protecting human health and the environment. This webinar will discuss many of these legal protections and strategies, and also describe the process for responding to any lawsuit that might be filed against an OSC. Because threatened lawsuits so commonly involve private property, this webinar is a companion to the webinar Access Fundamentals. Both webinars are recommended for all OSCs who want to learn more about the authorities and responsibilities for obtaining access to private property.

Registration is available at http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/CECOSC7/.
This session is open to EPA employees only.

CEC Training for OSCs … CERCLA Coordination with Natural Resource Trustees
Thursday, November 21, 2013
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern

Instructor:
Earl Liverman, EPA Region 10

Session Description:
The purpose of this webinar is to provide an understanding of the statutory and regulatory basis for notification and coordination activities with Natural Resource Trustees. Participants will acquire a general understanding of what are natural resources, who are Natural Resource Trustees, and what are Trust Resources. Participants will also learn the legal and regulatory basis for EPA’s notification and coordination activities with Natural Resource Trustees.

Registration is available at http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/register/new.cfm?date=717

CEC Training for OSCs … Community Engagement and Communication Skills for the OSC
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern

Instructors:
Katy Miley, EPA Region 7
Gina Cristiano, EPA Region 8

Session Description:
OSCs are challenged to be well versed in many technical and regulatory aspects of the environmental field. One of the regulatory aspects is the requirement for community involvement as specified in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The NCP outlines specific activities, deliverables and timelines that must be followed during a given removal action. In addition to the required community involvement activities, there are many useful and timely activities that an OSC can engage in to support their removal action and avoid miscommunication and confusion between the agency and the public.

This two-hour webinar provides practical information and tools including:

• Take-home handouts outlining the specific requirements for community involvement as set forth in the NCP
• A discussion on the development of an Administrative Record and public notifications
• Lessons learned: A community engagement case study
• Useful tips for developing presentations and communicating information

Registration is available at http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/register/new.cfm?date=707.