Superfund 101 consists of two introductory-level courses: Fundamentals of Superfund and Enforcement Process Overview. The target audience for each course is On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) and Remedial Project Managers (RPM).

Fundamentals of Superfund, a 3-day introductory training course, provides an overview of the purpose, legal framework and implementation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) for newly hired OSCs and RPMs. By taking the course, participants will achieve the following objectives:

• Understand the evolution of the Superfund program. The course explores the origin, accomplishments and future of the Superfund program.
• Understand the statutory and regulatory basis for the authorities of OSCs and RPMs. The course provides an overview of the roles of the OSC and RPM as they are defined in laws, regulations, policy and guidance, including a comparison of authorities and liabilities.
• Learn about the three types of response activities defined under CERCLA. The course discusses the components of the removal, remedial and enforcement programs and the major responsibilities of OSCs and RPMs in their work on Superfund responses, site cleanups and enforcement activities.

Enforcement Process Overview, a 2-day course, provides an overview of the EPA’s Superfund enforcement process for OSCs and RPMs. By taking the course, participants will achieve the following objectives:

• Learn about the goals, priorities, and actions of the Superfund enforcement program. The course provides an introduction to response actions and enforcement authorities under Superfund; illustrates the relationship between major enforcement actions and remedial and removal actions; defines Superfund enforcement goals and principles; identifies objectives of Superfund enforcement reforms; and highlights current enforcement priorities of the EPA.
• Understand the EPA’s fundamental principles and policies related to enforcement, the four types of potentially responsible parties (PRP), common defenses against liability and other enforcement policies. The course examines the four classes of PRPs, identifies PRP’s defenses and exemptions to liabilities, and identifies major enforcement discretionary policies.
• Understand the Superfund enforcement process and the roles of states, tribes, Federal agencies and communities in the enforcement process. The course examines and applies EPA’s cost recovery strategy and discretionary enforcement policies, as well as the roles of administrative and judicial law in the enforcement process.
• Develop their ability to use the tools available to encourage settlements. Participants will learn about the various types of enforcement tools, such as alternative dispute resolution, that are used in the settlement process.

Superfund 101 is recommended for new OSCs and RPMs as well as other programmatic and field support staff (i.e., enforcement personnel, HQ regional coordinators, Special Team members) as well as other federal agency, state and tribal environmental professionals involved in cleanups at Superfund sites. THIS COURSE IS NOT OPEN TO ACADEMIA, CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITIES. In addition, the Superfund 101 course is a prerequisite for EPA employees who would like to attend the Removal and Remedial Process courses. 

Please note, non-EPA registrants may be asked to cancel their registration if the course reaches capacity, as priority to attend this course is given to EPA Superfund RPMs and OSCs.

Please note: For OSCs/RPMs to receive your certificate for this training, you will need to attend class until 3:00 p.m. local time on Friday. Please plan your travel accordingly.

*This course is offered free of charge to all registrants who are confirmed to attend.*

This ERTP course is open to our Federal, State, Local and Tribal partners, with On-Scene Coordinators (OSC’s) and U.S. Coast Guard Staff having priority registration preference.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This 4-day course is designed for On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The goal of this course, which covers portions of the legislation in the National Contingency Plan and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, is to introduce new OSCs and refresh current OSCs on the regulations, funding, and methodology for responding to oil spills.  

This course may be delivered in-person (at the EPA ERT Warehouse in Erlanger, KY) or virtually.

Topics that are covered in this course include the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, National Contingency Plan, understanding oil spill basics, accessing and using the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, oil spill response, alternative technologies, preparedness and prevention, case studies, and exercises.  Instructional methods include lectures, problem sessions, and interactive exercises that emphasize the practical and problem-solving skills related to spill control and cleanup.

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Discuss how major legislation relates to oil spill containment and cleanup activities.

• Identify basic technical issues associated with inland oil spills.

• Access and use the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.

• Identify the basics of spill prevention control and countermeasure.

• Understand the use of basic containment and recovery methods.

• Discuss various agencies’ roles when responding to inland oil spills.

Course instructors may include current and former federal and state OSCs who may also serve as technical advisors in oil spill control and cleanup along with U.S. Coast Guard representatives.  Other instructors include experienced oil spill responders from the public and private sectors.

Class is limited to 30 students.

Continuing Education Units: 3.2

Participants must complete all modules for all days of the course to receive the course completion certificate.

COURSE MATERIALS

In compliance with Executive Order 13589 - Promoting Efficient Spending, Section 5; the ERTP will not be regularly printing or providing students hard copies of the course materials. The general course agenda is found at ertpvu.org.

QUESTIONS

For general information, contact the Shelly Norland/ERTP by telephone at 702-715-4969 or via e-mail at norland.shelly@epa.gov. 

For technical details related to course content, contact the EPA Oil Course Technical Leads – Fred Stroud by telephone at 702-784-8007 or via e-mail at stroud.fred@epa.gov; and Kristina Miller at 312-237-5685, miller.kristina@epa.gov

For all other details related to ERTP contractual matters, courses, as well as EPA's ERTP-sponsored Group SF-182 processing & approvals and/or 5170 Q&A for this course, etc. contact ERTP staff at:

• Shelly Norland at 702-784-8004, norland.shelly@epa.gov

Unless otherwise specified, THIS COURSE, AND OTHER ERTP COURSES, ARE NOT OPEN TO CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS, OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITIES.
*This course is offered free of charge to all registrants who are confirmed to attend.*

IMPORTANT NOTICES – Applicable to all ERTP courses :

1. ERTP’s receipt of a Trainex course registration is a Registration Request, it is not a Guaranteed Enrollment in the Course. All ERTP training courses require applicant registration thru the Trainex system. Last minute course arrivals without prior ERTP Trainex course registration approval is not permitted. Before ERTP issues final approval to deliver any course and/or any EPA offices incurring expenses for the training event (including but not limited to EPA staff travel TA’s and/or ERTP training contractor expenses incurred), all EPA mandatory pre-approvals must all be met. The pre-approvals include (but are not limited to) the following:
   
   • Training location’s availability;
   • COVID status and/or other COVID Guidelines in effect for the location, as well as staff;
   • Agency limitations, scrutiny, approvals, etc. (Examples: ERTP-sponsored Group SF-182; when applicable, EPA Conference Spending Requirements (known as the “5170”)’ for the specific training course(s); scheduled delivery timeframe, etc.);
   • Inclement and/or other weather conditions (blizzard, hurricane, etc);
   • Contractual number of available course training slots;
   • EPA training location staff having priority registration over all other registrations; and/or
   • Hosting site Training Coordinator approval.
   
   In the event a course is subsequently postponed or canceled, or notification of registration cancellation is received, all EPA travel arrangements (airline/car rental/hotel) should be canceled in a timely manner. Registered students will receive a notification via email if/when a course is postponed and/or cancelled.
    
2. For in-person course deliveries, confirmed course registered participants must abide by all facility physical access requirements for the location (examples: check-in at the security gate, Federal ID, Government PIV/CAC cards, photo id’s, etc.). If applicable for the course or location, restrictions may apply to non-citizens and acceptable identification may be required for facility entry.

This ERTP course is open to our Federal, State, Local and Tribal partners, with On-Scene Coordinators (OSC’s) and U.S. Coast Guard Staff having priority registration preference.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This 5-day course is designed primarily for On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state agencies, and other first responders is delivered at the EPA ERT Warehouse in Erlanger, Kentucky.  The goal of this course is to have participants learn then demonstrate containment and recovery techniques for an inland oil spill in either a fast or slow water environment.  Participants will learn boater safety; operate boats and deploy containment boom on lakes or rivers; provide protection to shorelines and sensitive areas; establish an oil recovery site; and install weirs, underflow dams and filter fences on streams.

This course will be delivered in-person.  Instructional methods include classroom instruction, case studies, and primarily on-water field work.

After completion of the course, the participants will be able to demonstrate or discuss small boat safety and operations, various methods of containment boom deployment and anchoring, recovery site selection and operations, and health and safety issues relevant to oil spill response and recovery operations.  All this will be based on the topics presented, situations covered, and suitability of the selected location(s) for delivery.

Course instructors may include current and former federal and state OSCs who may also serve as technical advisors in oil spill control and cleanup.  Other instructors include experienced oil spill responders from the public and private sectors.

Class size is limited to 30 students. 

Continuing Education Units: 4.0

Participants must complete all modules for all days of the course to receive the course completion certificate.

This course includes hands-on field activities that can be strenuous.

COURSE PARTICIPATION NOTES**

**Attendees will need to wear appropriate attire for fieldwork and on-water operations.  This includes appropriate work gloves, eye protection, footwear, and outerwear for foul weather.  Attendees are encouraged to bring their own sunscreen, insect repellant, and Personal Flotation Device (PFD) since supplies will be limited.*

COURSE MATERIALS

In compliance with Executive Order 13589 - Promoting Efficient Spending, Section 5; the ERTP will not be regularly printing or providing students hard copies of the course materials. The general course agenda is found at ertpvu.org.

QUESTIONS

For general information, contact the Registrar by telephone at 513-251-7669 or via e-mail at ertp-registrar2@tetratech.com. 

For technical details related to course content, including tailoring of course content, contact the EPA Oil Course Technical Lead – Fred Stroud by telephone at 702-784-8007 or via e-mail at stroud.fred@epa.gov. 

For all other details related to ERTP contractual matters, courses, as well as EPA's 5170 processing & approvals for this course, etc. contact ERTP staff at:

• Shelly Norland at 702-784-8004, norland.shelly@epa.gov, and
• Sean Gavlas at 702-784-8004, gavlas.sean@epa.gov

Unless otherwise specified, THIS COURSE, AND OTHER ERTP COURSES, IS NOT OPEN TO CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS, OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITIES.
*This course is offered free of charge to all registrants who are confirmed to attend.*

IMPORTANT NOTICES – Applicable to all ERTP courses :

1. ERTP’s receipt of a Trainex course registration is a Registration Request, it is not a Guaranteed Enrollment in the Course. All ERTP training courses require applicant registration thru the Trainex system. Last minute course arrivals without prior ERTP Trainex course registration approval is not permitted. Before ERTP issues final approval to deliver any course and/or any EPA offices incurring expenses for the training event (including but not limited to EPA staff travel TA’s and/or ERTP training contractor expenses incurred), all EPA mandatory pre-approvals must all be met. The pre-approvals include (but are not limited to) the following:
   
   • Training location’s availability;
   • COVID status and/or other COVID Guidelines in effect for the location, as well as staff;
   • Agency limitations, scrutiny, and approvals of ‘Conference Spending Requirements (known as the “5170”)’ for the specific training course(s) scheduled delivery timeframe;
   • Weather (blizzard, hurricane, etc);
   • Contractual number of available course training slots;
   • EPA training location staff having priority registration over all other registrations; and/or
   • Hosting site Training Coordinator approval.
   
   In the event a course is subsequently postponed or canceled, or notification of registration cancellation is received, all EPA travel arrangements (airline/car rental/hotel) should be canceled in a timely manner. Registered students will receive a notification via email if/when a course is postponed and/or cancelled.
    
2. For in-person course deliveries, confirmed course registered participants must abide by all facility physical access requirements for the location (examples: check-in at the security gate, Federal ID, Government PIV/CAC cards, photo id’s, etc.). If applicable for the course or location, restrictions may apply to non-citizens and acceptable identification may be required for facility entry.

Preliminary Assessment and Site Inspection (PA/SI) provides an introduction to the Superfund site assessment process and describes the preliminary assessment and site inspection phases of this process. By taking the course, participants will be better able to:

• Explain when, where, why and how site assessments are performed under the authorities of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The course provides an overview of key provisions of CERCLA and the response process established by the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The purpose, scope and requirements for performing a remedial preliminary assessment (PA) and remedial site inspection (SI) at sites regulated by CERCLA are explained as well as recognizing if threats exist that could warrant a removal action.
• Prepare for, conduct and report the results of a remedial PA. The course identifies and explains procedures for performing a remedial PA, including determining whether a PA is appropriate, planning for and conducting the remedial PA, preparing a preliminary Hazard Ranking System (HRS) score for the site, using checklists and documenting results so that a decision can be made about the site.
• Determine the need for, conduct and report the results of a remedial SI. The course identifies the step-by-step activities for conducting a remedial SI, including discussion of health and safety considerations for field activities, establishing data quality objectives and developing sampling strategies to obtain data for HRS scoring, validating data and preparing a final report to document the decision-making process.
• Identify and use guidance, software and other tools to successfully meet the requirements for conducting a remedial PA and SI. The course will identify guidance and policies issued by the EPA applicable to conducting a remedial PA and SI, explain the basic structure and scoring factors of the HRS and introduce site investigators on how to use EPA's Quickscore.

PA/SI is a 3-day training course designed for personnel who are required to compile, draft and review PA, SI and HRS documentation records and packages submitted for sites proposed for the National Priorities List (NPL). This course is open to EPA, federal, state, and tribal personnel who support site investigation programs. The course is also open to current U.S. EPA contractors that perform site investigation work. U.S. EPA contractors will need to provide approval from their EPA TOCOR to Barbara Charris, EPA CEC Program Manager (charris.barbara@epa.gov) to attend the training. THIS COURSE IS NOT OPEN TO ACADEMIA, NON-EPA CONSULTANTS, NON-EPA CONTRACTORS OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITIES.

It is recommended that you take the Hazard Ranking System training course prior to the Preliminary Assessment and Site Inspection training course.