The ARARs Academy is a beginner- to intermediate-level course that focuses on applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements (ARARs) in the remedial program. The course builds on the ARAR material presented in other CEC courses, such as Fundamentals of Superfund and Remedial Process. Participants will have the opportunity to examine the topic in more detail and apply the course concepts to site-specific situations. The ARARs Academy includes a webinar and in-class portion, both of which are required. The webinar portion will provide the participants with the foundation necessary to complete the exercises that primarily make up the in-class portion of the course. By completing the ARARs Academy, participants will be better able to:

• Define important terms and apply them when evaluating ARARs
• Describe the regulatory requirements of the common federal statutes often considered ARAR for Superfund actions and explain when they may be ARAR
• Describe ARAR documentation in the ROD including how the selected remedy complies with ARARs
• Explain how state laws and regulations can be ARAR
• Describe the six ARAR waivers and how each might be used

The ARARs Academy consists of three 4-hour webinars and a 1.5-day in-class training and is recommended for RPMs with at least six months experience and may have assisted other RPMs with Superfund sites or now are preparing to take the lead on Superfund sites. The ARARs Academy may also be a good review for more experienced RPMs. In addition, the ARARs Academy may also be valuable to EPA site attorneys, other Superfund staff, and State personnel supporting Superfund sites. THIS COURSE IS NOT OPEN TO ACADEMIA, CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITIES. Superfund 101 and the Remedial Process course are prerequisites for attendees to participate in the ARARs Academy.

Please note pre-work is required for this course. Attendees will be required to attend a three-part webinar series that will cover introductory materials including a review of important definitions, the ARAR identification process, ARAR waivers, and a review of the most common Federal ARARs. Each webinar will be 4-hours long. Dates for the live webinars will be sent via email to those registered to attend the classroom training. If you are not able to attend the live webinar series, it will be recorded and a link to the recording will be provided to those registered to attend the classroom training that will allow you to listen at your convenience prior to the classroom delivery. If you have any questions regarding the webinars, please feel free to contact Jodi McCarty, ICF at jodi.mccarty@icf.com.
 

RPM 301 is an intermediate- to advanced-level training course that expands on the Remedial Process and RPM 201 courses. The course is offered as part of the ongoing effort to prepare Remedial Project Managers (RPM) for the challenges they will encounter while managing their Superfund sites. RPM 301 provides detailed information on EPA’s smart scoping best practices, strategic sampling approaches, and data management best practices in a set of stand-alone modules, some of which are mandatory and some of which the Region can select. Each module will be one-half day long and will include one or more exercises that provide the participants the opportunity to apply the concepts covered in the module. By completing RPM 301, participants will be better able to:

• Apply smart scoping best practices more effectively
• Recognize and use strategic sampling approaches
• Manage data efficiently and generate data that provide a solid basis for decision-making

RPM 301 is a 2.5 to 3 day in-class training and is recommended for RPMs with at least five years of experience and who are leading the activities at Superfund sites. RPM 301 may also benefit other technical project team members from EPA, the State and Tribe. THIS COURSE IS NOT OPEN TO ACADEMIA, CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITIES. The Remedial Process and RPM 201 courses are prerequisites for attendees to participate in RPM 301.
 

Hazard Ranking System (HRS) is a 4-day training course designed for personnel who are required to compile, draft and review preliminary assessments (PA), site inspections (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, tribal and contractor personnel who support site investigation programs.

The HRS course provides a detailed review of the HRS model and how the model is applied to various site conditions. The course is intended to enable staff to prepare HRS packages for the National Priorities List (NPL) and to plan and implement preliminary assessments (PA) and site inspections (SI) to address future HRS scoring issues. By taking the course, participants will achieve the following objectives:

• Explain the site assessment process under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the role of HRS. The course provides an overview of key provisions of CERCLA and the general response process established under the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The course discusses procedures and requirements for conducting site assessments and using the HRS to score sites for placement on the NPL.
• Define and explain the HRS in detail. The course explains the overall structure and elements of the HRS and how a site score is calculated. The course also provides a detailed explanation of each scoring factor (likelihood of release, waste characterization and targets) for each pathway (groundwater, surface water, soil exposure and air) evaluated by the HRS. In addition, the course addresses HRS rules for scoring sites with releases of radionuclides.
• Illustrate a general approach to scoring sites using the HRS and preparing an HRS package. The course provides an introduction to the process by which HRS packages are prepared, identifies the elements of a complete package and discusses accurate site scoring. The course examines documentation and analytical data quality needed to support HRS packages.
• Identify and use guidance and software to successfully prepare an HRS package. The course will identify regulations and guidance issued by the EPA applicable to HRS scoring packages and has participants prepare an HRS score for a site.

HRS is a 4-day training course designed for personnel who are required to compile, draft and review 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. THIS COURSE IS NOT OPEN TO ACADEMIA, CONSULTANTS, 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.

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

The Removal Process course provides On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) and others who support the removal program with fundamental information and practical knowledge needed to plan, conduct or support removal actions effectively in response to releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants as well as discharges of oil under the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The Removal Process course is structured to follow the framework of the NCP. By taking the course, participants will achieve the following objectives:

• Learn to carry out the step-by-step process of conducting a removal action. The course follows the chain of events from site discovery to completion of the removal action, demonstrating how the enforcement process is integrated into various phases of the removal process.
• Understand the authorities and limitations of an OSC during a removal action. The course provides a comprehensive review of statutory and regulatory requirements, including an overview of response authority, requirements for public participation and regulations governing contracting services.
• Understand the Incident Command System/Unified Command (ICS/UC) and an OSC’s role during an emergency response. This course strengthens an OSC’s ability to use the ICS/UC effectively and reiterates the roles and responsibilities of an OSC during emergency responses to releases of hazardous substances. The course examines the organization of the ICS/UC and provides a thorough discussion of the planning and support functions associated with the ICS/UC.
• Use their newly developed knowledge and skills to solve real-life problems. Participants are challenged to apply the information and knowledge acquired during the course to realistic exercises and case studies and will be presented with tools and resources available to the OSC.

The Removal Process course is an intermediate 4.5 day training that is geared towards OSCs and other responders or removal program personnel (Headquarters regional coordinators, Removal Managers, enforcement personnel and Special Team members) who are responsible for or need to know about removal response activities under CERCLA as well as the Oil Pollution Act (OPA)/Clean Water Act (CWA). Other Federal Agency OSCs and State OSCs will also be permitted to attend, but priority will be given to EPA OSCs. THIS COURSE IS NOT OPEN TO ACADEMIA, CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITIES. The Fundamentals of Superfund course is a prerequisite for EPA employees who would like to attend the Removal Process course.

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