Course Description

For this 40-Hour Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC)/Facility Response Planning (FRP) training course, a combination of lecture, case study examples, and interactive discussions to acquaint participants with the tools and resources available to assist in inspecting facilities for compliance with rule requirements will be used. According to EPA Order 3500.1, “Training and Development for Compliance Inspectors/Field Investigators,” the 40-hour course is a program-specific training requirement for oil inspectors, other EPA personnel (such as OSCs), grantees, or contractors conducting compliance monitoring activities associated with 40 CFR part 112 (such as oil inspections or GIUEs). This order applies to all Agency personnel who are authorized or seeking authorization to conduct civil compliance inspections/field investigations or to collect compliance samples under any of the Agency’s statutes, and their supervisors. Order 3500.1 also includes requirements for other training such as on the job training, health and safety training, inspection report review, basic inspector training self-study, and refresher courses. Further information on this mandatory training requirement and a copy of 3500.1 (and related materials) can be found on the Inspector Wiki site at https://inspector.epa.gov/inspector/index.php/Wiki_Home *

*Note the above site is accessible only to U.S. EPA employees.

Target Audience, Mandatory Pre-requisites, and Requirements

This course is open only to EPA inspectors, authorized agents who conduct inspections on EPA’s behalf. ORCR asks that the regions send those inspectors who would benefit the most from the training opportunity and who have approval from their respective regional oil manager or first line supervisor if appropriate.  Completion of the Basic Inspector Training is a mandatory prerequisite for the 40-hour training course for all students who will be conducting inspections on behalf of EPA. Each participant must provide verification (for example, the certificate or confirmation from a manager) that they have completed the basic course. If a participant has not completed the Basic Inspector Training at the time of registration, the participant must complete the course online prior to the 40-hour training course. More information on this training can be found at the Inspector Wiki webpage cited above. Participants must have also completed all required health and safety training in accordance with EPA policy and EPA Order 3500.1. All participants will be given an assessment prior to the training course to gauge their knowledge and understanding of the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation and related policy issues. Background materials will be distributed to participants after they register so that they may familiarize themselves with the SPCC rule, FRP rule, and SPCC guidance beforehand. Please note that newly trained inspectors must complete the remaining 3500.1 training before being certified. This includes our receipt of proper documentation of completion of the required training by the inspector’s immediate supervisor.

Unless otherwise specified, THIS COURSE, AND OTHER ERTP COURSES, IS NOT OPEN TO CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS, OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITIES.

Field Gear

Participants will be required to conduct a mock site inspection at a typical SPCC/FRP facility to complete this training. Each participant must bring proper field attire for this type of inspection, including:

• High-visibility safety vest
• Safety glasses
• Hard hat
• Steel toe shoes
• Possibly FRC (in discussions with facility on this requirement)

Failure to provide proper PPE may result in a student being unable to finish the last day of the course, and therefore unable to earn a course completion certificate. Participants must have completed all required health and safety training in accordance with EPA policy and EPA Order 3500.1 prior to registering for this training course.

Cost

There is no course registration or tuition fee. Participants’ regional offices are responsible for all travel, hotel, Per Diem, and M&IE expenses

For More Information and Questions

• Please reach out to the ORCR National Program Coordinator Christie Torres Rosa (torres-rosa.christie@epa.gov) for questions about this training 
• Contact Shelly Norland (norland.shelly@epa.gov) for course registration and Group SF-182 questions

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.