This 2-day course provides participants with a review of fundamental chemical concepts which underlie an understanding of applied environmental chemistry concepts and practices. This course is designed for environmental professionals who are not chemists but who require a basic knowledge of chemistry and environmental chemistry in their work.  Some prior education in chemistry, to the high school level or beyond, is recommended but not required.

Specific topics include unit conversions; chemical bonding; chemical formulas; physical properties; structural formulas; an introduction to organic chemistry, including chemical nomenclature; the theory of operation of analytical methods; and environmental chemical reactions.

This course is immediately followed by the 1.5-day “Chemistry for Environmental Professionals - Applied” training course. Although it is not required, students are encouraged to request both courses when registering.

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe common scientific measurements and perform unit conversions.
• Describe ionic and covalent chemical bonding.
• Use chemical formulas and the periodic table to calculate the mass of ingredients required to produce given amounts of chemical products.
• Identify physical and chemical properties that affect chemical fate and transport in soil, water, and air.
• Describe the structure of an organic chemical contaminant using common diagramming methods, such as the condensed structural formula and other methods.
• Identify and name simple organic chemicals using the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry nomenclature system.
• Describe the analytical methods and instruments used to identify chemicals in environmental media.
• Describe the environmental chemical reactions which cause acid rain.

ABIH (American Board of Industrial Hygienists) has previously awarded CM credit for this event. The current event contains 14 hours which can be claimed for credit.

The classroom version of this course is delivered over two 8-hour days.

The virtual version of this course is delivered over three 5-hours, for example, from 8:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m.

Continuing Education Units: 1.4

This course 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.

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 manual. Students may obtain an electronic copy of the student manual for personal printing or e-reading at: 

https://ertpvu.org/ClassroomCourseDetail.aspx?id=2

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.

Previous Events (click to view/hide)

San Francisco, CA Event Details   December 12, 2023 - December 13, 2023   San Francisco, CA Postponed - Event Details   August 8, 2023 - August 9, 2023   Boston, MA Event Details   December 6, 2022 - December 7, 2022   Seattle, WA Cancelled - Event Details   December 6, 2021 - December 8, 2021   Lenexa, KS Cancelled - Event Details   August 3, 2021 - August 4, 2021   Atlanta, GA Postponed - Event Details   May 5, 2020 - May 6, 2020   Seattle, WA Postponed - Event Details   April 21, 2020 - April 22, 2020   New York, NY Event Details   March 5, 2019 - March 6, 2019   Commerce City, CO Event Details   August 21, 2018 - August 22, 2018   Richmond, CA Event Details   April 24, 2018 - April 25, 2018   Philadelphia, PA Event Details   March 15, 2017 - March 16, 2017   Addison, TX Event Details   February 7, 2017 - February 8, 2017   Salt Lake City, UT Event Details   March 28, 2016 - March 29, 2016   Atlanta, GA Event Details   February 2, 2016 - February 3, 2016   Seattle, WA Event Details   July 21, 2015 - July 22, 2015   Kansas City, MO Event Details   March 17, 2015 - March 18, 2015   Harrisburg, PA Event Details   January 13, 2015 - January 14, 2015   Harrisburg, PA Event Details   June 17, 2014 - June 18, 2014   Atlanta, GA Event Details   April 22, 2014 - April 23, 2014   Kansas City, MO Event Details   February 18, 2014 - February 19, 2014   Anchorage, AK Event Details   September 10, 2013 - September 11, 2013   Kansas City, MO Event Details   June 4, 2013 - June 5, 2013   Atlanta, GA Postponed - Event Details   April 16, 2013 - April 17, 2013   Concord, NH Event Details   February 12, 2013 - February 13, 2013   Harrisburg, PA Event Details   December 11, 2012 - December 12, 2012   Baton Rouge, LA Event Details   October 29, 2012 - October 30, 2012   Berkeley, CA Event Details   September 25, 2012 - September 26, 2012   Santa Fe, NM Event Details   August 14, 2012 - August 15, 2012   Des Moines, IA Event Details   May 15, 2012 - May 16, 2012   New York, NY Event Details   May 1, 2012 - May 2, 2012   Atlanta, GA Event Details   April 17, 2012 - April 18, 2012   Boston, MA Event Details   March 20, 2012 - March 21, 2012   Jefferson City, MO Event Details   February 28, 2012 - February 29, 2012   Seattle, WA Event Details   January 24, 2012 - January 25, 2012   Harrisburg, PA Event Details   December 6, 2011 - December 7, 2011   Baton Rouge, LA Event Details   November 1, 2011 - November 2, 2011   Addison, TX Event Details   September 13, 2011 - September 14, 2011   San Francisco, CA Cancelled - Event Details   September 6, 2011 - September 7, 2011   New York, NY Event Details   August 16, 2011 - August 17, 2011   Atlanta, GA Event Details   July 19, 2011 - July 20, 2011   Salt Lake City, UT Event Details   June 27, 2011 - June 28, 2011   San Francisco, CA Cancelled - Event Details   May 3, 2011 - May 4, 2011   Seattle, WA Event Details   March 29, 2011 - March 30, 2011   Salt Lake City, UT Event Details   March 14, 2011 - March 15, 2011   Seattle, WA Postponed - Event Details   January 4, 2011 - January 5, 2011   Harrisburg, PA Event Details   December 7, 2010 - December 8, 2010   Jefferson City, MO Event Details   August 10, 2010 - August 11, 2010   Dallas, TX Event Details   July 13, 2010 - July 14, 2010   Springfield, IL Event Details   June 15, 2010 - June 16, 2010   New Castle, DE Event Details   May 4, 2010 - May 5, 2010   Harrisburg, PA Event Details   April 13, 2010 - April 14, 2010   Boston, MA Event Details   March 23, 2010 - March 24, 2010   Seattle, WA Event Details   March 1, 2010 - March 2, 2010   Seattle, WA Event Details   February 23, 2010 - February 24, 2010   Lakewood, CO Postponed - Event Details   January 5, 2010 - January 6, 2010   Boston, MA Postponed - Event Details   October 27, 2009 - October 28, 2009   Atlanta, GA Event Details   September 22, 2009 - September 23, 2009   Indianapolis, IN Event Details   September 1, 2009 - September 2, 2009   New York, NY Event Details   August 11, 2009 - August 12, 2009   Richmond, VA Event Details   May 5, 2009 - May 6, 2009   Waterbury, VT Event Details   April 14, 2009 - April 15, 2009   Baton Rouge, LA Event Details   March 31, 2009 - April 1, 2009   Oklahoma City, OK Event Details   January 27, 2009 - January 28, 2009   Louisville, KY Event Details   December 9, 2008 - December 10, 2008   Jefferson City, MO Event Details   October 28, 2008 - October 29, 2008   Seattle, WA Event Details   September 23, 2008 - September 24, 2008   Lakewood, CO Cancelled - Event Details   September 9, 2008 - September 10, 2008   EPA REGION 2 - exact location not yet determined, Cancelled - Event Details   June 24, 2008 - June 25, 2008   Portland, OR Cancelled - Event Details   June 10, 2008 - June 11, 2008   Oakland, CA Event Details   June 3, 2008 - June 4, 2008   Glen Allen, VA Event Details   May 6, 2008 - May 7, 2008   Harrisburg, PA Event Details   April 15, 2008 - April 16, 2008   Anchorage, AK Event Details   March 25, 2008 - March 26, 2008   Colorado Springs, CO Cancelled - Event Details   February 26, 2008 - February 27, 2008   Millbrae, CA Event Details   January 29, 2008 - January 30, 2008   Boston, MA Cancelled - Event Details   January 15, 2008 - January 16, 2008   Topeka, KS Event Details   October 29, 2007 - October 30, 2007   Richmond, CA Event Details   September 11, 2007 - September 12, 2007   Indianapolis, IN Event Details   August 14, 2007 - August 15, 2007   Springfield, IL Event Details   January 23, 2007 - January 24, 2007   Lee's Summit, MO Cancelled - Event Details   September 27, 2005 - September 28, 2005   Seattle, WA Cancelled - Event Details   September 13, 2005 - September 14, 2005   Edison, NJ Cancelled - Event Details   August 30, 2005 - August 31, 2005   EPA REGION 9 - exact location not yet determined, Cancelled - Event Details   August 16, 2005 - August 17, 2005   New York, NY Cancelled - Event Details   August 2, 2005 - August 3, 2005   Springfield, IL Cancelled - Event Details   July 19, 2005 - July 20, 2005   Oklahoma City, OK Event Details   June 21, 2005 - June 22, 2005   Denver, CO Cancelled - Event Details   June 7, 2005 - June 8, 2005   EPA REGION 1 - exact location not yet determined, Cancelled - Event Details   May 24, 2005 - May 25, 2005   Atlanta, GA Event Details   May 10, 2005 - May 11, 2005   New Castle, DE Event Details   April 26, 2005 - April 27, 2005   Des Moines, IA Event Details   April 12, 2005 - April 13, 2005   Culver City, CA Event Details   March 22, 2005 - March 23, 2005   Cincinnati, OH Cancelled - Event Details   February 28, 2005 - March 1, 2005   EPA REGION 5 - exact location not yet determined, Cancelled - Event Details   February 24, 2005 - February 25, 2005   Anchorage, AK Cancelled - Event Details   February 8, 2005 - February 9, 2005   EPA REGION 2 - exact location not yet determined, Cancelled - Event Details   January 25, 2005 - January 26, 2005   Harrisburg, PA Event Details   January 25, 2005 - January 26, 2005   Harrisburg, PA Event Details   January 11, 2005 - January 12, 2005   EPA REGION 1 - exact location not yet determined, Cancelled - Event Details   December 14, 2004 - December 15, 2004   Commerce City, CO Cancelled - Event Details   November 30, 2004 - December 1, 2004   EPA REGION 4 - exact location not yet determined, Cancelled - Event Details   October 26, 2004 - October 27, 2004   Chicago, IL Cancelled - Event Details   October 12, 2004 - October 13, 2004   Santa Fe, NM Event Details   September 28, 2004 - September 29, 2004   Port Hadlock, WA Postponed - Event Details   September 14, 2004 - September 15, 2004   Edison, NJ Cancelled - Event Details   August 31, 2004 - September 1, 2004   Commerce, CA Event Details   August 17, 2004 - August 18, 2004   Long Island City, NY Event Details   August 3, 2004 - August 4, 2004   Lee's Summit, MO Event Details   July 20, 2004 - July 21, 2004   Little Rock, AR Event Details   June 22, 2004 - June 23, 2004   Denver, CO Cancelled - Event Details   June 8, 2004 - June 9, 2004   East Greenwich, RI Event Details   May 25, 2004 - May 26, 2004   Jackson, MS Cancelled - Event Details   May 11, 2004 - May 12, 2004   New Castle, DE Event Details   April 27, 2004 - April 28, 2004