Federal Facility RPM, a 3-day training course, is geared toward Federal Facility (FF) Remedial Project Managers (RPM) from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to facilitate an understanding of how the FF RPM role, responsibilities and authorities differ from a private or Fund-financed Superfund EPA RPM. By taking this course, participants will:

• Discuss and examine best practices for managing the unique circumstances Federal Facility National Priority List (NPL) sites present.
• Be exposed to the institutional knowledge of experienced FF RPMs and cover the history of the FF program and complexity of legacy DOD and DOE sites.
• Review the statutory and regulatory authorities, executive orders and policy and guidance that are important to Federal Facilities.
• Examine the programmatic organization unique to Federal Facilities and identify the programmatic differences between Federal Facility and private and Fund-financed Superfund sites.
• Discuss in detail the Federal Facility Agreement (FFA), including negotiating and implementing the provisions of the FFA.
• Examine and evaluate the unique technical and management issues presented by Federal Facilities.
• Discuss current issues associated with emerging contaminants that may be present at Federal Facilities.
• Obtain valuable materials and references for managing a Federal Facility NPL site.

This course is specifically designed for EPA FF RPMs of all experience levels. Participants with one to two years of experience and who have taken the Fundamentals of Superfund and Remedial Process courses may derive the most benefit. This course may also be taken by other EPA RPMs, DOD/DOE RPMs, EPA RCRA personnel, state personnel who manage Federal Facilities across the nation, tribal RPMs and managers. THIS COURSE IS NOT OPEN TO ACADEMIA, CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANTS OR OTHER PRIVATE ENTITIES.

The format of the course includes lecture, facilitated discussion, case study review, situational training with exercises, and use of multiple media. Short tests will be given at the end of each module to assess whether training objectives are met.

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

Important Notice: Due to the content presented during a CEC course and the restrictions in place for non-citizens to enter federal buildings, international attendees are not permitted to attend CEC courses.
 

Introduction to Remedial Action (RA) Management when using EPA Contracts is an intermediate level project management course that provides a comprehensive examination of the technical, contracting, and regulatory requirements that the Superfund Remedial Program and EPA contracting offices must address as they plan for and oversee the execution on remedial action projects at Superfund sites under EPA contracts. This course discusses how planning for and using project management principles during RD/RA planning, RD execution, RA solicitation, and RA implement will help the project team manage change with a focus on controlling scope, schedule, and budget.

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

• Gain an understanding of why RA management requirements have changed for work executed under EPA contracts. This course explains how direct management of remedial design and remedial action project requires the Agency to fundamentally restructuring the way the Superfund program manages these projects.
• Understand that effective RA management starts early in the design phase. Controlling and understanding the scope of the RD and the content of the plans and specifications has a direct impact on how a RA project will be executed and the effort it will take to oversee RA activities.
• Understand that successful RA management requires proactive planning and project management throughout the process. The RPM must assemble an team to support RD and RA implementation. This team can include Superfund and contracting staff and managers, as well external resources, such as EPA Headquarters, other Federal Agencies, States/Tribes, or contractors. The RPM is the leader of this team and must establish a culture of collaboration and teamwork through clear roles and responsibilities and established communication protocols.
• Understand the importance of change management. In Superfund RD and RA projects, changes will occur that impact scope, schedule, and budget. Have a process and tools to identify, track, and manage change. A lack of process or timely identification and management of change in RD and RA can lead to costly and timely issue resolution.
• Apply the knowledge gained during the course. Participants take part in several activities that give them the opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills and knowledge to realistic situations that reflect the real-life experiences of RPMs and contracting officers preparing for and managing RA projects.

This course is a 3-day course and is designed for EPA project teams (Superfund and contracting staff and managers) who will be initiating an RD/RA project under EPA contracts in the next 12 months or EPA project teams that are in the process of implementing an RD and planning for an RA under EPA contracts. THIS COURSE IS NOT OPEN TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, STATES, TRIBES, ACADEMIA, CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITIES.

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

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.
 

OSC 201 is an intermediate-level training course that expands on the Removal Process course to prepare On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) for the rigors of everyday removal action site activities. The instructional methodology will include a response case study to provide participants an opportunity to apply the skills learned during the course. By taking the course, participants will achieve the following objectives:

• Understand how to apply a Removal Site Strategy Model to a project. The course reviews this effective conceptual tool in managing the factors that influence the cleanup at a removal site.
• Learn project management skills, including organization of a project, forecasting resources and personnel, planning meetings, documenting site activities and tracking schedules and costs. The course prepares OSCs for the daily challenges they will encounter during a removal action and an emergency response.
• Learn to navigate through the daily tasks of the removal process and adapt to changing site circumstances. The course includes a response case study to provide participants an opportunity to apply the skills learned during the course.
• Understand the keys to conducting a removal action that is consistent with the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The course takes a hands-on practitioner's approach to removal and emergency response management, based on the perspective of field operations, and focuses on attaining the response action goals.

OSC 201 is a 2-day training course designed for OSCs with one to two years of experience, particularly in the field at removal actions and who may have assisted other OSCs with removal actions or are now preparing to take the lead in conducting a large-scale removal action. More experienced OSCs may find the course useful as a refresher and an opportunity to share success stories and lesson learned with newer OSCs. Other EPA removal program personnel (including Headquarters regional coordinators, enforcement personnel, Removal Managers and Special Team members) are also welcome to attend. THIS COURSE IS NOT OPEN TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, STATES, TRIBES, ACADEMIA, CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS OR OTHER PRIVATE ENTITIES. The Removal Process course is a prerequisite for EPA employees who would like to attend OSC 201.

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

Waste Treatment, Transportation and Disposal, a 2.5-day advanced training course, focuses on specific technical and regulatory issues that On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) and Remedial Project Managers (RPM) must address when treating, transporting and disposing of waste. By taking the course, participants will achieve the following objectives:

• Learn a step-by-step approach to the treatment, transportation and disposal of waste. The course discusses oversight of the major steps in procuring cost-effective and efficient treatment, transportation and disposal of waste. The course explores the complex definitions of solid and hazardous waste and provides real-life examples of how to decide whether wastes are RCRA hazardous during a removal action.
• Discover practical recommendations for improving the treatment, transportation and disposal process. The course stresses some obvious and other less obvious aspects helpful in improving the transportation and disposal process.
• Master information about the identification and analysis of waste. Participants will obtain information from experienced professionals about the process of identifying and analyzing special waste types and to arrange for treatment, transportation and disposal of waste.

Waste Treatment, Transportation and Disposal is an advanced-level training course intended for EPA OSCs and other EPA removal program personnel. The course is designed to equip OSCs with the information they need to plan for the treatment, transportation and disposal of wastes generated from removal actions. Other EPA environmental professionals, such as RPMs, site assessment managers, remedial program staff, and Special Team members may also benefit from the course. THIS COURSE IS NOT OPEN TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, STATES, LOCAL AGENCIES, TRIBES, ACADEMIA, CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANTS OR OTHER PRIVATE ENTITIES.

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

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.*

RPM 201, an intermediate-level training course, expands on the Remedial Process course. The course is offered as part of the ongoing effort to prepare RPMs for the challenges they will encounter during all aspects of a remedial action. The instructional methodology will include case studies to provide participants an opportunity to apply the skills learned during the course. The course will also include time for participants to ask specific questions about their own sites they currently are working on, as well as emerging technical and programmatic policy and guidance from EPA Headquarters. By taking the course, participants will achieve the following objectives:

• Learn how to manage common issues or concepts at remedial action sites, such as vapor intrusion, sediment removal, contaminated groundwater plumes and green remediation.
• Learn project management skills, including management of a project, forecasting resources and costs, planning meetings, documenting site activities and tracking schedules and costs.
• Learn effective ways to communicate various types of issues at sites to residents and communities.
• Learn how to incorporate optimization into new and existing remedial actions.

RPM 201 is a 2-½-day training recommended for RPMs with at least 2 years of experience and may have assisted other RPMs with remedial actions or now are preparing to take the lead in conducting a remedial action. Superfund 101 and the Remedial Process course are prerequisites for EPA attendees to participate in RPM 201. While RPM 201 may be most beneficial to new RPMs with 5 years of experience or less, the course is very interactive and more experienced RPMs that attend will be encouraged to share their field background with the class. THIS COURSE IS NOT OPEN TO ACADEMIA, CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITIES.

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