Important Information about Lodging and Attending the NARPM Training Program

All EPA staff whose lodging is covered by the EPA Master Account must stay at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in order for EPA Headquarters to cover your lodging. If an attendee designated for the EPA Master Account selects to stay at another hotel, your program and or regional office will be responsible for covering your lodging expenses. EPA staff whose lodging is covered by the EPA Master Account includes EPA Superfund RPMs, EPA pre-approved Headquarters attendees and EPA pre-approved designated instructors.

The available nights that EPA Headquarters pays for EPA Superfund RPMs, EPA pre-approved Headdquarters attendees and EPA pre-approved designated instructors lodging on the EPA Master Account are based on the individual's schedule of courses from the night of Sunday, August 25 through the night of Thursday, August 29, 2019.

• For those participating in Monday morning and afternoon courses, Sunday night is covered.
• Friday, August 30, 2019 should be considered the travel day to return home for all participants. Friday morning courses are scheduled from 8:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., allowing adequate time for participants to plan travel home on Friday afternoon.
• EPA Headquarters reviews each individual's schedule to confirm that the appropriate nights are covered.
• Participants are expected to participate in a full day of training each day in order for EPA Headquarters to cover your lodging. Attendance will be taken at the beginning and end of each course and will be reviewed by EPA Headquarters.

If you need to stay Friday night because of limited flight schedules or onsite responsibilities, and depart on Saturday, August 31, you must notify Gary Turner, EPA OSRTI, via email (turner.gary@epa.gov), no later than Wednesday, July 10, 2019 if you are requesting that EPA Headquarters cover your Friday night stay. Please label the subject of your email NARPM Friday Night Stay. You will be notified by July 12, 2019 if your Friday night stay is approved.

EPA Attendees Only: For those EPA participants traveling to attend the NARPM Training Program, you will need to include a copy of an EPA''s Office of Human Resources (OHR) approval SF-182 memo that approves the use of training account codes to cover lodging and per diem expenses for the upcoming training program in your travel voucher in Concur. Please work with your regional training coordinator to complete an SF-182 training form, or a copy of a group SF-182 training form for your region as an attachment in your Travel Authorization or Voucher in Concur. An SF-182 training form must be submitted to your regional training office and approved by the training office prior to travel; so please make sure you have that form submitted to the training office before July 10, 2019 to allow adequate time for approval. For instructions on completing an SF-182, please select the SF-182 tab and download the How to Complete Your SF-182 for the 2019 NARPM Training Program document.

In addition, download the How to Complete Your Travel Authorization document to obtain information on completing your TA for the training program. This document will also include the site-specific project code for the training program that must be entered into your TA or voucher. The site-specific project code for the NARPM Training Program is MM757202.

For More Information

For more information or if you require special assistance, please contact Jodi McCarty, ICF, at jodi.mccarty@icf.com.

Schedule of Events

The National Association of Remedial Project Managers (NARPM) Training Program was held for Monday, August 26, 2019 through Friday, August 30, 2019, at the Palmer House Hilton hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The Federal Facilities Technical Support Project (TSP) Forum and the Contaminated Sediment Forum held their business meetings in conjunction with the 26th NARPM Training Program on Monday, August 26, 2019 and Wednesday, August 28, 2019, respectively.

Daily plenary sessions were held during the NARPM Training Program beginning on Monday, August 26, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. The Welcome Plenary Session will be held on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

The NARPM Training Program offered training sessions beginning on Monday, August 26, 2019 at 8:45 a.m. and ending on Friday, August 30, 2019 at 12:00 p.m.

One all-hands training session, focusing on reuse and redevelopment at Superfund sites, were held on Tuesday morning, August 27, 2019 beginning at 10:15 a.m. and ending at 12:00 p.m.

Onsite check-in for the NARPM Training Program and the business meetings was available on Sunday, August 25, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Palmer House Hilton hotel. Onsite check-in continued Monday, August 26, 2019, at 7:00 a.m.

Hotel Information

The Palmer House Hilton Hotel
17 East Monroe Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Phone: (312) 726-7500

Sleeping Room Reservations

The room block for the Palmer House closed at 4pm Central time on August 7, 2019. If you still need a sleeping room, please contact Jodi McCarty at jodi.mccarty@icf.com.

Reservations at the Palmer House must be confirmed with a credit card. Even if your lodging is paid for under EPA's Master Account, you are still responsible for covering incidental charges and guaranteeing your arrival with your credit card. If you have questions about payment for your stay when you check-in, contact Mr. Gary Turner, EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation on site or by email at turner.gary@epa.gov.

You are responsible for cancelling your hotel reservation if you cannot attend. The Palmer House requires a notice of cancellation 48 hours prior to the day of your scheduled arrival. If you fail to provide notice, one night's lodging and all applicable taxes will be charged to your credit card.

Hotel check-in begins after 3:00 p.m., and check-out time is 11:00 a.m.

Getting To Chicago

The Chicago area is served by the Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and the Midway International Airport (MDW). ORD is located approximately 18 miles from downtown Chicago. MDW is located approximately 12 miles from downtown Chicago.

Additional information about both airports is available at http://www.flychicago.com.

Chicago, Illinois is located in the Central Time Zone.

Ground Transportation

Public Transportation: The Chicago L train provides access to downtown Chicago from both airports. Trains leave ORD every 15 minutes and the ride is approximately 45 minutes each way. Trains leave MDW every 15 minutes and the ride is approximately 35 minutes each way. Fares are $2.50 one way (except from ORD which is $5.00 one way). The Orange Line L from MDW operates Monday through Friday, 3:30 a.m. to 1:05 a.m., Saturdays from 4:00 a.m. to 1:05 a.m., and Sunday and holidays, 4:30 a.m. to 1:05 a.m.. The Blue Line L from ORD operates 24 hours a day. Additional information about the Chicago L is available at http://www.transitchicago.com.

Directions from ORD to the Palmer House using the Blue Line L:

• At ORD, follow signs for CTA Trains to City.
• Board the Blue Line toward Forest Park. The Blue Line is the only train in operation at ORD.
• Exit at the Monroe/Dearborn stop (this stop is less than one block from the hotel).
• From the Monroe/Dearborn stop, walk east on Monroe Street; the Palmer House will be on the south side of the street.

Directions from MDW to the Palmer House using the Orange Line L:

• At MDW, follow signs for CTA Trains to City.
• Board the Orange Line toward the Loop. The Orange Line is the only train in operation at MDW.
• Exit at the Adams/Wabash stop (this stop is about one block from the hotel).
• Exit the stop and head north on Wabash Avenue; the Palmer House will be on the west side of Wabash Avenue.

Shared Shuttle Service: Go Airport Express provides Shuttle Service between ORD and MDW to most Chicago hotels. Fares from ORD to the Palmer House are about $33 one way, not including gratuity. Fares from MDW to the Palmer House are about $26 one way, not including gratuity. Additional information is available at http://www.airportexpress.com/service_to_from_hotels.

Shared Ride Service: Uber and Lyft offer transportation to and from both airports to the Palmer House Hilton hotel. Rides from ORD to the Palmer House are between $40 to $48 one way, not including gratuity. Rides from MDW to the Palmer House are between $25 to $35 one way, not including gratuity.

Taxi fare: Taxi fare between ORD and the hotel is approximately $35 one way, not including gratuity. Taxi fare between MDW and the hotel is approximately $40 one way, not including gratuity.

Parking: The Palmer House offers self-parking at the hotel for $47 per day as well as self-parking at the 55 East Monroe Garage, for $46 per day. Valet parking is available at the hotel for $84 per day.

Meals and Incidental Expenses Breakdown

The M&IE for Chicago, Cook County, Illinois is $76 per day ($57 on travel days).

Travel Authorization (TA) and Site-Specific Project Code

Completing Your TA: Download the How to Complete Your Travel Authorization document to obtain information on completing your TA.

Entering the NARPM Site-Specific Project Code

For EPA staff traveling to Chicago, Illinois, a site-specific project code will be assigned for the 2019 NARPM Training Program and must be entered or edited on your TA or voucher.

The site-specific project code for the 2019 NARPM Training Program is MM757202.

SF-182

Please visit http://intranet.epa.gov/oarm/Forms.html and search for the form by entering "182" or "training" in the search field.

You may also download the How to Complete your SF-182 for the 2019 NARPM Training Program document to assist you in completing your SF-182. Please note, the instructions and screen captures provided in the document are intended to assist you in completing your SF-182. They are not intended to override individual program or regional office guidance. Please check with your local training coordinator before preparing an SF-182. Some training coordinators may be able to prepare a group SF-182 for your region or program office.

An SF-182 training form must be submitted to your regional training office and approved by the training office prior to travel; so please make sure you have that form submitted to the training office before July 10, 2019 to allow adequate time for approval.