CLU-IN | Training & Events

Training & Events

U.S. EPA Contaminated Site Cleanup Information (CLU-IN)

Training & Events

Upcoming Internet Seminars

December 2020

Seminars Sponsored by the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council

The Training Exchange (Trainex)

Upcoming Internet Seminars

December 2020

January 2021

February 2021

March 2021

April 2021

Seminars Sponsored by the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council

The Training Exchange (Trainex)

CLU-IN's ongoing series of Internet Seminars are free, web-based slide presentations with a companion audio portion. We provide two options for accessing the audio portion of the seminar: by phone line or streaming audio simulcast. More information and registration for all Internet Seminars is available by selecting the individual seminar below. Not able to make one of our live offerings? You may also view archived seminars.

[iCalendar Help]

Local Governments and Superfund Sites - Supporting Redevelopment and Addressing the Superfund Liability Concerns of Local Governments

Local governments can play a critical role in the cleanup, redevelopment, and reuse of contaminated properties. When contamination complicates property acquisition, reuse, or stewardship, local governments can help transform these properties from liabilities into community assets. However, local governments can be reluctant to play an active part in redevelopment efforts due to feeling overwhelmed on how to start or what to do. Also, concerns about potential CERCLA liability at Superfund sites may discourage local governments from this role.

This session will share Superfund Redevelopment Program tools and best practices and highlight real-world case examples where local governments, worked with EPA to facilitate the cleanup, redevelopment, and reuse of contaminated properties in their communities. This session also will explore how Superfund liability protections and EPA's enforcement policies protect local governments during the acquisition, cleanup, redevelopment, and reuse of Superfund sites. Speakers will address EPA's newest policies directly addressing the Superfund liability concerns of local governments. This session will empower local governments by providing specific strategies and tools for local governments to successfully return these blighted properties back to productive use while minimizing their liability risk, including how to attract and form productive partnerships between local governments and developers.

Jan 22, 2021
2:00PM-4:00PM EST
19:00-21:00 GMT

Content Questions?
Call Josie Torres at (434) 233-4184 or jtorres@skeo.com

Technical Problems?
Leave us a comment

Already Registered and Trying to Check In?
Please refer to your email registration confirmation from balent.jean@epa.gov for more information

Already Registered and Trying to Cancel?
Please refer to your email registration confirmation from balent.jean@epa.gov for information on cancelling your registration or cancel online using your registration ID

Bioavailability of Contaminants in Soil: Considerations for Human Health Risk Assessment

Risk-based cleanup goals are often calculated assuming that chemicals present in soil are absorbed by humans as efficiently as the chemicals dosed during the toxicity tests used to determine regulatory toxicity values (such as the Reference Dose or Cancer Slope Factor). This assumption can result in inaccurate exposure estimates and associated risks for some contaminated sites because the amount of a chemical absorbed (the chemical's bioavailability) from contaminated soil can be a fraction of the total amount present. Properly accounting for soil-chemical interactions on the bioavailability of chemicals from soil can lead to more accurate estimates of exposures to soil contaminants and improve risk assessments by decreasing uncertainty.
The basis for this training course is the ITRC guidance: Bioavailability of Contaminants in Soil: Considerations for Human Health Risk Assessment (BCS-1). This guidance describes the general concepts of the bioavailability of contaminants in soil, reviews the state of the science, and discusses how to incorporate bioavailability into the human health risk assessment process. This guidance addresses lead, arsenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) because evaluating bioavailability is better understood for these chemicals than for others, particularly for the incidental ingestion of soil.
The target audience for this guidance and training course are:

Project managers interested in decreasing uncertainty in the risk assessment which may lead to reduced remedial action costs.
Risk assessors new to bioavailability or those who want additional confidence and training in the current methods and common practices for using bioavailability assessment to more accurately determine human health risk at a contaminated site.

As a participant in this training you should learn to:

Value the ITRC document as a "go-to" resource for soil bioavailability
Apply the decision process to determine when a site-specific bioavailability assessment may be appropriate
Use the ITRC Review Checklist to develop or review a risk assessment that includes soil bioavailability
Consider factors that affect arsenic, lead and PAH bioavailability
Select appropriate methods to evaluate soil bioavailability
Use tools to develop site-specific soil bioavailability estimates and incorporate them into human health risk assessment

Learners can envision themselves implementing the ITRC guidance through case study applications. Training participants are encouraged to view the associated ITRC guidance, Bioavailability of Contaminants in Soil: Considerations for Human Health Risk Assessment (BCS-1) prior to attending the class.

Feb 9, 2021
1:00PM-3:15PM EST
18:00-20:15 GMT

Content Questions?
Call ITRC Training Program at 202-266-4932 or training@itrcweb.org

Technical Problems?
Leave us a comment

Already Registered and Trying to Check In?
Please refer to your email registration confirmation from training@itrcweb.org for more information

Already Registered and Trying to Cancel?
Please refer to your email registration confirmation from training@itrcweb.org for information on cancelling your registration or cancel online using your registration ID

Characterization and Remediation of Fractured Rock

Characterization and remediation of contaminated groundwater in fractured rock has not been conducted or studied as broadly as groundwater at unconsolidated porous media sites. This unfamiliarity and lack of experience can make fractured rock sites perplexing. This situation is especially true in portions of the U.S. where bedrock aquifers are a primary source of drinking and process water, and demands on water are increasing. As a result, remedial activities often default to containment of contaminant plumes, point of use treatment and long-term monitoring rather than active reduction of risk. However, this attitude does not incorporate recent advances in the science and technology of fractured rock site characterization and remediation.
The basis for this training course is the ITRC guidance: Characterization and Remediation of Fractured Rock. The purpose of this guidance is to dispel the belief that fractured rock sites are too complex to characterize and remediate. The physical, chemical and contaminant transport concepts in fractured rock have similarities to unconsolidated porous media, yet there are important differences. These differences are the focus of this guidance.

By participating in this training class, you should learn to:

Use ITRC's Fractured Rock Document to guide your decision making so you can:

Develop quality Conceptual Site Models (CSMs) for fractured rock sites
Set realistic remedial objectives
Select the best remedial options
Monitor remedial progress and assess results

Value an interdisciplinary site team approach to bring collective expertise to improve decision making and to have confidence when going beyond containment and monitoring - - to actually remediating fractured rock sites.

Case studies of successful fractured rock remediation are presented to provide examples of how fractured rock sites can be evaluated and available tools applied to characterization and remediation.
Training participants are encouraged to view the associated ITRC guidance, Characterization and Remediation of Fractured Rock prior to attending the class.

Dec 10, 2020
1:00PM-3:15PM EST
18:00-20:15 GMT

ITRC Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM-2) Update Training Modules

The newly updated Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM) training is a series of six modules providing an overview of ISM and presenting five sections from the ITRC guidance document (ISM-2, 2020):

Overview (Sect 1)
Heterogeneity (Sect 2)
Statistics (Sect 3.2), Data Use Planning (Sect 3.3), and Data Quality Evaluation (Sect 6)
Field Sampling Collection (Sect 4)
Lab Preparation (Sect 5)
Risk Assessment (Sect 8)

After this series, you should understand:

Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM) is a statistically supported technique for assessing the unbiased mean contaminant concentration in soil, sediment, and other solid media which can afford an economy of effort and resources in your
How the ISM structured composite sampling and processing protocol reduces data variability and provides for representative samples of specific soil volumes by collecting numerous increments of soil (typically, 30 to 100 increments) that are combined, processed, and subsampled according to specific protocols.
The key principles regarding heterogeneous soil sampling errors and how ISM reduces those errors to have more confidence in sampling results.
How to use the new ITRC Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM-2) guidance document to learn the principles and approaches of the methodology to improve representative, reproducible, and defensible data to improve decision-making at your sites.

For regulators and other government agency staff, this improved understanding can hopefully be incorporated into your own programs. ISM is finding increased use in the field, as well as acceptance and endorsement by an increasing number of state and federal regulatory organizations. Proponents have found that the sampling density afforded by collecting many increments, together with the disciplined processing and subsampling of the combined increments, in most cases yields more consistent and reproducible results than those obtained by more traditional discrete sampling approaches.

Prior to attending the training class, participants are encouraged to view the associated ITRC guidance, Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM-2). Additionally, for participants in a more detailed instruction to ISM, please view the ITRC Soil Sampling and Decision Making Using Incremental Sampling Methodology 2-Part Training Series.

Jan 26, 2021
1:00PM-3:15PM EDT
18:00-20:15 GMT

Content Questions?
Call the ITRC Training Program at 202-266-4932 or training@itrcweb.org

Technical Problems?
Leave us a comment

Already Registered and Trying to Check In?
Please refer to your email registration confirmation from training@itrcweb.org for more information

Already Registered and Trying to Cancel?
Please refer to your email registration confirmation from training@itrcweb.org for information on cancelling your registration or cancel online using your registration ID

Connecting the Science to Managing LNAPL Sites a 3 Part Series

Connecting the Science to Managing LNAPL Sites - 3-Part Series

The newly updated LNAPLs (Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids) 3-part training course series is based on the ITRC guidance: LNAPL Site Management: LCSM Evolution, Decision Process, and Remedial Technologies (LNAPL-3, 2018) and focuses on connecting the science to managing LNAPL sites and helping you:

Build upon your Understanding of LNAPL Behavior in the Subsurface (Part 1)
Develop your LNAPL Conceptual Site Model and LNAPL Remedial Goals (Part 2)
Select/Implement LNAPL Technologies (Part 3)

After this training series, the expectation is that you will have the skills and understanding to use ITRC science-based resources to improve decision making at your LNAPL sites. For regulators and other government agency staff, this improved understanding can hopefully be incorporated into your own LNAPL programs.

It is recommended that participants have a general understanding of hydrogeology and some familiarity with petroleum contaminated sites. The courses will build on your existing LNAPL knowledge and outline the framework for making LNAPL remediation and management decisions. It is expected that participants will attend this 3-part training series in sequence.

LNAPL Training Part 1: Understanding LNAPL Behavior in the Subsurface
Part 1 teaches how LNAPLs behave in the subsurface and examines what controls their behavior. Part 1:

Explains what LNAPL data can tell you about the LNAPL and site conditions
Covers how that information is applied to the development of an LNAPL conceptual site model (LCSM) (Part 2) and LNAPL technology selection (Part 3)

Relevant and practical examples are used to illustrate key concepts.

LNAPL Training Part 2: LNAPL Conceptual Site Models and the LNAPL Decision Process
Part 2 teaches participants how to develop an LNAPL conceptual site model (LCSM) and the overall framework for making LNAPL remediation and management decisions. Part 2:

Discusses key LNAPL and site data
Explains when and why those data may be important
Covers how to effectively organize the data into an LCSM

Part 2 also discusses how to address LNAPL concerns by selecting appropriate goals and objectives, choosing applicable technologies, and assigning remedial performance metrics and endpoints.

LNAPL Training Part 3: Using LNAPL Science, the LCSM, and LNAPL Goals to Select an LNAPL Remedial Technology
Part 3 of the training teaches the importance of informed remedial technology selection and appropriate technology application. Part 3:

Discusses remedial technology groups
Introduces specific and new remedial technologies
Reviews the technology selection process, how technologies can be combined to accelerate cleanup, and how the LCSM informs selection

A case study and examples demonstrate the use of these tools for remedial technology selection, implementation, and demonstration of successful remediation.
Training participants are encouraged to view the associated ITRC guidance, LNAPL Site Management: LCSM Evolution, Decision Process, and Remedial Technologies (LNAPL-3, 2018), prior to attending the class.

Part 1:
Feb 11, 2021
1:00PM-3:15PM EST
18:00-20:15 GMT

Part 2:
Feb 18, 2021
1:00PM-3:15PM EST
18:00-20:15 GMT

Part 3:
Mar 9, 2021
1:00PM-3:15PM EST
18:00-20:15 GMT

Optimizing Injection Strategies and In situ Remediation Performance

In situ remediation technologies using amendment injections have advanced to mainstream acceptance and offer a competitive advantage over many forms of ex situ treatment of soil and groundwater. Developing a detailed site-specific strategy is absolutely critical to the success of such in situ remedies. These strategies include conducting a thorough site characterization that will allow development of a detailed Conceptual Site Model (CSM) to guide critical analysis of subsurface features and improving remediation effectiveness. In the interest of developing expedited solutions, many past in situ remediation projects have been executed based on an incomplete understanding of the hydrogeology, geology, and contaminant distribution and mass. Some of these sites have undergone multiple rounds of in situ injections but have not advanced to closure. Better strategies and minimum design standards are required to decrease uncertainty and improve remedy effectiveness.

In an effort to overcome these challenges and improve the effectiveness of in situ remediation using injected amendments, ITRC developed the guidance: Optimizing Injection Strategies and In Situ Remediation Performance (OIS-ISRP-1). The guidance and this associated training course identify challenges that may impede or limit remedy effectiveness and discuss the potential optimization strategies, and specific actions that can be pursued, to improve the performance of in situ remediation by:

Refining and evaluating remedial design site characterization data;
Selecting the correct amendment;
Choosing delivery methods for site-specific conditions;
Creating design specifications;
Conducting performance evaluations, and
Optimizing underperforming in situ remedies.

The target audience for this guidance and training course is: environmental consultants, responsible parties, federal and state regulators, as well as community and tribal stakeholders. This training will support users in efficiently and confidently applying the guidance at their remediation sites. An optimization case study is shared to illustrate the use of the associated guidance document.

Prior to attending the training class, participants are encouraged to view the associated ITRC guidance, Optimizing Injection Strategies and In Situ Remediation Performance (OIS-ISRP-1) as well as to be familiar with the characterization process described in Integrated DNAPL Site Strategy (ITRC 2011c).

Feb 16, 2021
1:00PM-3:15PM EST
18:00-20:15 GMT

Remediation Management of Complex Sites

At some sites, complex site-specific conditions make it difficult to fully remediate environmental contamination. Both technical and nontechnical challenges can impede remediation and may prevent a site from achieving federal- and state-mandated regulatory cleanup goals within a reasonable time frame. For example, technical challenges may include geologic, hydrogeologic, geochemical, and contaminant-related conditions as well as large-scale or surface conditions. In addition, nontechnical challenges may also play a role such as managing changes that occur over long time frames, overlapping regulatory and financial responsibilities between agencies, setting achievable site objectives, maintaining effective institutional controls, redevelopment and changes in land use, and funding considerations.
This training course and associated ITRC guidance: Remediation Management of Complex Sites (RMCS-1, 2017), provide a recommended holistic process for management of challenging sites, termed "adaptive site management." This process is a comprehensive, flexible, and iterative process that is well-suited for sites where there is significant uncertainty in remedy performance predictions. Adaptive site management includes the establishment of interim objectives and long-term site objectives that consider both technical and nontechnical challenges. Periodic adjustment of the remedial approach may involve multiple technologies at any one time and changes in technologies over time. Comprehensive planning and scheduled evaluations of remedy performance help decision makers track remedy progress and improve the timeliness of remedy optimization, reevaluations, or transition to other technologies/contingency actions.
By participating in this training course we expect you will learn to apply the ITRC guidance document to:

Identify and integrate technical and nontechnical challenges into a holistic approach to remediation
Use the Remediation Potential Assessment to identify whether adaptive site management is warranted due to site complexity
Understand and apply adaptive site management principles
Develop a long-term performance-based action plan
Apply well-demonstrated techniques for effective stakeholder engagement
Access additional resources, tools, and case studies most relevant for complex sites
Communicate the value of the guidance to regulators, practitioners, community members, and others

Ultimately, using the guidance that can lead to better decision making and remediation management at complex sites. The guidance is intended to benefit a variety of site decision makers, including regulators, responsible parties and their consultants, and public and tribal stakeholders.
Case studies are used to describe real-world applications of remediation and remediation management at complex sites. Training participants are encouraged to view the associated ITRC guidance Remediation Management of Complex Sites (RMCS-1, 2017) prior to attending the class.

Jan 21, 2021
1:00PM-3:15PM EST
18:00-20:15 GMT

TPH Risk Evaluation at Petroleum-Contaminated Sites

Remediation at petroleum release sites is often infeasible for technical or cost reasons. Many of these sites could be depleted in typical indicator compounds, such as BTEXN, but still heavily contaminated in terms of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH). The traditional indicator compound approach for managing petroleum contaminants may not fully identify short- and long-term potential environmental concerns, can create delays in project schedules and cost overages for sub-surface utility work or redevelopment. It is important to consider a comprehensive cumulative risk-based approach to more effectively incorporate TPH data in addition to traditional BTEXN data for cleanup and long-term management decisions.

The basis for this training course is the ITRC guidance: TPH Risk Evaluation at Petroleum-Contaminated Sites (TPHRisk-1, 2018). The guidance builds on long-standing and current research and experience, and presents the current science for evaluating TPH risk at petroleum-contaminated sites. The methods and procedures to evaluate human and ecological risk and establish cleanup requirements in the various media at petroleum release sites will assist decision makers in developing and implementing a technically defensible approach. In addition, the guidance provides information and supplemental references to assist practitioners and project managers in the assessment of fate, transport, exposure, and toxicity of TPH. The guidance users will also gain information that may be used in conjunction with classic tiered approaches for risk-based decision making (ASTM 2015b, ITRC Risk 3 2015), including modifications in the assessment and remedial-decision and regulatory framework for TPH impacts through direct comparison to screening levels, site-specific modification of screening levels, and complete site-specific risk assessment for sources, receptors, and pathways, where appropriate.

The target audience for this guidance and training course is:

Regulators and Program Managers interested in knowing how site management decisions can influence the TPH risk evaluation process.
Risk assessors new to TPH data or those who want additional knowledge and training in the current methods and common practices for collecting and using TPH data in assessments to more accurately determine human health and/or ecological risks at petroleum-contaminated sites.
Stakeholders who are either engaged in redevelopment at former petroleum release sites or folks who are involved in community engagement and revitalization activities.

As a participant in this training you should learn to:

Recognize the ITRC document as a go-to resource for evaluating TPH risk at petroleum-contaminated sites
Recognize how TPH -impacted media interacts with the environment and changes over time
Select appropriate analytic method(s) to match site objectives
Apply the decision framework to determine when a site-specific target level may be more appropriate than a generic screening level for TPH

Training participants are encouraged to view the associated ITRC guidance, TPH Risk Evaluation at Petroleum-Contaminated Sites (TPHRisk-1, 2018) prior to attending the class.

Dec 8, 2020
1:00PM-3:15PM EST
18:00-20:15 GMT

Content Questions?
Call ITRC Training Program at 202-849-4982 or training@itrcweb.org

Technical Problems?
Leave us a comment

Already Registered and Trying to Check In?
Please refer to your email registration confirmation from training@itrcweb.org for more information

Already Registered and Trying to Cancel?
Please refer to your email registration confirmation from training@itrcweb.org for information on cancelling your registration or cancel online using your registration ID

Issues and Options in Human Health Risk Assessment - A Resource When Alternatives to Default Parameters and Scenarios are Proposed

Many state and local regulatory agencies responsible for the cleanup of chemicals released to the environment have adopted regulations, guidance and policies that define default approaches, scenarios, and parameters as a starting point for risk assessment and the development of risk-based screening values. Regulatory project managers and decision makers, however, may not have specific guidance when alternative approaches, scenarios, and parameters are proposed for site-specific risk assessments, and are faced with difficult technical issues when evaluating these site-specific risk assessments. This ITRC web-based document is a resource for project managers and decision makers to help evaluate alternatives to risk assessment default approaches, scenarios and parameters.

ITRC's Decision Making at Contaminated Sites: Issues and Options in Human Health Risk Assessment (RISK-3, 2015) guidance document is different from existing ITRC Risk Assessment guidance and other state and federal resources because it identifies commonly encountered issues and discusses options in risk assessment when applying site-specific alternatives to defaults. In addition, the document includes links to resources and tools that provide even more detailed information on the specific issues and potential options. The ITRC Risk Assessment Team believes that state regulatory agencies and other organizations can use the RISK-3 document as a resource or reference to supplement their existing guidance. Community members and other stakeholders also may find this document helpful in understanding and using risk assessment information.

After participating in this ITRC training course, the learner will be able to apply ITRC's Decision Making at Contaminated Sites: Issues and Options in Human Health Risk (RISK-3, 2015) document when developing or reviewing site-specific risk assessments by:

Identifying common issues encountered when alternatives to default parameters and scenarios are proposed during the planning, data evaluation, toxicity, exposure assessment, and risk characterization and providing possible options for addressing these issues
Recognizing the value of proper planning and the role of stakeholders in the development and review of risk assessments
Providing information (that includes links to additional resources and tools) to support decision making when alternatives to default approaches, scenarios and parameters are proposed

ITRC offers additional documents and training on risk management. ITRC's Use of Risk Assessment in Management of Contaminated Sites (RISK-2, 2008) and associated Internet-based training archive highlight variation of risk-based site management and describes how to improve the use of risk assessment for making better risk management decisions. ITRC's Examination of Risk-Based Screening Values and Approaches of Selected States (RISK-1, 2005) and associated Internet-based training archive focus on the process by which risk-based levels are derived in different states.

Jan 28, 2021
1:00PM-3:15PM EST
18:00-20:15 GMT

The Training Exchange website (Trainex) is designed to provide a wide range of training information to EPA, other federal agency, state, tribal, and local staff involved in hazardous waste management and remediation. Trainex focuses on free training directed to federal and state staff. This site includes training schedules for deliveries of many courses, both classroom and Internet-based.

EPA works in partnership with organizations, such as the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC), and other agencies, such as the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), to offer training relevant to hazardous waste remediation, site characterization, risk assessment, emergency response, site/incident management, counter-terrorism, and the community's role in site management and cleanup.

Visit Trainex

Current Training: By Course Title

Current Classroom Training

OLEM Training Coordination Team

Top of Page

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21 ITRC Remediation Management of Comp... Remediation Management of Complex Sites	22 Local Governments and Superfund Sit...	23
24	25	26 ITRC ITRC Incremental Sampling Meth... ITRC Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM-2) Update Training Modules	27	28 ITRC Issues and Options in Human He... Issues and Options in Human Health Risk Assessment - A Resource When Alternatives to Default Parameters and Scenarios are Proposed	29	30
31

8
ITRC TPH Risk Evaluation at Petrole...

TPH Risk Evaluation at Petroleum-Contaminated Sites

10
ITRC Characterization and Remediati...

Characterization and Remediation of Fractured Rock