Online Environmental Training | EPA Institute

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

Course Description

CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) is a law designed to remediate contamination from hazardous waste disposals that may endanger public health and the environment. This two hour course provides students with a basic understanding of many of the major provisions of CERCLA that are currently in place including: release reporting requirements in CERCLA Section 103 and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) sections 302-312. Participants are provided with a basic understanding of CERCLA, and an in-depth review of the Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study (RI/FS) process as it applies to DOE’s environmental restoration program. In addition, this course presents the regulatory process governing site assessment and remediation and takes an in-depth look at federal, state and local programs dealing with the regulatory framework, governing Superfund. Topics include: Superfund program; cleanup and abatement orders; release reporting; the National Contingency Plan (NCP); the administrative record; and the hazard ranking system.

How You Will Benefit

  • Identify characteristics of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA),
  • Understand the hazardous terminology, National Priority List (NPL), remedial phase and liability provision.
  • Learn about the three types of response activities defined under CERCLA; removal, remedial, and enforcement programs
  • Develop a broad conceptual model of the site which includes, but is not limited to, identifying potential exposure concerns, the information necessary for an evaluation, and stakeholders concerns.
  • Develop conclusions regarding preventing or reducing exposure; the likelihood of adverse health effects; the degree of public health hazard posed by the site; critical data gaps; and need for health education, exposure investigations.
  • Understand the process of CERLA enforcement, and enforcement Audit.
  • Understand the key provisions of CERCLA and SARA.

An Introduction to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Course Description
This two (2) hour course is designed to provide each student with an overview of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) as it exists today. This RCRA hazardous waste course addresses regulations important to waste generators including identifying hazardous waste, determining generator status, complying with accumulation requirements, manifesting waste off site, land disposal restrictions treatment standards and special regulations for recyclables, used oil, military munitions, and universal waste. This course also moves further into a discussion on the regulations pertaining to treatment, storage, and disposal facilities such as the permitting process; treatment, storage, and disposal facility standards, as well as RCRA corrective action requirements.

The Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA) as it applies to the generation, transportation and disposal of hazardous waste is also presented; including RCRA waste classification, land disposal restrictions, generator requirements, manifesting requirements, and DOT requirements such as proper shipping names, packaging, labeling, marking, and placarding.

How You Will Benefit

Upon completion of this course, each student will have the capacity to:

  • Fully understand RCRA, including major components and why it is required.
  • Understand the relationship between RCRA and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
  • Recognize that proper hazardous waste management is required by federal and state regulations.
  • Know the key programs and provisions of RCRA.
  • Determine if waste is hazardous and, if so, in what respect.
  • Understand the unique characteristics of various waste types.