**Note - This course is now offered exclusively using live stream remote attendance. You will need a computer and an internet connection. If you would like more information or have any questions, please contact us via email or phone 425 270 3274.  

Contaminated sediment poses difficult assessment and remediation challenges but recent improvements in methodologies offer much promise. New assessment methods and improved remediation technologies that directly address contaminant mobility and bioavailability have enhanced our ability to effectively manage sediments. Advantages include reduced cost and improved effectiveness over conventional methods.

 In this two-day class, we will address both conventional and emerging technologies for remediating contaminated sediments including removal followed by treatment and disposal; in situ isolation of the sediments from the environment by covering the sediment with neutral materials (i.e., passive capping); active capping technologies, and monitored natural recovery, which involves monitoring processes that isolate, degrade, transform, and immobilize sediment contaminants under natural conditions. The course will address solutions to contaminants in both marine and freshwater sediments including the effects of remediation on the benthic environment. Emerging technologies that address contaminant toxicity, biogeochemistry and transport mechanisms will also be highlighted.

 The class will incorporate new approaches for including bioavailability in risk assessments and the evaluation of remedial effectiveness. Bioavailability controls the transfer of contaminants from sediments to ecological receptors and humans and can rarely be predicted from total contaminant concentrations alone. Successful evaluation of bioavailability involves the selection of analytical methods that are suitable for the organisms and sediment environments under consideration and often involves a weight-of-evidence that incorporates multiple lines of evidence.

 Although problems remain, contaminated sediment management/remediation is improving due to the control and elimination of contaminant sources, development of new remedial technologies, and selection of analytical methods to evaluate metal bioavailability.

After completing this class, participants will be able to:

• Distinguish sources and types of contaminants at the sites
• Determine fate and transport of contaminants
• Understand current remediation strategies and new approaches
• Identify remediation effectiveness: defining, monitoring, and demonstrating success
• Apply chemical/toxicological/biological measurements to characterize the site before/after the remediation
• Understand the selection of remedial technology
• Determine bioavailability of contaminants before and after remediation actions
• Understand the method of remedial technology deployment
• Apply novel, improved tools and techniques for site-specific assessment of contaminant before/after remedial

 CEC's: 13 Technical CEC's

*Reduced tuition is available for Native American tribes, government employees, nonprofits, students and AFS, NAEP, NEBC, TAEP members.

You may register online or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at (425) 270-3274. Online registration is strongly encouraged.

Please wait to receive a course confirmation email, roughly one month prior to the class, before making any travel arrangements.

In this 3-day course, attendees will learn and review both the technical and regulatory approaches to completing ecological risk assessments. Participants will come away with an understanding of the planning and preparation process for the completion of an ERA, including data development needs, selection of endpoints, and the development of lines of evidence. Understanding the topics covered will give attendees the ability to accurately assess the potential for ecological risk, which is paramount to the remedial decision-making process. In today’s environmental project planning, this can make the difference between the success or failure of a recommended action or approach.

During the course, attendees will examine the development of ERAs in both aquatic and terrestrial settings, and will receive a broad overview of the ecological risk assessment (ERA) process as it is used in evaluating potential environmental risks and liabilities associated with hazardous waste sites. Emphasis will be placed on providing a hands-on understanding of ecological risk assessment using the basic ERA paradigm as outlined in USEPA’s Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (ERAGS). Case studies and active engagement with the attendees will be used to reinforce the points presented in lecture.

Please wait to receive a course confirmation email, roughly one month prior to the class, before making any travel arrangements.

Electrofishing is an effective way to sample freshwater fish populations. However, electrofishing may cause fish injury or mortality. Proper balance between efficient sampling and minimal harm is achieved through the knowledge of electrofishing principles and proper use of the techniques and equipment available.

This unique four-day course will cover the principles and practices for both boat and backpack electrofishing through two classroom days and two field days. Days 1 and 4 will be spent in the classroom, and days 2 and 3 will be spent in the field, during which the concepts discussed in class will be demonstrated and practiced by attendees. 

During the Backpack field trip, the class will visit a stream/river/creek and each attendee will operate the equipment under the guidance of the instructor.

During the Boat portion of the course, the class will be taken on an electrofishing equipped craft, and each person will have the opportunity to practice using the boat-based electrofishing system.

These two days of field exercises provide attendees with real-world experience applying the concepts discussed in the classroom. The combination of classroom lecture, field demonstration, and participation exercises gives attendees the knowledge and basic experience they will need to safely and effectively electrofish.

Boat-Backpack Electrofishing: Principles and Practices is intended to meet the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) training requirements for electrofishing field staff. The NMFS guidance and training requirements document may be downloaded here.

You may register online or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at 435-270-3274.

Please wait to receive a course confirmation email, roughly one month prior to the class, before making any non-refundable travel arrangements.

Reduced tuition is available for Native American tribes, government employees, nonprofits, students and AFS, NAEP, NEBC, TAEP members.

**Note - For every course we have implemented live stream remote attendance options for those who prefer a no-contact alternative to in-person attendance.  You will need a computer and an internet connection.  We will follow the maximum in-person meeting size as per health authorities and if recommended we will only offer remote attendance.

If conditions permit, you are welcome to attend the course in-person, we likely will have between 5 to 10 in-person attendee's in a large room to provide safe spacing.  We also wipe every surface down and provide hand washing and disinfectant wipes as a courtesy.  If you would like more information or have any questions, please contact us via email or phone 425 270 3274.

Whether you work for an agency of the Federal Government or the State of California or local agency in California, seek a permit, grant, or approval from one of these agencies, or are otherwise interested in government decision-making, you need to know about NEPA and CEQA. This workshop is designed to serve both as a comprehensive introduction for those new to these statutes and an update for more experienced professionals.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is perhaps the best-known of our Nation's environmental laws. It applies whenever federal agencies propose to take action or when they propose to fund or approve the actions of others, if environmental impacts are likely to result. NEPA opened federal agency decision-making to the public, and promotes decisions with more environmentally responsible values. The procedures and documents required by NEPA may at times form the only administrative record of federal decision-making.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) parallels NEPA for State and local agency actions. It is a system of environmental review that requires agencies considering project approval to take action to protect California's environment. It applies to any project requiring State or local agency action that may have a significant effect on the environment, whether on State, local agency, or private lands.

The success or failure of many actions in California will depend on compliance with NEPA and CEQA. Using models and case studies and a sample NEPA/CEQA document, this workshop will help you understand the procedural requirements of the NEPA/CEQA process, including how to determine when these processes apply, deciding which documents to prepare, determining the scope and content of NEPA/CEQA documents, preparing an adequate cumulative impacts analysis, and integration of NEPA and CEQA with other laws. 

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Determine whether a NEPA / CEQA process is necessary

• Determine which process to follow: Categorical Exclusion, Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact / Negative Declaration (or Mitigated Negative Declaration), or Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Impact Report

• Integrate NEPA and CEQA in a joint process

• Study, develop, and describe appropriate alternatives

• Complete an adequate cumulative impacts assessment

• Prepare an Administrative Record to support agency decisions

This course provides environmental professionals with an understanding of generating defensible environmental analytical data from the planning stage, through the field and laboratory phase, to final reporting. The course covers proper project planning considerations (What is a “representative” sample?), choosing the right analytical methods, and hands-on sampling exercises collecting water and soil samples. Students will also learn methods and how to operate some common field screening instruments.

The focus will be on learning how to be an “educated consumer” of environmental laboratory data, with an overview of common environmental methods and lab instrumentation. Topics will include understanding the EPA Data Quality Objectives process, how quality assurance/quality control samples affect your results (data usability assessments), chain of custody protocol, and knowing and controlling sources of error. Case studies from successful criminal cases will provide examples for discussion.

Intended Audience:  Junior to mid-level environmental professionals involved with site investigation and remediation who collect, screen, or interpret environmental analytical data. Some college level chemistry is helpful but not required.

Course Materials:  Attendees will receive a binder containing workshop proceedings and reference material.

Continuing Education Units:  1.3 CEUs

Registration:  $545/$470* 
(*reduced tuition for employees of Native American tribes, government agencies, and nonprofits; students; and NAEP, NEBC, NWAEP members).

You may register online or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at (425) 270-3274. Online registration is strongly encouraged.

 

This two and a half day course discusses the core elements of the EPA's first major revision to its groundwater statistical guidance in almost 20 years. Presented by the primary author of the revision, this course will showcase new features of the guidance, as well as recommended changes to current statistical practice. In addition to reviewing the design and evaluation of statistical programs for groundwater monitoring, participants will also learn the benefits of checking their assumptions in order to run the most effective statistical tests.

California Department of Public Health, CDPH, Approved for contact hours

Please wait to receive a course confirmation email, roughly one month prior to the class, before making any non-refundable travel arrangements.

Reduced tuition is available to employees of Native American tribes, government agencies, nonprofits, students and NAEP, NEBC, NWAEP members. You may register online or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at 425-270-3274.

Stormwater pollution from both point and non-point sources pose serious ecological, economic and social risks. Stringent regulations regarding pollution sources help reduce these risks. This course provides an overview of California's stormwater regulations, including the General Industrial Stormwater Permit, the General Construction Stormwater Permit, Phase I and II municipal permitting, and programs addressing non-point source pollution. The course will also address the federal regulation of point and non-point pollution. The history and origin of each of the permits will be discussed, and the basic requirements of each permit will be outlined.

Intended Audience: This course is designed for professionals seeking a greater understanding of California stormwater regulations and permitting. Those encouraged to attend are consultants, business owners, regulators, environmental activists and attorneys.

Level: Introductory/Review

Course Materials: Participants will receive course proceedings, and reference materials.

Registration:
*Reduced tuition is available for Native American tribes; government employees; nonprofits; students; NAEP members. You may register online or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at (425) 270-3274.

This training course presents principles and practical skills for conducting subsurface Environmental Assessments, with a focus on soil and groundwater contamination (and separate phase contaminants, if suspected or present). This course will review the process of Environmental Assessments conducted to determine whether suspected contamination is present. If a contaminant is present in sufficient quantity to be reportable and/or warrant further investigation (often referred to as a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment) and conducting assessment and delineation of a known release for submittal to an environmental regulatory agency. The class will provide a full spectrum of skills and knowledge to understand and execute a successful assessment.

Intended Audience: This course is intended for engineers, geologists, scientists and others conducting or needing to conduct or interpret Environmental Assessments. Environmental regulatory agency staff (federal, state and local), decision makers, consultants, environmental organization staff, attorneys, and interested citizens affected by or interested in Environmental Assessments will also benefit from the course.

Course Materials: Each participant will receive a copy of the course proceedings including notes and reference materials on the first day of the course.

Continuing Education Units: 1.3 CEU's

Registration: $395
You may register via the link below or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at (425) 270-3274

Please wait to receive a course confirmation email, roughly one month prior to the class, before making any travel arrangements.
 

**Note - For every course we have implemented live stream remote attendance options for those who prefer a no-contact alternative to in-person attendance.  You will need a computer and an internet connection.  We will follow the maximum in-person meeting size as per health authorities and if recommended we will only offer remote attendance.

If conditions permit, you are welcome to attend the course in-person, we likely will have between 5 to 10 in-person attendee's in a large room to provide safe spacing.  We also wipe every surface down and provide hand washing and disinfectant wipes as a courtesy.  If you would like more information or have any questions, please contact us via email or phone 425 270 3274.

This course will take a multidisciplinary approach to fish passage design development processes, focusing on practices established in the Pacific Northwest over the last 30 years. Emphasis will be placed on fish behavior and its role in site selection and other fishway features. In addition, this course will cover the need for fishways, the obstacles posing an impediment to their construction, and the different types of “exclusion barriers” (barriers designed for management purposes) that are currently being used. Different types of fish ladders, lifts, and locks will be described with discussion of features and design criteria. Participants will benefit from a fishway design exercise, paired with a discussion of common operation and maintenance challenges. General graphics and facility photos will augment discussions.

Course includes touring nearby fish passage facilities and, in some cases, sampling fish processed by facilities. This tour allows for fishways and design principles covered in class to be observed in full operation, including a trap where salmon are being diverted into sample facilities for processing by local biologists.

Intended Audience: This class is tailored for engineers, biologists, managers, and those interested in fish passage.

Course Materials: Attendees will receive a binder containing workshop proceedings and reference material.

Continuing Education Units: 1.3 CEUs

*Reduced tuition is available to employees of Native American tribes, government agencies, and nonprofits; students; and NAEP members.

If you have any difficulties or questions regarding registration please call 425-270-3274

Please wait to receive a course confirmation email, roughly one month prior to the class, before making any travel arrangements.