This 2.5-day course provides participants with the fundamentals of risk assessment as applied to the Superfund cleanup process. This course is designed to present an introduction to the Superfund risk assessment process to Project Managers, On-Scene Coordinators, Risk Assessment Reviewers, and potentially new Risk Assessors working at hazardous waste sites or treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. The course assumes little experience with toxicology and risk assessment or knowledge regarding Superfund risk assessment guidance.
The course is based on the following EPA documents:
- Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS): Volume I - Human Health Evaluation Manual (Parts A, B, C, and D) (The student is also introduced to RAGS Parts E and F)
- Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund: Process for Designing and Conducting Ecological Risk Assessments - Interim Final
- Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment
The risk assessment process is presented in an introductory format. The overall goal of the course is for the student to have a good understanding of the risk assessment guidance associated with Superfund. This course consists of 2 days of primarily human health risk assessment instruction and 0.5 days of ecological risk assessment instruction.
Topics include baseline risk assessment, preliminary remediation goals; applicable statutes, regulations, and guidance; data collection and evaluation; exposure assessment; toxicity assessment; risk characterization; principles of ecological assessment; ecological risk assessment guidance for Superfund; and ecological data collection methods. Current technical and information resources will also be discussed.
Instructional methods include lectures, videos, class discussions, and group exercises.
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe risk assessment and risk management.
- Identify the applicable statutes, regulations, and guidance pertinent to human health and ecological risk assessments under Superfund.
- Describe each of the four steps of the risk assessment paradigm.
- Describe the eight step process for ecological risk assessment.
- Identify and describe similarities and differences between human and ecological risk assessments.
- Identify and describe some of the data collection methods specific to ecological risk assessments.
- Review and have a better understanding of Superfund risk assessments.
If you want a copy of the guidance for reference during class, you may download the following documents from the EPA website:
Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS): Part A | US EPA (Human Health Evaluation Manual Volume I (RAGS) Parts A, B, C, D; Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund).
Continuing Education Units: 1.7
ABIH has previously awarded CM credit for this event. The current event contains 17 hours which can be claimed from ABIH for CM credit.
THIS COURSE IS NOT OPEN TO CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS, OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITIES.
*This course is offered free of charge to all registrants who are confirmed to attend.*
Note: It is not necessary to have copies of these documents for the course. Display copies are available for review during the course.