Environmental Response Team (ERT) Training

The National Contingency Plan (NCP) mandates that ERT provide introductory and intermediate training courses to prepare response personnel. ERT meets this mandate through formal and informal training initiatives. 

Formal training programs include:

  • The Environmental Response Training Program, which provides technical and health and safety courses, exercise support, webinars, online courses and the ERTPVU.orgExit website.
  • Training for EPA Regions on ERT-developed tools such as Scribe, Viper and Removal Cost Management System (RCMS).
  • Course development and presentation at EPA training events such as National Association of Remedial Project Managers (NARPM), On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) academies, and the Radiation Task Force Leaders Program.
  • Quality assurance and other training for EPA employees.
  • A List of currently scheduled ERTP training courses can be found on TrainEx Exit.

In addition, individual ERT members provide training through:

  • Hands-on support, setup assistance and training at sites, and exercises and pre-deployments on equipment, health and safety, radiation safety, data management, ERT tools, and other topics.
  • Presentations at EPA meetings such as Regional Response Team meetings and at national and international conferences such as the International Oil Spill Conference.
  • Special topic training with and for EPA’s state, tribal, local and international response partners. Recent examples include uranium mining/milling training with Region 9 and Navajo tribal members and air monitoring training for the Panama Canal Authority.