OSC 2007 Evaluation Report

2007 OSC Readiness Training Program Evaluation Report
complete in a single week at a single location; achieve inter-regional networking among OSCs; and
showcase regional case studies, current tools, and resources available to OSCs.
Overview of Activities
Plenary sessions at the Annual Readiness Training Programs complement the in-depth training that occurs
during the technical courses. The plenary sessions are a forum that presents information about new
policies and guidance relevant to EPA’s National Approach to Response, as well as details about national
and local initiatives. The sessions also are intended to maintain communication between the regions and
EPA’s Headquarters. Daily plenary sessions were held each morning of the 2007 OSC Readiness
Training Program. Some of the topics addressed during the week include the OSC’s role in response,
homeland security, the role of the RSC, protecting the nation’s water infrastructure, Hot Sites, and the
removal manager report.
Thirty-six training courses covering technical, legal, and administrative topics were offered at this year’s
Annual Training Program. The training methodologies used in the courses were varied and included case
studies, lectures, Web-based training, and discussion. Some of courses offered included Advanced
Hazard Identification and Categorization, Assessing Vapor Intrusion from Ground Water and Soil to
Indoor Air, Avian Influenza, Case Studies, Daily Implementation of the Incident Command System
(ICS), Environmental Support Function (ESF)-10 — From No Mission to Mission, How to Be Nice and
Play Well with Others in the Contracts Environment, Knowing and Using the National Contingency Plan,
New and Improved . . . the 2006 SPCC Rule Amendments, People, Relationships, and Interaction within
Incident Management, Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) Response Workshop, Risk and Crisis
Communication, The Rapid Assessment Tools (RAT), Water System Response, and You Mean There is
more than Superfund ... ? Basics of Environmental Statutes. Descriptions of all the courses and copies of
the course materials are provided on the OSC Readiness Training Program Web site at
http://www.oscreadiness.org/2007/.
Working luncheons for participants at the OSC Training Program were sponsored on Monday, February
12, and Wednesday, February 14. These meetings updated participants on homeland security issues that
face EPA and presented issues that confront responders.
The Tech Zone, available Monday through Thursday, featured 26 exhibits, demonstrations, and
informational booths that showcased information of interest to OSCs. The Tech Zone provided an
opportunity for participants to network and learn about new initiatives and resources available to assist
them with their jobs. Descriptions of the Tech Zone exhibits are available on the OSC Readiness
Training Program Web site at http://www.oscreadiness.org/2007/.
Several after-hour activities were planned during the week to bring participants together in informal
settings. Activities included a welcome reception sponsored by the Deauville Beach Resort on Monday
night and the “Gumbo Fest” on Thursday night.
Participants
The more than 446 2 participants at the 2007 OSC Readiness Training Program included OSCs, RSC staff,
EPA regional removal and emergency response support staff, branch chiefs, CICs, RPMs, regional
attorneys, members of the ERT, and 16 representatives from other federal agencies. These additional
agencies included the U.S. Coast Guard, Tennessee Valley Authority, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of the Interior’s
National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,
2 Consultants who helped facilitate the training program are not included in this number.
ES-2