Soil Evaluator Course, Day 1, Presentation 1-3/27/2018 TITLE 5 SOIL EVALUATOR CERTIFICATION TRAINING

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1 TITLE 5 SOIL EVALUATOR CERTIFICATION TRAINING GENERAL CLASS INFO, PLUS CERTIFICATION & RENEWAL OVERVIEW PAUL SPINA, NEIWPCC Prepared for: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection In conjunction with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission NEW ENGLAND INTERSTATE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION (NEIWPCC) Established in 1947 by Act of Congress Jurisdiction: CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI & VT Quasi-government, non-regulatory 501(c)(3) Three main divisions: - Water Quality - Water Resource Protection - Wastewater and Onsite Programs Just celebrated 70 years! NEIWPCC MISSION NEIWPCC works for clean water by helping our member states Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont meet their water-related needs. NEIWPCC coordinates forums and events that encourage cooperation among the states, develops resources that foster progress on water and wastewater issues, represents the region in matters of federal policy, trains environmental professionals, initiates and oversees scientific research, educates the public, and provides overall leadership in water management and protection. General Class Info, Certification, & Renewal, page 1

2 BACKGROUND MassDEP Training Center closed in 2005 Ongoing need for Title 5 training & certification for System Inspectors (SI) and Soil Evaluators (SE) Renewal component added in 2006 MassDEP contracted with NEIWPCC to administer Title 5 Certification Training and Renewal programs Zero $ contract self-sustaining program, with 5-year contracts and oversight by MassDEP RECENT ACTIVITIES January 2014 Title 5 updates added new criteria for SE certification min. of 15 semester credits of soil science courses Both SE and SI course presentations overhauled w/massdep and UMass instructors Both SE and SI course manuals updated BIG demand for SE class. 2nd class added in 2015, 2016 and now 2017 UMass-Amherst brought in as lead SE course instructor in 2014 Revised classroom exam questions (winter/spring 2018) Based on student/attendee input over the years, this course has evolved in to the 8 week class that it is today (i.e., less sessions in the past) General Class Info, Certification, & Renewal, page 2

3 GENERAL SOIL EVALUATOR COURSE INFO AND LOGISTICS Instructors & Presenters Paul Blain (MassDEP-retired) Bruce Bouck (MassDEP) Claire Golden (MassDEP) Steve Mabee (UMass-Amherst) Paul Spina (NEIWPCC) Mickey Spokas (UMass-Amherst) Additional instructors will join us for the field sessions Lecture/Classroom Sessions Overview Emergency Operations Center, Acton, MA 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (end time is approximate) Lectures, hands on exercises, group activities Lunch approx. 1 hour (on your own) Morning and afternoon breaks Restrooms Handouts/Course Binder Dates For Lecture/Classroom Sessions & Exam: 1. Tuesday, April 3 2. Tuesday, April Tuesday, April 17 Tuesday, April 24: Classroom Exam (60 questions, multiple choice) Optional Q & A: 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM (approximate) Exam start time: 9:00 AM (please make EVERY EFFORT to not be late!) FIELD SESSIONS (9:00 A.M. 4:30 P.M., END TIME IS APPROXIMATE) 1. Tuesday, May 1 Topsfield (Bad weather day Thursday, May 3) 2. Tuesday, May 8 Southampton (Bad weather day Thursday, May 10) 3. Tuesday, May 15 Deerfield (Bad weather day Thursday, May 17) Field Exam Tuesday, May 22, 9:00 AM 12:30 PM OR* 1:00 PM 4:30 PM (end times are approximate) Bridgewater, MA (Bad weather day Thursday, May 24) * We will split the class in to two groups morning and afternoon - for the field exam. General Class Info, Certification, & Renewal, page 3

4 FIELD SESSIONS Lunch and drinks please bring your own Dress and prepare for the weather and being outdoors (please review field session preparation info on registration confirmation letter you received) Directions to field locations to be handed out by classroom day 3 (May 15) BAD WEATHER We will contact all participants by a call back system if a field session is to be cancelled, typically by mid-afternoon the day before the field session. Please confirm we have your best contact phone number (see sheet at sign-in table at front of room) CLASS MATERIALS Class manual (three ring binder) PowerPoint presentations, reference materials and color version of class manual are available for download from NEIWPCC web site Small Field Guide Booklet The Basics of Describing and Documenting Soil Conditions Munsell Soil Color book (if purchased) Massachusetts Form 11 (four-page SE class version, for field sessions and field exam) Misc. handouts (to be determined) SOIL EVALUATOR CERTIFICATION AND RENEWAL To become a Soil Evaluator, you must: Pass a classroom (60-question multiple choice) exam (70% is passing grade) AND Pass a field exam (Form 11, pass/fail) Credentials (certificate and wallet card) generated by NEIWPCC then signed by MassDEP Three (3) year renewal cycle: First renewal, no TCHs (training contact hours) required; Second and all subsequent renewals, 10 pre-approved TCHs, acquired during the 3 years prior to approval expiration date, are required Renewal notice letters & invoices sent out approx. 3 to 4 months prior to your approval expiration date Listings of approved Soil Evaluators (and System Inspectors) are posted on the NEIWPCC web site ( General Class Info, Certification, & Renewal, page 4

5 END Thank You! Questions? General Class Info, Certification, & Renewal, page 5