Webinars

Webinar: Public Risk Communication – How States Communicate with the Public during Time Critical Removals and Emergency Response

CERCLA & Brownfields, Webinars
Published on
Today’s public frequently engages with environmental situations thanks to widespread and rapid information sharing from social media; however, there is a prevalent attitude that information does not get shared by the State and federal government fast enough. The ASTSWMO Removals and Emergency Response Focus Group sought information from their State and regional counterparts to determine if public communication during time-critical removal actions and emergency responses is an established process or if future national guidance may be needed. This webinar will discuss the research findings and present two programs with established and evolving public communication strategies.

Webinar: 2026 RCRA Hazardous Waste Permit Writer & Inspector Workshop

Corrective Action and Permitting Task Force, Hazardous Waste, Webinars
Published on
Objective: Foster collaboration between permitting and enforcement staff to support compliance and protect human health and the environment, while increasing awareness of key issues in RCRA permitting and compliance. The 2026 Workshop is presented by the ASTSWMO Hazardous Waste Subcommittee in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery and Office of Compliance.

Webinar: History of the CERCLA BFPP Liability Defense, Current State Implementation, and What’s Next

CERCLA & Brownfields, Webinars
Published on

The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, also known as the Brownfields Law, was signed into law in 2002 and amended CERCLA to provide, among other things, liability protections for non-polluters including the Bonafide Prospective Purchaser Defense (BFPP). Numerous States have implemented programs that mirror the CERCLA law to facilitate brownfields redevelopment by incentivizing parties with a liability defense to invest in site cleanup and reuse with reduced legal risk.

This session will compare three State programs and the USEPA use of BFPP agreements, explore how liability protections have driven successful redevelopment, and look forward to the long-term maintenance of a BFPP defense. Attendees will gain practical insights and concepts on how to improve your State’s program and advance the work that has already started.

    Presenters:
  • David A. Franchina McGuireWoods, LLP
  • Joselyn Harriger, PG North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • Bill Rees Utah Department of Environmental Quality
  • Maryam Tasnif-Abbasi California Department of Toxic Substances Control

Webinar: RCRA Subtitle C 101

Corrective Action and Permitting Task Force, Hazardous Waste, Webinars
Published on
The RCRA Subtitle C 101 webinar being planned by the ASTSWMO Hazardous Waste Subcommittee will provide a high-level overview of the federal hazardous program from the perspective of what it means to be an authorized State or Territory (State). Following the overview, the presentation will highlight the specific program areas of rulemaking and authorization; corrective action and permitting; compliance monitoring and enforcement; and program information management. The pre-recorded presentation will be followed by a live Q&A segment with Subcommittee members.

Webinar: Enhanced Community Engagement

Brownfields Focus Group, CERCLA & Brownfields, Webinars
Published on

Recognizing the value in collaborative problem solving in brownfields redevelopment, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection created the GENTL strategy for community engagement. The acronym stands for:

Go Where the People Are

Existing Network

Non-Traditional Partners

Look for Unique Funding Sources

This approach centers community voices in decision-making, addresses health and safety concerns, and transforms distressed properties into neighborhood assets.

The session will present case studies from New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Oregon using the GENTL strategy. Participants will learn how to develop customized plans tailored to the interests and needs of the community and learn how they can employ the GENTL strategy in their brownfields projects.

Webinar: Talk Nerdy to Me – Promoting Strong Science Communication

CERCLA & Brownfields, Webinars
Published on

You only have one shot at making a good first connection. Over the years, scientists, engineers, and regulators have developed a reputation for giving technically sound [perhaps overly detailed] presentations but at the risk of not connecting with their audience due to jargon or highlighting uncertainty to the point of blurring the technical conclusion.

Although we have different communication tools (texting, email, social media) than were available 20+ years ago, the skills needed for successful in-person communication have not changed over time. This session will provide strategy, approaches, and specific examples for positive engagement and meaningful communication with your audience.

Learn lessons from state regulators and TAB provider who have implemented successful public outreach programs to effectively engage communities and stakeholder groups with diverse backgrounds.

Learning Objectives

  1. Make your Pitch. Start with the lead. Help your audience know what to focus on and why.
  2. Understand your audience and tailor your presentation to that group of stakeholders. Experts, scientists, engineers, and regulators need to be able to speak the language of the “real people” in their audience. We will provide concrete examples you can use in your professional practice.

Speakers:

  • David Foss, MA DEP
  • Paula Middlebrooks, TN DEC
  • Randi Mendes, UCONN

Webinar: RCRA Subtitle D 101

Materials Management, Webinars
Published on

The ASTSWMO Materials Management Subcommittee is hosting a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D 101 webinar to provide a high-level overview of the non-hazardous solid waste subtitle of RCRA for new solid waste/materials management program staff. The webinar is open to States, Territories, and EPA. The presentation has been developed by the Subcommittee from the perspective of “what do I wish I knew when I started that I know now”. Along with the introduction and overview, the webinar will highlight disposal permit programs, beneficial use, and sustainable materials management aspects of Subtitle D.

Economic Impact Analysis of State Brownfields Funding: Evaluating Success through Return on Investment (ROI)

CERCLA & Brownfields, Webinars
Published on

The Virginia Brownfields Restoration and Economic Redevelopment Assistance Fund (VBAF) and Vermont’s Brownfield Revitalization Fund provide targeted grant support for the remediation and redevelopment of Brownfield sites. Although program structures differ, both are assessed using comparable economic performance indicators, including job creation, property value appreciation, tax revenue generation, acreage remediated or redeveloped, and leveraged investment. This webinar will highlight the two programs, present findings from a recently published Economic Impact Analysis of the first 10 years of VBAF funding, discuss quantitative outcomes and methodological approaches to measuring the effectiveness of Brownfield grant investment, and highlight challenges and limitations associated with quantifying return on investment (ROI).

Speakers:

  • Karen Weber, P.G., Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
  • Sarah Barlett, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation

Learning Objectives:

  • Review of economic outcomes from grant investment in Brownfield redevelopment on the State level.
  • Identify key economic performance indicators related to Brownfields redevelopment.
  • Recognize challenges and limitations in quantifying ROI.
  • Opportunity for states and tribes to learn about other state Brownfield initiatives and programs.