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OSWER Training Forum
The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) Training Forum comprises training coordinators who represent the following groups: EPA Headquarters, EPA's Environmental Response Team (ERT), Superfund Regional Training Coordinators, RCRA Regional Training Coordinators, the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC), and the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO).The Forum was created in 1986 to respond to the training needs of EPA and state personnel involved in solid and hazardous waste cleanup and emergency response. The members of the Forum coordinate their efforts to provide training to EPA, federal, state, and tribal personnel responsible for regulatory and enforcement activities.
The training coordinators and regional representatives assist with planning and logistics for training, course selection, development, assessment, promotion and tracking. They help spread the word about upcoming training and search for specialized training for particular groups of individual staff members. These coordinators are also involved in selecting vendors and managing training budgets.
During regularly scheduled teleconference calls and meetings the training forum members: share information about regional activities, address concerns such as duplication of training, learn about new innovations in the training field, and consider other training needs and issues.
The Forum can help to ensure that high-quality, effective technical training is available in the Regions at a low, or even no cost, through the CERCLA Education Center (CEC) and the Environmental Response Training Program (ERTP). Training options and opportunities can be publicized and training coordinators can look for ways to address concerns about training on a national basis.
The Forum established a training exchange home page at: http://www.trainex.org 
. This web page provides a wealth of information regarding what type of training courses are available and training modules that are already developed and ready for use on-line. You can also register for EPA training courses on-line, browse the course descriptions, locate training being offered, and participate in on-line courses. There are also links to other EPA and non-EPA web sites with training information.
The Forum is supported by the Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI). The members help to present CERCLA Education Center courses throughout the Regions, to conduct needs assessments, revise course materials, administer training and monitor training attendance.
For additional information, contact Marcella DeVargas, Training Coordinator, Solid and Hazardous Waste Program at 303-312-6161.
