Category A: Management

Adapt, Improvise and Overcome: Developing a Site Strategy for Removal Actions
introduces a conceptual
tool for managing strategic issues that inevitably rise before, during, and after a removal action. Both new and seasoned OSCs will benefit from an understanding of the Site Strategy Model and the application of this conceptual tool in the field. By taking this course, participants will achieve the following objectives:

Learn the various components of the Site Strategy Model. The circumstances at the site, the goals, and factors that affect the development of a removal site strategy, and the dynamic interplay of those factors will be identified during a two-phase concept lecture.
Explore the application of the Site Strategy Model at several removal actions. OSCs from several regions present multiple case studies, with a focus on the evaluation of the different factors that affected the Site Strategy throughout these removal actions. Case studies range across a wide variety of removal actions requiring varying degrees of strategy.
Witness the application of the Site Strategy Model at a removal action strongly influenced by external circumstances. The presentation of this case study will offer participants additional opportunities to think beyond the typical "follow the program" guidance, and should spark in-depth discussion of site strategies that will be of interest to even the most seasoned OSCs.
Master the application of the Site Strategy Model through an interactive exercise. Participants will engage in a group exercise designed to strengthen their understanding of the conceptual tool, and help them determine when the Site Strategy tool would be most useful in their real-life work environments.

**The OSC Readiness Training Board (RTB) recommends this course for new OSCs.

Asbestos Response - History and Regulations is designed for all OSCs who wish to become familiar with asbestos as it relates to removal activities. Every OSC, at ome point during his or her career, will deal with asbestos materials during a removal action or an emergency response. If the OSC lacks prior knowledge of the particulars of asbestos assessment and abatement, the experience is likely to be frustrating. This 3.5 hour course will focus on the introductory aspects including historical developments and pertinent regulations. In addition, various removal actions and responses will be utilized to demonstrate the course objectives.

**The OSC RTB recommends this course for new OSCs.

The Daily Grind: Project Management for Effective Field Operations expands on the Removal Process Course offered by EPA TIO's Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Education Center. It takes a hands-on practitioner's approach to removal and emergency response management, based on the perspective of field operations. The workshop provides a wealth of tips and suggestions. Elements covered include critical path management and scheduling; project organization; resource forecasting and cost projections; conduct of practical planning meetings; site documentation for cost- and project-tracking; site safety; and equipment sizing. It also will examine issues related to human relations and management of people. The workshop was developed and is taught by senior OSCs; it provides a blend of regional approaches to effective site management.
**The OSC RTB recommends this course for new OSCs.

Enforcement and Legal Issues for OSCs has been developed to provide OSCs with information about how to access properties to conduct site investigations, emergency responses, and time-critical removal actions. The course will discuss the OSC's authority to access properties and the legal constraints upon the government to access properties during an emergency response. Recent case studies to emphasize the importance of obtaining access will be used.

The second module of the course includes a presentation on how an OSC was sued by a potentially responsible party (PRP). The OSC will discuss the process of obtaining representation by the U.S. Department of Justice, the court process, constitutional grounds for lawsuits, and professional liability insurance. The third module will discuss the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). An OSC will address the importance of completing requests made under FOIA; how to determine which documents can be released; the implications of withholding of documents; how to charge the public; and how to complete a privilege list. A question and answer session will follow each module.

Knowing and Using the National Contingency Plan will help OSCs understand their authorities under the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency Plan (NCP) during removal actions and especially during emergency response actions. The course also will inform the OSCs on how to conduct themselves in light of those authorities under state and local incident command structures. The course discusses the legal duties and responsibilities of OSCs through presentations and interactive exercises. Topics include the National Response System (NRS), operational implementation of the NCP, and legal questions related to the OSC's provision of direction during a response action.

Media Relations Training, an 8-hour workshop, will teach OSCs how to professionally handle any interview, whether by 60 Minutes or the local newspaper. Media interest in emergencies, whether big or small, is usually high. This interactive workshop provides basic techniques for communicating effectively with the media during emergency response situations. By taking the course, participants will:

Learn basic principles of the media profession. This workshop includes an overview of the media and provides some basic media principles and tactics, such as techniques that reporters typically use during interviews. Instructors also will present basic tips for dealing with the media.
Understand how to answer questions by developing and presenting key messages. Instructors will explain how to effectively answer reporters by demonstrating how OSCs can develop and refine key messages and then present those messages to the media. The workshop provides opportunities for participants to practice preparing and delivering key messages for a variety of situations.
Master and practice interview techniques. Each participant will have an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to respond to tough media questions and to construct and present key messages by being interviewed on-camera. After being interviewed, the instructors will review the videotaped interview with the participant and offer suggestions to improve their on-air interview techniques and tactics.

Stress Management for OSCs will focus on providing OSCs with tools to help them identify sources of stress in their professional and personal lives and how to deal with those stresses in healthy ways. To open the workshop, Removal Managers will share the effects stress has had on their professional and personal lives. The workshop then will focus on helping participants to:

Understand how they respond to stressful events: The ways the body and mind react to and recover from stress will be discussed.
Assess their own personal stress levels: Several self-assessment questionnaires will be completed during the class and discussed, at the discretion of the participants.
Develop their own personal stress management plans: Using the results of the self-assessment questionnaires, course instructors will work with participants to help them develop a plan for taking control of the stress in their lives.


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