IHMM Today February 16, 2021

IHMM UPDATES

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Student CHMMs and Mentoring

IHMM has been undertaking a pilot program with two universities for the past 10 months and we are pleased to announce that the Student CHMM program has 88 participants.

We had a videoconference with some of these students last week and want to take this opportunity to tell them how much we appreciate their participation in our new program. These students are finding that the study material and IHMM exam is much like the subjects they cover in their classes and that they use their new designations with applications for scholarships and attendance at conferences. In short, the students tell us that their designation sets them apart from other students with a serious commitment to their future communities of practice.

We also want to emphasize the importance of IHMM’s “Mentor Match” program inside of COLLABORATION, where Student CHMMs can register as mentees and CHMMs can register as mentors and work together. IHMM will be holding online presentations in the CHMM and Student CHMM communities in Collaboration to remind all of this mentoring feature. CHMMs can add tremendous value to a student’s experience while they are in school.

EnviroWorkshop’s Site Characterization training event, in Jacksonville, on Wednesday, February 24th – FREE Webinar

The goal of the EnviroWorkshops is to keep environmental professionals informed of the latest technologies in our industry because they’re constantly changing. Over 400 EnviroWorkshops have been hosted in 20 countries, on 6 continents, and over 20,000 environmental professionals have registered to attend.

Thanks to the workshop sponsors there is no cost to attend! Lunch is provided & you will receive a certificate for 4.0 PDHs ($250 value). Below are more details:

JACKSONVILLE SITE CHARACTERIZATION WORKSHOP
11:15 – Registration, boxed-style lunch served, and networking with exhibitors
11:45 – Welcome from a Workshop Representative
12:00 – Opening Speaker
12:15 – Crossroads: Actionable Data using MBTs – Ted Wittemann
1:05 – A Single Solution for a Variety of Contaminants – Ingrid Patman
1:55 – BREAK
2:30 – Using Biosolve Products for Remediation – Mike Reed
3:20 – Strategic Utilization of HRSC Subsurface Imaging Technologies and 3D Modeling – Janet Castle
4:10 – Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) for Environmental Site Characterization and Remediation – David Bardsley
5:00 – After-hours networking

This program has been awarded 7 IHMM CMPs to those who attend the full program.

REGISTER HERE

EnviroWorkshop’s Site Characterization training event, in Tampa, on Thursday, February 25th – FREE Webinar

The goal of the EnviroWorkshops is to keep environmental professionals informed of the latest technologies in our industry because they’re constantly changing. Over 400 EnviroWorkshops have been hosted in 20 countries, on 6 continents, and over 20,000 environmental professionals have registered to attend.

Thanks to the workshop sponsors there is no cost to attend! Lunch is provided & you will receive a certificate for 4.0 PDHs ($250 value). Below are more details:

TAMPA SITE CHARACTERIZATION WORKSHOP
11:15 – Registration, boxed-style lunch served, and networking with exhibitors
11:45 – Welcome from a Workshop Representative
12:00 – Opening Speaker
12:15 – Crossroads: Actionable Data using MBTs – Ted Wittemann
1:05 – A Single Solution for a Variety of Contaminants – Ingrid Patman
1:55 – BREAK
2:30 – Using Biosolve Products for Remediation – Mike Reed
3:20 – Strategic Utilization of HRSC Subsurface Imaging Technologies and 3D Modeling – Janet Castle
4:10 – Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) for Environmental Site Characterization and Remediation – David Bardsley
5:00 – After-hours networking

This program has been awarded 7 IHMM CMPs to those who attend the full program.

REGISTER HERE

Your Credential

Every IHMM certificant has his or her own account in the MYIHMM system. In the coming weeks, IHMM certificants will see new credential badges in their accounts that can be used in your social media, email signatures, LinkedIn, and other places where you highlight your professional standing.

In addition to the credential badges, certificants will be awarded 10, 20, or 30-year badges for their longevity as IHMM credential holders.

Last, but not least, IHMM will also recognize its Diplomates and Fellows with badges as well.

Earning an IHMM credential is an exceptional achievement in your professional life and we’d like to help you tell the world you earned it.

IHMM Microcredential Task Force

The IHMM Microcredential Task Force [https://ihmm.org/microcredential-task-force/] has been meeting to prioritize the more than 200 suggestions for IHMM to potentially develop microcredentials that focus more narrowly on areas of specific interest. The Task Force has prioritized their top 40 topics and is close to identifying a top-10 priority list. Once they have their top 10 the Task Force will make a recommendation to the IHMM Board about areas in which we should proceed to create new microcredentials.

The Task Force meets again on February 25th.

Congratulations Lavanya

A year ago this week IHMM Vice Chair Bill Diesslin visited India. During his visit, he met Lavanya Raju [left], an environmental engineer from India who had just gotten a new job in Kuwait. We corresponded with Lavanya today to see how she is doing.

Lavanya attributes her success to having secured her CHMM credential, and we deeply appreciate her sentiments and wish her every success. Lavanya is still in Kuwait and doing well.

Thank you, Lavanya.

IHMM & AHMP Launch 45 in 5 – National Credential Recognition – 21 States Targeted

On January 25th, we began outlining the strategy to go after the 21 states in yellow, above.

This is just the beginning. Here is the present composition of the 45 In 5 Task Force and the states we are focusing on. More people may volunteer anytime!  https://ihmm.org/45-in-5-task-force/

• The State of Nebraska under 178 NAC Chapter 24 of the Department of Health and Human Services regulations recognizes the CHMM as eligible for remediation services. Thank you, Mary Duda.

In 2019 Mark Bruce from AHMP and Gene Guilford from IHMM worked on a project to get the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to recognize the CHMM and CDGT credentials. With Mark’s work on the ground in  Pennsylvania, we succeeded.

Since the launch, we have added Delaware, Florida, Texas, California, Washington, Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Missouri, Iowa, North Carolina, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and New Mexico as the next states for us to work on with 42 volunteers.

Now Mark at AHMP and Gene at IHMM has launched 45 in 5, getting the other 45 states to recognize our credentials in 5 years. If we can find a volunteer like Mark in 45 other states we can work with those volunteers on crafting the right message to the right agencies in state governments across the country. If we find enough volunteers we can get this done in less than 5 years.

Here’s what we ask each volunteer to do:

• Take a template letter we write and send it to the right people at the right agencies of state governments
• IHMM & AHMP will identify the agencies and the people to contact
• Follow up after sending the letter
• IHMM will engage all of our certificants and AHMP will engage all of its members in each state to communicate with the agencies in support of the recognition

The Task Force meets again March 2nd.

IHMM NEWS RECENT UPDATES

• Following Brexit, UK Establishes New Chemical Regulatory Regimes

• Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act: Delay of Effective Date

• SEPs Are Back: Biden Administration Rescinds Ban on Supplemental Environmental Projects

• Registration Opens for Webinars on PV29 and NMP

• Webinar Recording: Navigating the Muddy Waters of the Supreme Court’s Maui Decision

• OSHA’s Proposed Updates to Hazard Communications Standard Will Include Particle Characteristics

• EPA – Statistics for the TSCA CBI Review Program

• NJDEP Further Extends Site Remediation Timeframes

• EPA Encourages Voluntary Self-Disclosure of Environmental Violations with Updated Guidance

• EPA PFAs Regulations: “PFAs A Priority” Says Incoming Administrator

• What OSHA’s New COVID-19 Mandates Mean for Employers

• Fake N95 masks have flooded the market. Here’s how to tell the difference

• ASTM Developing Nonregulatory Standard for Face Masks

• Lithium Batteries as Cargo Pose an Ever Present Danger to Carriers and Shippers Alike

• No money for Yucca Mountain waste disposal, vows Biden’s pick for budget chief

• OSHA fines rail car servicer $419,347

Building Climate Change Resilience Virtual Training

EPA’s Creating Resilient Water Utilities initiative is providing free virtual training sessions on its Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) for the Northeast climate region of the country. This training assists drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities in planning for and adapting to climate change threats with a focus on resilience building and infrastructure financing. The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Association of Water Companies, and NEIWPCC are helping to coordinate and co-sponsoring these events.

Training Objectives

• Conduct a risk assessment using CREAT;
• Identify and share information on adaptation strategies to build utility long-term resilience; and
• Share information on available resources for financing resilience and adaptation.

Upcoming Sessions

• Session 1: March 2, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. E.T.
• Training Overview and CREAT Modules 1 (Climate Awareness) and 2 (Scenario Development)
• Session 2: March 4, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. E.T.
• CREAT Modules 3 (Consequences and Assets) and 4 (Adaptation Planning)
• Session 3: March 9, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. E.T.
• CREAT Module 5 (Risk Assessment) and an overview of local financial resources utilities can apply for to fund adaptation measures
• Session 4: March 23, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. E.T.
• A brief overview of previous information, then open agenda for attendees to ask questions about using CREAT, how to apply it to their circumstances, and how to seek funding for adaptation strategies. (Optional)

**Earn Continuing education units (CEUs) from select states **

REGISTER HERE

HMS and Earning Certification Maintenance Points [CMPs]

IHMM created HMS, in large measure, so that IHMM certificants could have one, central place within which to find professional development courses in which to earn certification maintenance points. HMS courses cover all of IHMM’s 8 credentials, not only one.

We’ve made it easy to find CMPs.

• Go to https://hazmatsociety.org/
• Go to the Education and Training tab
• Scroll down until you see these buttons…and click on the CMPs button

• The system will produce a listing of the programs on the platform that have already been reviewed and given CMP ratings. You can find the programs suitable for you.

For example, one of the programs is from Columbia Southern University, offered online, has 36 CMPs attached, and is FREE. This is only one example. There are hundreds of programs on HMS.

HMS UPDATES

HMS Donations

One of the most important projects of the Hazardous Materials Society is our Scholarship program.

HMS wants to make it as easy as possible for those who cannot always afford to participate in pursuing certification, or keeping up with professional development, or attending great conferences and receiving outstanding training. HMS does not solicit contributions from the general public. HMS does ask IHMM’s certificants and their companies and our education and training vendors to consider a contribution.

Here, through your generosity, you can make a difference in promoting the ability of those who can afford it least to become participants in our communities of practice.

It’s never too late to make a difference, so don’t let this opportunity to make a difference pass you by. Please consider a tax-deductible donation of $250, $500 or what you can to help build HMS’s effort to help others in our communities of practice.

HMS Education and Training

Hazardous Materials Society now has 14,810 education and training programs on its website https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/ with more coming every week. Certificants will note that most of these programs carry a CMP value, making it easier to know in advance what to expect. The HMS Education and Training platform also provides a wide variety of courses for professional development across all of IHMM’s credentials – and more are being developed by the HMS Education and Training Committee.

This is the center of education and training for IHMM certificants and prospective certificants. Among these more than 15.000 programs are webinars delivered online and virtually all carry IHMM CMPs values with them for your annual / 5-year CMP planning. SEE: https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/

HMS Affinity Programs –  RCM&D Professional Liability Insurance

With more than 27,000 people – here is where HMS leverages our numbers for member’s benefit. There is strength and value in numbers and that translates into lower costs for you.

HMS is proud to have partnered with RCM&D to be able to offer an outstanding comprehensive professional liability insurance program to IHMM certificants. Here, you will find information about this important program offering Environmental Consultants and Engineers Professional Liability coverage. This coverage is intended to add protection for loss stemming from actual or alleged negligent acts, errors and omissions in performing professional services.