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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM TO HOST NEW WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT BOOT CAMP TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NEXT GENERATION OF WASTEWATER MANAGERS "It is extremely important that as a new generation of men and women come into leadership positions at wastewater treatment plants, they be well-trained, committed and proactive," said DEM Director W. Michael Sullivan, Ph.D. "They will be facing a more complicated world of increasing expectations with decreasing resources and will need to be technical experts as well as comfortable in interacting with regulators, environmental groups, and elected officials. I feel that it is our role as a regulatory agency to also act as a resource for helping them, such as offering this innovative program." The Narragansett Water Pollution Control Association and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission are taking a central role in assisting DEM with the program, which will include about 100 hours over the next year of management courses, technical courses such as engineering basics and process control, skill training in the areas of media relations, working with regulatory agencies, and budget preparation. The program is funded with federal training grants, so participation in this program comes at no cost to the individuals or their communities. Participants submitted applications on a voluntary basis; many were nominated by their superintendents. Members of the NWPCA reviewed all nominations and chose the top 14 for entrance into the initial program. One is, however, unable to attend. Attendees include Jared Doyle and Mark Healy of the Narragansett Bay Commission's Fields Point facility in Providence; Thomas Ciolfi and Harry Clifford of the Narragansett Bay Commission's Bucklin Point facility in East Providence; Janine Burke, Peter Eldridge, James DiCaprio, and Robert Sheriden of the West Warwick facility; Ed Soltys of the Cranston facility; Gwin Cox of the Warwick facility; David Perrotta of the East Greenwich facility; David Gee of the Narragansett facility; and Jim Locke, Jr. of the Woonsocket facility. The first training segment, on Thursday, September 27 at DEM Headquarters in Providence, will be a full-day introduction to wastewater treatment management, followed on October 25 by a performance management course, both taught by Jon Jewett and Chuck Conway of the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, based in Lowell, MA. Both courses have been receiving excellent reviews from wastewater operators throughout New England. Additional courses will be scheduled through the year. Eldridge and Sheriden are also members of the Rhode Island Wastewater Operators Challenge Team that came in second overall in the regional operator challenge held in June at the New England Water Environment Association's spring meeting in New Hampshire. As such, they and their teammates, Brian Lavallee and Don Shurtleff, both of the West Warwick wastewater facility, and Scott Goodinson of the Cranston facility, will be attending the national challenge at the Water Environment Federation's Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference in San Diego, CA in October, where wastewater teams from throughout the country will demonstrate their best combination of precision, speed and safety. Winners will be determined by a weighted point system for five events – collection systems, laboratory, process control, maintenance and safety – each designed to test the diverse skills required for the operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities, their collection systems and laboratories. -30- |
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