California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)

 LEA & Facility Operator Training

Agenda: 2009 Training and Technical Course Series

2009 Conference Home

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

The presentations available on this page were developed under the auspices of the CIWMB for specific technical training presentations and are posted as reference documents for the local government and CIWMB staff who attended this technical training series. They are not intended to stand alone as informational or training materials.

If you require assistance in obtaining access to these presentations, call the Public Affairs Office at (916) 341-6300 or contact Dennis Corcoran.

Program Agenda for Day 1: Monday, October 19th
Time Activity
8 a.m.-noon

Registration

9 a.m.-noon

State Minimum Standards

Historical overview of state minimum standard requirements in the first hour, followed by discussion of selected standards including vectors, litter, maintenance and other topics. This session was intended for those who did not attend the May/June 2009 classes.

Speakers

10-11 a.m.

Financial Assurances Regulations

Overview of the evolution of the Long-Term Postclosure Maintenance, Corrective Action and Financial Assurances rulemaking, and an update of the status of the proposed regulations which are intended to mitigate the financial exposure to the State and local governments associated with corrective actions and long-term postclosure maintenance at solid waste landfills. Session also included a discussion regarding how the proposed regulations might impact all plan submittals, financial assurance demonstrations, and permit requirements.

Speakers

11 a.m.-noon

New LEA/Grantee Orientation

Are you new to the world of solid waste or waste tire enforcement? Or maybe you are an experienced LEA or grantee that needs a refresher? Review the history, the players (CIWMB, LEA, California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health, Enforcement Advisory Council, Cal/EPA, Solid Waste Information Group, Solid Waste Association of North America), the acronyms, the tools (statute, regulations, guidance, toolboxes, websites), the expectations, the process and where you can get help when you need it. Learn from real world case studies and lessons learned.

Speakers

noon-1:30 p.m.

Technical Training Series Orientation (Lunch)

1:30-4:30 p.m.

LEA/CIWMB Partnership

Collaboration and communication between LEA and Board staff are a must to effectively manage solid waste in California. The Partnership is the cornerstone to accomplishing our mutual program and policy objectives. During the first part of the session, participants identified what is working, what can be improved, and where there are roadblocks and then brainstormed possible solutions. The rest of the session was spent in small breakout groups to identify, discuss and propose next steps to enhance the Partnership and working relationships between LEA and Board staff.

1:30-4:30 p.m.

Conducting Effective Interviews (Tires)

Waste tire inspectors are always conducting interviews in some form. Learn how to make the most of an interview as experts role-play various scenarios. A mock interview let participants see what can go wrong or go right in an interview. Participants gained perspective on best questions to use and timing to end the interview process.

Speakers

  • John Fentis, California District Attorney's Association Environmental Project Director and former City Prosecutor
  • John Pedersen, Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office
Program Agenda for Day 2: Tuesday, October 20th
Time Activity
8:30-9:30 a.m.

Registration

9:30-10:30 a.m.

Postclosure Land Use: San Diego Case Study

Learn from the San Diego experience about public and private sector collaboration on how postclosure land use can meet multiple local goals. Staff spent almost 15 years planning for the remediation of the landfill as part of the Airport Master Plan. This case study demonstrates how a solution to the local transportation needs, land use restrictions, and preservation of delicate biological species can provide the foundation for a strong regional economic plan.

Speakers

9:30-10:30 a.m.

Emerging Technologies: Is There An Eco-Fuel Edge?

Examine the science behind bio-mass conversion and gasification and how these energy technology facilities actually work. Discussions included feedstock, environmental impacts, the difference between conversion and transformation, and plasma gasification.

Speakers

Moderator

  • Fernando Berton, Branch Manager, Research and Applied Technology (CIWMB)
9:30-10:30 a.m.

Waste Tire Enforcement Surveillance: Technique and Documentation

Gain the best return from surveillance. Learn practical methods and best documentation practices that can lead to prosecution and reduction of repeat offenses.

Speaker

10:30-10:45 a.m.

Break

10:45 a.m.-noon

Recycling Facilities: Three-Part Test

Gain insight into how other states and countries are successfully distinguishing between recycling and solid waste handling and how other regulatory models might impact California’s approach. These insights are from preliminary results of a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo analysis funded by the Board. Closer to home, learn from three case studies on how California jurisdictions are grappling with the “three-part test”.

Speakers

10:45 a.m.-noon

Penalties: Two Case Studies

Gain an understanding of the benefits, drawbacks and successes of penalty assessment methods from two different jurisdictions. Discussion during the session provided input on the development of a penalty guideline chart that will help jurisdictions sort through the options.

Speakers

10:45 a.m.-noon

Waste Tire Enforcement Criminal Cases: Lessons Learned

Learn from the Henry Hilliard Tire Site case and subsequent tire clean-up about how state and local collaboration can meet multiple goals. This difficult case had a 10-year history, but it was successfully resolved by working together.

Speakers

  • Stacey E. Thomas, Senior District Attorney Investigator (Fresno County)
  • Edward T. Browne, Deputy District Attorney, (Fresno County)
  • Wendy Breckon, Staff Counsel (CIWMB)
  • Wes Mindermann, Integrated Waste Management Engineer (CIWMB)
noon-1:00 p.m.

LEAs, Operators, and Tire Enforcement Program Highlights (shown during lunch)

Get some good ideas from videos and PowerPoints showcasing local enforcement programs.

1-5 p.m.

Dive Deep into the World of Grants

Learn the best way to successfully apply for, implement, and manage Board grants as well as how to survive an audit. Session featured case studies from various Board grant programs including Waste Tire Enforcement; Waste Tire Clean-up and Amnesty Event; Farm and Ranch; and Household Hazardous Waste. Grantees described their experience in grant preparation, time recording methods, and example reports used for grants. State grant managers explained reporting requirements and highlighted common pitfalls and successes they see when reviewing reports.

Speakers

Moderator

1-5 p.m.

Designing a Landfill Gas Collection and Monitoring System

Learn how to determine if a monitoring system was completed consistent with the gas monitoring plans, including “as builts.” Interpret gas readings properly and evaluate different options an operator has to reduce the gas levels in perimeter monitoring wells with 5 percent or more CH4. By the end of the session, LEAs had learned to evaluate if operators’ proposals to comply with regulations are capable and reasonable.

Speaker

1-3 p.m.

Illegal Dumping Clean-Ups: Let’s Get It Done Safely

Local agency staff and volunteers working on clean-up projects are involved in activities that can pose a danger to their health and safety. This session reviewed measures that can and should be implemented to protect them. In addition, presenters discussed LEA involvement coordinating local illegal dumping programs. A brief overview of current illegal dumping program activities at the Board, the illegal dumping website, and related pending legislation concluded the session.

Speakers

3-5 p.m.

Food Waste Diversion Programs: “High Hanging Fruit”

The diversion of food waste in California has become a significant activity as many jurisdictions try to meet and exceed diversion mandates. Hear an overview of the statutes, regulations, terminology, and permitting requirements for handling food waste. Case studies showcased different collection programs and processing strategies, including in-vessel composting.

Speakers

Moderator

  • Kevin Taylor, Permitting and LEA Support (CIWMB)
Program Agenda for Day 3: Wednesday, October 21st
TimeActivity
9-10:15 a.m.

Debris Management: A Lead Agency Perspective (Angora Fire)

Presenters shared the details of the structural debris removal and cleanup operations after the Angora Fire; how it compared to recovery operations in other California disasters involving local, state, and federal agencies; hurdles encountered and lessons learned that can be applied to future emergencies.

Speakers

  • Melinda Stehr, Debris Specialist, California Emergency Management Agency
  • Wes Minderman, Cleanup Programs (CIWMB)
9-10:15 a.m.

Implementing the New Landfill Gas Monitoring Regulations in Unusual or Unique Settings: Lessons Learned

Experts from industry and local government presented and reviewed case studies and advanced our understanding of landfill gas monitoring program design, especially in cases with unusual or unique geological and hydrological constraints.

Speakers

9-10:15 a.m.

What You Wanted to Know About the Waste Tire Management System (WTMS), But Were Afraid to Ask

Join program staff for an overview of the most important aspects of the WTMS program, the grantee portal, and recent improvements to the program. Participate in the discussion to suggest possible future improvements.

Speakers

10:15-10:30 a.m.

Break

10:30 a.m.-noon

Landfilling of Large Animal Carcasses

This session highlighted a case study on the process of handling large animal carcasses from gaining regulatory approval to final burial. The second part of the session discussed pathogen reduction and environmental impacts associated with the composting of bovine mortalities. The information discussed in this segment is based on research conducted at the University of California's Veterinary Medicine Training and Research Center in Tulare, California.

Speakers

10:30 a.m.-noon

Landfill Gas Monitoring Equipment

Learn about the four different types of landfill gas sensors; the problems, errors and reliability of the sensors; and how to select the “best” landfill gas monitoring instruments for a given situation. Join the afternoon hands-on workshop to test the RKI Eagle which is one of the instruments reviewed.

Speaker

10:30 a.m.-noon

Planning for Your Waste Tire Inspection

This interactive session prepared participants for the mock inspection and follow-up classroom session in the afternoon. Inspectors participated in the pre-inspection research and information gathering so they were ready for the mock inspection.

Moderator

noon-1:00 p.m.

Lunch

Ralph Hunter Award

1-5 p.m.

Tour and Hands-On Workshop Options

In this four hour segment, participants selected from a tour/training based on the facility type--tire or solid waste.

  • Tire: Facility tour and mock inspections combined.
  • Solid waste: Anaerobic digester tour plus two hands-on workshop options or three hands-on workshops only.
1-5 p.m.

Tire Tour and Mock Inspection

Participants in this four hour tour traveled off-site by bus to Morgan Tire in Woodland. Included was a site tour of this retreader and conducting simulated inspections including the opportunity to estimate tire pile sizes and tire numbers. This inspection formed the basis for the mock hearing on Friday morning.

Tour A--1-3 p.m.
Tour B--2:45-5 p.m.

Solid Waste Tour: Select 1st or 2nd time slot

Participants selected from two separate two hour tours to Onsite Power Systems, an anaerobic phased solid digester located on the UC Davis campus. The digester uses naturally occurring bacteria to break down solid and liquid waste in an oxygen free environment to produce biohydrogen and biomethane that can be burned as fuels.

 

Solid Waste Hands-On Training: Select two or three workshops

Each of the three workshop sessions were repeated four times, at hourly intervals, so participants could choose the order that worked best for them. Participants could choose two if they were going on the tour or attend all three if they did not go on the tour of the anaerobic digester.

1--1:45 p.m.
2--2:45 p.m.
3--3:45 p.m.
4--4:45 p.m.

Workshop 1: Permit Writing 101 (for those with little or no experience)

Attendees worked their way through the permit process. How does a permit go from a thought to a real document? What items should be included in a permit application and package? What are the LEA and Board deadlines for the permit process? What happens at the Board to process permits? How to find more information on CEQA and tonnage requirements?

1--1:45 p.m.
2--2:45 p.m.
3--3:45 p.m.
4--4:45 p.m.

Workshop 2: Landfill Gas Monitoring Equipment

Attendees learned how to use the RKI Eagle monitoring device and test calibrated samples of gases to detect methane and other constituents of landfill gas. After attending this session, attendees are able to “check-out” this equipment from the LEA Equipment Loan Program.

  • Diane Vlach, Health and Safety Section (CIWMB)
    Presentation: RKI Eagle (Adobe PDF, 586 KB)
1--1:45 p.m.
2--2:45 p.m.
3--3:45 p.m.
4--4:45 p.m.

Workshop 3: Mock Inspections

Attendees conducted simulated inspections of various solid waste facilities by viewing posters, photos, video clips and printed material. Experienced LEAs and Board staff facilitated the descriptions of the hypothetical situations and discussion of the groups’ inspection reports.

Program Agenda for Day 4: Thursday, October 22nd
TimeActivity
8:45-10 a.m.

Coordination with Other Agencies: From Agriculture to Water and Everything in Between

Four current examples of inter-agency collaboration were discussed--odor incidents and air issues (Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District); water issues with compost facilities (State Water Board); animal carcass emergency impacts on solid waste facilities (California Department of Food and Agriculture); and air issues related to volatile organic compounds being emitted by compost piles (San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District).

Lessons from the case studies include odor response protocol, measurement of dust from construction and demolition (C&D) debris fines, compliance approach for compost facilities to meet water quality statutory requirements, short term emergency solutions for surges in animal deaths or disease emergencies, and collaborative research to determine whether operational changes by composters can provide meaningful air emissions reductions.

Speakers

Moderator

8:45-10 a.m.

Adding Diversion Activities to an Existing Permitted Facility

Diversion goals have required many waste facilities to expand their operations to include multiple activities. Learn how jurisdictions have handled such questions as “how can one add diversion activities to an existing permitted facility?” and “should they be stand alone or combined with an existing facility?” Regulatory and operational options were presented, including CEQA and other factors that will dictate the requirements of a permit.

Speakers

Moderator

8:45-10 a.m.

Waste Tire Enforcement Mock Hearing

Now that you have done the initial inspection, follow-up inspection, and referred the case to the Board… now what happens? Join us in a mock hearing for the case that was developed Wednesday afternoon.

Moderator

10 a.m.-noon

Tactical Communication: Dealing with Difficult People

Learn "verbal judo" techniques to defuse hostile situations you may encounter in your work environment.

Speaker

noon-1:30 p.m.

Wrap-up and Lunch

Report on next steps from Monday’s workshops

2009 Conference Home

Last updated: March 30, 2010
LEA Training, http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/LEA/Training/
Donnaye Palmer: Donnaye.Palmer@calrecycle.ca.gov (916) 341-6321