This project provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) for virginia polytechnic institute and state university to conduct eligible technical…

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) received a $403,018 Cooperative Agreement award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3 under the Brownfields Job Training Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.815), effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2029. Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this award supports the recruitment, training, and job placement of unemployed and underemployed residents in Southwest Virginia for environmental remediation careers. Virginia Tech will deliver comprehensive technical training curricula enabling participants to obtain industry-recognized certifications in hazardous waste operations and environmental safety, including mandatory 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certification, 10-hour construction safety training, competent person excavation and trench training, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) courses, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste identification training, heavy equipment operations for hazardous waste management and transportation, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid certification.

The cooperative agreement obligates Virginia Tech to complete and submit progress reports through the EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES) platform, documenting interim accomplishments and final outcomes of the training initiative. Program graduates will possess the technical competencies and certifications required to secure employment in environmental remediation, site assessment, and brownfield redevelopment activities throughout the region.

Description

This project provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) for virginia polytechnic institute and state university to conduct eligible technical assistance-related activities as authorized by comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act (CERCLA) 104(K)(7). The recipient will recruit, train, and place unemployed and underemployed residents of southwest virginia in environmental careers with skills needed to safely conduct remediation work at solid and hazardous waste-contaminated sites, as well as appropriate training in stormwater management, erosion and sediment control, and emergency planning. Participants in the program will take courses on safely working with and around hazardous materials including OSHA courses (40-hour hazardous waste operations and emergency response; 10-hour construction safety; competent person excavation and trench training), rcra identifying hazardous waste training, hazwoper, and CPR and first aid. Activities:this project will train graduates to earn skills and certifications necessary to enter into environmental careers. Activities to be performed during under this project are the completion of courses that will allow students to earn federal or state certifications related to safely working with and around hazardous materials including OSHA courses (40-hour hazardous waste operations and emergency response; 10-hour construction safety; competent person excavation and trench training), training in heavy equipment operations associated with the management and transportation of hazardous waste, and CPR and first aid. Also, the recipient will report on interim progress and final accomplishments by completing and submitting relevant portions of the property profile form using EPA's assessment, cleanup and redevelopment exchange system (ACRES). This project will provide training to residents in southwest virginia, targeting unemployed and underemployed individuals living in coal communities. Subrecipient:subawards will be used to pay for organizations providing instruction for courses for the job training curriculum. Specifically, the organizations and courses being implemented through subawards are OSHA 40-hour hazwoper instructed by OSHA (occupational safety and health administration), heavy equipment operator I and II instructed by mountain empire community college, OSHA 10-HR construction safety instructed by mount rogers regional adult education, first aid/CPR instructed by virginia highlands community college, GIS instructed by southwest virginia community college, and underground storage tank training, biosolids training, and responsible land disturber training all instructed by virginia department of environmental quality. These courses will provide program graduates with the opportunity to seek and obtain good-paying environmental jobs across a spectrum of brownfield related activities, including the assessment, cleanup, remediation, and planning/site preparation for the revitalization of brownfields. Outcomes:the intended beneficiaries of this project are, and this project will provide training to, residents in southwest virginia, targeting unemployed and underemployed individuals living in coal communities. The anticipated deliverables are: 35 individuals in two cohorts recruited, trained, certified, and placed in environmental careers in communities impacted by solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities; 20 classroom style trainings, practical trainings, and curricula modules; 5 appropriate certifications in environmental sampling and site cleanup methods; 35 individuals that receive certifications in occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.120 40-hour hazwoper training. Expected outcomes from this project include: helping residents of communities take advantage of jobs created by the assessment and cleanup of brownfields and the assessment, cleanup, and management of