This project provides funding for pathstone corporation to recruit, train, and place unemployed and underemployed residents of puerto rico in environmental careers with skills needed to safely conduct…

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 awarded a $200,000 Cooperative Agreement to Pathstone Corporation under the Brownfields Job Training Program (CFDA 66.815) from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2025.

Under this award, Pathstone will recruit, train, and place 55 unemployed and underemployed residents of Puerto Rico municipalities impacted by solid and hazardous waste in environmental remediation careers. Trainees will receive classroom and practical instruction to earn nine certifications in environmental sampling and site cleanup methods, including OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training. The training is expected to lead to sustainable employment in the environmental field and improve community health by reducing exposures to hazardous substances. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement.

This project provides funding for pathstone corporation to recruit, train, and place unemployed and underemployed residents of puerto rico in environmental careers with skills needed to safely conduct remediation work at solid and hazardous waste-contaminated sites, as well as appropriate training in green remediation technologies, storm water management, emergency planning and chemical safety. Pathstone is targeting unemployed and under-employed residents of the municipalities of bayamoacute; n, catantilde; o, dorado, morovis, naranjito, TOA alta, TOA baja, vega alta and vega baja, puerto rico. Key partners are employers including toledo engineering, WRN construction, industrial central services, and bermudez, longo, diaz-masso; PR workforce development including junta local DE desarrollo laboral bayamoacute; n-comerio, area local desarollo laboral catantilde; o-TOA baja, and junta local DE desarrollo laboral dorado; training providers university of puerto rico (continuing ED and professional studies) and new robles driving school; departamento DE desarrollo econoacute; mico (PR economic development); senator elizabeth rosa-velez; municipality governments/mayors, and other environmental and community based organizations.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 consisting of instruction and certification in hazardous water operations and emergency response (hazwoper), pesticide safety, occupational safety and health administration (OSHA)10, automated external defibrillators (AED), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and forklift training. Additional environmental job training components include two training cycles of disaster site response providing 4 hours of instruction, one cycle of asbestos and lead abatement providing 48 hours of instruction, and two training cycles of heavy vehicle operation with hazardous materials and transportation worker identification credential certifications providing 40 hours of instruction. Participants who complete the core curricula will earn six state or federal certifications, with opportunities to earn up to two additional state environmental job certifications.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:this project will provide training to [include target area as well as target groups of population entity is serving with this program]. The anticipated deliverables for are: 55 individuals recruited, trained, certified, and placed in environmental careers in communities impacted by solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities. 13 classroom style trainings, practical trainings, and curricula modules. 9 appropriate certifications in environmental sampling and site cleanup methods. 55 of individuals that receive certifications in occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.120 40-hour hazardous waste operations and emergency response (hazwoper) training. Expected outcomes from this project include: -help residents of communities take advantage of jobs created by the assessment and cleanup of brownfields and the assessment, cleanup, and management of solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities while addressing environmental justice concerns. -provide training that leads to sustainable employment in the environmental field. -improve community involvement and stimulate the development of constructive partnerships. -reduce exposures to hazardous substances and other contaminants and improve the health of workers, occupants, and residents. -foster self-sufficiency and enhance the skills and availability of labor for environmental remediation in environmental justice and other communities impacted by environmental contamination. -enable residents to participate in the promotion of environmental health and occupational safety, both on the job and in their commu