2008 Press Releases

April 28, 2008

EPA Trains Permit Writers

Workshop Participants  Full Size

The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) of Trinidad and Tobago invited trainers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver an intense five-day workshop from April 21 - 25 in writing enforceable, effective permits for the discharge of wastewater to receiving waters. This training is required as the EMA progresses with the implementation of the EMA’s Water Pollution Rules, 2001. The grant of a permit is the main mechanism by which the EMA will effect an improvement in the quality of our inland and coastal waters. The workshop therefore also sought to improve the ability of Compliance Officers responsible for monitoring and enforcing permit conditions.

Wayne Rajkumar of the EMA and his staff coordinated the training, and EPA trainers Angela McFadden and Karen O'Brien facilitated the course for an audience of approximately 35 enthusiastic and skilled engineers, scientists, and attorneys. Course participants represented the water permitting program of the EMA, as well as the multi-media Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) program that has already been established in Trinidad and Tobago, and the Department of Natural Resources (DNRE) in Tobago.

As a registered environmental engineer with the State of New York, as well as a Water Quality Based Permitting Expert for the USEPA, Karen O’Brien has over ten years experience in reviewing permit applications, calculating effluent limitations for power generating facilities, sewerage treatment plants, drinking water filtration plants, military installations and industrial manufacturing facilities (such as producers of rum, tobacco, food products, and pharmaceuticals).

The second workshop facilitator, Angela McFadden, is the Acting Chief/Chief of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Enforcement Branch, Water Protection Division. With experience in preparing Clean Water Act civil enforcement cases and assisting in negotiating settlements, McFadden also develops inspection targeting strategies and guidance for inspectors. As an environmental engineer, she has also worked in the Air Protection Division and also served as an Environmental Protection Specialist in the Air, Toxics and Radiation Division at the NPDES.

The course covered a broad array of topics, ranging from receiving and reviewing permit applications, establishing permit limitations based on treatment technology and receiving water quality, determining best management practices for prevention of storm water pollution, permitting tools and options, writing narrative conditions in permits, and broader strategic issues such as developing an effective strategy for addressing permits, the importance of compliance assistance and awarding good stewardship, and enforcement of permit conditions. The course concluded with presentation of certificates for participants, and a party to celebrate the hard work of the week, and new friends made.