Special Points of Interest
EPA's Local Governments Reimbursement Program
Accessing the EPA's Local Government Reimbursement Program
Understanding HAZWOPER Basics
If your organization is a (municipal fire department, county health department, city public works, etc.) you may have heard of an EPA program that reimburses local governments for costs incurred during response activities, whether they involved overpacking a leaking container, providing communication equipment, or sampling and analysis.
Since, 1987, EPA has provided reimbursement to local governments through its Local Governments Reimbursement (LGR) program. By documenting costs and cost recovery work and completing an application, local governments can receive up to $25,000 as reimbursement.
Initial experiences with the application process were mixed and often the local governments weren't prepared for the paperwork part of the required submittal. In 1998, EPA revised the LGR program, making reimbursement funds more available, reducing the waiting time for reimbursement and reducing the reporting requirements and in general, streamlining the entire process.
Now, local government applicants fill out a simple
form with basic information about the incident, and document response costs
by attaching copies of receipts. The
application must be certified by the highest ranking local government official
or their authorized representative. The
applicant may receive a reimbursement check from the federal government
in as little as three months after EPA receives the application. To make the process easier, the EPA has also
established a 24-hour HelpLine (800-431-9209), to assist applicants with
completing the form. (continued on page 2 
)
McKinzie
Making an Impact
on
Training,
Regulatory Compliance, and
Site Assessment
Go to www.mckenv.com to learn about free training for local, state and federal agencies!
Inside this issue:
Understanding HAZWOPER Basics
Workplace Eye
Safety
OSHA Compliance Statistics
FREE Training!
Finding the Right Hazardous Waste Operations/Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Training Program for Your Workers
With the large number of Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training programs available today, it’s important to understand which program is right for your staff. Advertised classes can vary significantly in their content; choosing between them can be difficult. Since they all involve time and money, it’s important to understand which program is right for your workers.
(continued on page 3 )