Identification of Bureau of Land Management Environmental Professionals and Application Requirements

IB 2015-029
Information Bulletin

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov

 

February 6, 2015

 

 

In Reply Refer To:

1703 (WO-280) P

 

EMS TRANSMISSION

Information Bulletin No. 2015-029

 

To:                   All Field Office Officials

                        Attn: Hazard Materials Management Program Leads, Lands and

                        Realty Program Leads

From:               Assistant Director, Resources and Planning

Subject:           Identification of Bureau of Land Management Environmental Professionals and Application Requirements

 

This Information Bulletin (IB) provides managers with a list of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Environmental Professionals (EP) qualified to conduct Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) for property acquisitions. This IB is effective immediately.

Regulation 40 CFR Part 312 provides that only an EP may certify an ESA.  An EP is defined as “someone who possesses sufficient specific education, training, and experience necessary to exercise professional judgment to develop opinions and conclusions regarding conditions indicative of releases or threatened releases of hazardous substance on, at, or to a property, sufficient to meet the objectives and performance factors of the rule.”  An ESA must be conducted on all new land acquisitions as required by 602 Department Manual 2.

Attachment 1 is a comprehensive list of EPs who meet the requirements of 40 CFR Part 312 and are authorized to conduct ESAs for BLM land purchases, exchanges, sales, leases, grants, or any other type of land acquisition in which the BLM gains a real property interest.  Managers are encouraged to support training to ensure that EPs meet the continuing education requirements of 40 CFR Part 312.

Managers who do not have an EP on staff must either contact an EP listed on Attachment 1 to conduct an ESA, or request assistance from their Hazardous Materials Management (HMM) State Office Program Lead.  BLM offers a process for EP candidates to be certified by the federal government as documented in 40 CFR Part 312.10 (b )(2)(ii).  The EP Process is described in Attachment 2.  An EP application is provided as Attachment 3 for individuals to use in applying for EP status.  The BLM Washington Office coordinates with an EP Panel, the National Training Center, and the HMM State Office Program Leads to:

  • Distribute an updated EP list via an IB.
  • Solicit applications from candidates seeking to become an EP.

This IB has been coordinated with the Washington Office Division of Environmental Quality and Protection (WO-280) and Division of Lands, Realty and Cadastral Survey (WO-350). 

Please direct any questions regarding this IB to J. Kimberly Harriz, Environmental Engineer, 202-912-7126, Division of Environmental Quality and Protection (WO-280).

 

 

 

Signed by:

Authenticated by:

Edwin L. Roberson

Assistant Director, Resources and Planning

Catherine Emmett

Division of IRM Governance,WO-860

 

 

 

3 Attachments

      1 - List of BLM Environmental Professionals (2 pp)

      2 - Environmental Professional Process (2 pp)

      3 - Environmental Professional Application (7 pp)