FACTS ON
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION FIVE
1 N. Wacker Dr. Chicago, Illinois B0606 312-353-5800
Manpower Development Branch
The Region Y Manpower Development Branch assists and administers
educational and training activities in waste water treatment, water qual-
ity control, and air pollution control.
The branch encourages State environmental manpower planning and
analyses manpower needs and availability. Its efforts are conducted in
conjunction with those of other Federal agencies such as the Departments
of Labor and Health, Education and Welfare and in close cooperation with
State environmental and health agencies.
A major function of the Manpower Development Branch is to provide
grants, contracts and technical assistance to state and local agencies
and to academic institutions for the presentation of training courses for
upgrading personnel in the operation and maintenance of water and waste
water treatment facilities.
Within the scope of this function the branch administers Manpower
Training Development Act funds for 16-48 week, on-the-job training courses
for entry-level municipal operators. Also, it monitors and assists ongoing
programs, including contracts with the State of Illinois for training public
personnel by Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville , with the Chicago
Metropolitan Sanitary District, and with the State of Indiana for training
at five sites by Indiana Vocational-Technical College.
In addition the branch directs training, financial support, and
training assistance for advanced operator training funded under Water Pol-
lution Control Act 5 (g) (l) grants. Furthermore, it anticipates State
pilot programs in each of the six states during 1972-73.
The branch coordinates efforts with the Office of Water Quality, ,
Division of Manpower, at the national level of EPA, to administer and
facilitate recruitment and placement for Institutional (9 locations),
Transition (Armed Service) and Public Service Careers programs for entry-
level operator training.
It encourages wastewater treatment operators unable to attend formal
training sessions to enroll in an EPA-sponsored correspondence course at
EPA 905-F-73-004
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minimal or no expense.
Also, the branch explores other avenues available for occupational
training and upgrading in environmental areas. As a part of its operator
training function, the branch develops additional resources through the
Coordinating Areawide Manpower Planning System (CAMPS), Veterans Specially
Funded Programs, the Vocational Education Act, the Environmental Education
Acts, the Emergency Employment Act, the Intergovernmental Personnel Act,
etc.
As a second major function, the branch develops and conducts short-
term direct training courses for the professional development of Federal,
State, and municipal personnel in planning, management, and operation of
treatment facilities and in all areas of environmental programs.
It provides consultation and assistance to other agencies in devel-
oping their own technical training courses in water and air pollution con-
trol and water supply.
In addition the branch assesses direct training needs for govern-
mental agencies in the region, develops training programs to meet the needs,
and evaluates the direct training courses, seminars, the workshops in
meeting State training needs.
A third major function of the branch is to review professional train-
ing grants to support educational institutions for graduate-level programs
in pollution control and graduate fellowships for specialized research
training in water pollution control.
Finally, the Manpower Development Branch conducts surveys and analyses
to determine current need and availability of water and air pollution con-
trol manpower and to develop projections of future needs and availability.
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