Upcoming SETAC WET Training
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1.Hands-on Whole Effluent Toxicity Course

The course covers the technical aspects of executing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) freshwater acute and chronic whole effluent toxicity (WET) test methods. The curriculum incorporates rationale and information on WET test requirements from the USEPA freshwater acute and short-term chronic toxicity testing manuals. Topics include the fundamentals of freshwater test methods for three species, quality assurance, statistical evaluation techniques, and report preparation. The attendees will participate in the test initiation and termination process, as well as calculation of acute and chronic test results for the water flea, fathead minnow and Selanstrum (algal) tests. The team of instructors includes members from academia, a private consulting laboratory, local, state and federal government agencies. Team members have broad and extensive hands-on experience with both the USEPA acute and chronic freshwater toxicity tests commonly used to analyze effluent, stormwater and ambient waters.

Instuctors are recognized experts in whole effluent toxicity analyses. Courses are established with very low instructor to student ratios to acheive maximum one-on-one interaction.

Scheduled dates: To be Announced
Contact Greg Schiefer at SETAC 850-469-1500 for further information.
2. A WET (Whole Effluent Toxicity) Tale: Toxicity of Complex Effluents. This course covers standards, regulations, policy, guidance, and technical aspects of implementing the whole effluent toxicity program. The curriculum incorporates rationale and information on WET test requirements from USEPA documents such as the Technical Support Document for Water Quality-Based Toxics Control (TSD), acute and short-term chronic toxicity testing methods manuals, and toxicity reduction evaluation /toxicity identification evaluation (TRE/TIE) manuals. TIE/TRE procedures are presented along with case histories. Topics include the implementation of the WET program based on statutory, regulatory, and policy publications; test methods; quality assurance; statistical evaluation techniques; NPDES WET permit development; compliance; and enforcement. The instructors will represent both the regulatory and regulated communities to provide a balanced approach and viewpoints. Participants will receive a course binder with copies of slides and talking points along with supplemental reference materials (e.g. copies of recent EPA guidance, example permit language, statistical data sets, and permitting and compliance guidance). In addition, participants will receive the SETAC publication, Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing: an Evaluation of Methods and Receiving Stream Impacts, and a CD-ROM of the journal, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, with abstracts from Vol. 1-14, and Volume 15 in its entirety. Level of Difficulty: Introductory.
Scheduled dates:  

To Be Announced

Contact Greg Schiefer at SETAC 850-469-1500 for further information.
3. The Wild, Wild, WET: Responses to Common Questions Regarding Data Analysis and Interpretation of Toxicity Tests. This course addresses common questions related to the interpretation of toxicity tests. The curriculum will discuss a wide variety of difficulties experienced in the conduct of WET tests related to a number of factors including: experimental design, statistical analysis, statistical versus biological significance, concentration/response curves, test variability, data outliers, biological and pathogenic interference, salinity adjustment, and most sensitive species selection. Questions and issues associated with each topic are discussed using actual toxicity test data. A balanced team of instructors will provide guidance on ways to minimize, analyze, and interpret problem toxicity test data. Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.
Scheduled dates: To be Announced
Contact Greg Schiefer at SETAC 850-469-1500 for further information.
4. Toxicity Identification Evaluations/ Toxicity Reduction Evaluations. Concepts of toxicity identification evaluation/ toxicity reduction evaluations (TI/RE) for effluents are presented. The primary objective of this course is to provide a level of awareness of TI/RE procedures to professionals who are relatively unfamiliar with the process. The course will benefit regulators and permittees who require a basic understanding of TI/REs and how they are performed. For environmental services professionals who wish to perform TI/REs, this course will serve to introduce them to the topic and allow them to begin to effectively participate in TI/RE programs. Topics covered include: related permitting issues, TI/RE procedures including characterization, identification and confirmation approaches, toxicity treatment evaluations, helpful suggestions for performing TI/REs and case examples of a number of different types of TI/REs. Ample time is provided for questions/discussions and interactions with course attendees. The target audience is industrial and municipal professionals who are responsible for NPDES compliance and who have a need to understand the general framework for TI/REs, Environmental services and regulatory professionals who are relatively new to the field of effluent toxicology and permitting will also benefit. Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.

Scheduled dates: To be announced

5. Taming the wild, wild WET: Analysis and Interpretation of Toxicity Tests. This course addresses common questions related to the interpretation of toxicity tests. The curriculum will discuss a wide variety of difficulties experienced in the conduct of WET tests related to a number of factors including: experimental design, statistical analysis, statistical versus biological significance, concentration/response curves, test variability, data outliers, biological and pathogenic interference, salinity adjustment, and most sensitive species selection. Questions and issues associated with each topic are discussed using actual toxicity test data. A balanced team of instructors will provide guidance on ways to minimize, analyze, and interpret problem toxicity test data. Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.

Contact Greg Schiefer at SETAC 850-469-1500 for further information.
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This page was last updated: 03/22/2004

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