Westar

WRAP Board Meeting
2025-12-10 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-08 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-08-13 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-11 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Denver)
Agenda

Online: Permitting Practice & Principles (PERM 202)
2025-12-09 08:30 - 2025-12-11 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
This course provides hands-on training in the methods and procedures used to review permit applications and to prepare air quality permits. This course is designed for personnel of State and local agencies that have some experience in permit programs. The course is designed primarily for permit writers, but inspectors who must read and interpret permit conditions and make site inspections will benefit as well. Course material will address state and local permits, as well as Title V federal operating permits. Other topics covered will include compliance assurance monitoring; monitoring, reporting, and record-keeping requirements; and toxic air contaminant issues associated with permitting. Those completing this course will gain an understanding of the information associated with permit writing including:

Review of permitting (Definition, Types, Authority, Process, Contents)
State permits
SIP authorized state and local preconstruction review
Delegated federal programs
Title V
Public involvement
New Source Performance Standards
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
Toxics Issues

Course Materials

WESTAR Planning Committee
2025-12-04 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-11-06 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-02 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-04 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-07 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-03 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-06-05 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Denver)
The WESTAR Planning Committee includes air quality planners from the 15 member states. Planners from Tribal and local air agencies as well as EPA and Federal Land Management agencies are welcome to attend. These calls occur every month on the First Thursday at 2:00 Mountain Time. The purpose of the call is to identify policy issues of concern, make recommendations and comment on EPA policies and proposals, and exchange information and expertise on relevant topics.
If you are interested in attending these calls, please contact Jay Baker at jbaker@westar.org.

WRAP Technical Steering Committee/Workgroup Co-chairs Coordination Call
2025-12-03 12:30 - 14:00, 2025-09-24 12:30 - 14:00, 2025-07-30 12:30 - 13:30 (America/Denver)

Advanced Inspector Training (NACT 355)
2025-12-02 08:30 - 2025-12-04 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maricopa County – Security Building – 1A, 234 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, United States
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The Advanced Inspector Training Course focuses on issues and techniques for the more senior inspector to help enhance and improve their inspection techniques and results. This course does not focus on any specific media but covers subject applicable to inspections in all media. The course is intended to provide additional tools to obtain information before, during, and after an inspection. The course will present “best practices” for conducting inspections and give the students an opportunity to discuss how these “best practices” apply or not to their own inspections. Each class will have the opportunity to discuss and evaluate specific issues or areas of interest to them.

Course Materials

WESTAR Technical Committee
2025-11-26 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-22 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-24 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-27 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-23 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-06-25 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Denver)
The WESTAR Technical Committee includes technical professionals from the 15 member states. Participants come from a variety of backgrounds including monitoring, emissions inventory, and modeling analysis. Technical professionals from Tribal and local air agencies as well as EPA and Federal Land Management agencies are welcome to attend. These calls occur every month on the First Thursday at 2:00 Mountain Time. The purpose of the call is to identify policy issues of concern, make recommendations and comment on EPA policies and proposals, and exchange information and expertise on relevant topics.
If you are interested in attending these calls, please contact Jay Baker at jbaker@westar.org.

Online: Principles of Ambient Monitoring (AMBM 102)
2025-09-25 09:00 - 15:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This course is specifically designed for regulatory personnel who operate and oversee ambient air monitoring data. This class is intended for quality assurance coordinators or managers, field or laboratory supervisors, and technicians involved with quality assurance of monitoring system data.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Those completing this course will gain a basic understanding of the general information associated with principles of ambient air monitoring. Attendees will be able to perform regulatory reviews involving the following elements of ambient air monitoring:

Regulations and Standards
Monitoring Networks
Station Siting
Instrumentation
Documentation
Data Handling
Quality Assurance
References and Resources

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course covers the basic design and theory of ambient air monitoring, quality assurance and control methods as they relate to monitoring instruments, site development criteria and data processing. This course will address PM2.5 and other particulate methods, ozone, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, sulfur dioxide, meteorology systems, data recording systems, gas calibration systems, and zero air systems.
Course Delivery: This is a virtual, instructor-led training course.
Course Brochure:
To Register: EPA’s AirKnowledge
Ambient Monitoring Slides (PDF)
Ambient Monitoring Slides (PPTX)
Course Materials

Online: Auto, Metal Parts and Products (TOXC 231)
2025-09-24 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This course is intended for new, entry-level as well as semi-experienced stationary source permit engineers, inspectors, regulatory agency staff, and environmental specialists in business and government. The course is designed to provide an overview of Surface Coating: Metal Parts & Products.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Completing this course will gain a basic understanding of the general information associated with metal parts and products operations. Attendees will be able to perform regulatory reviews involving the following elements of Metal Parts operations:

All types of coatings
Application techniques applied in the controlled conditions of a factory
Control Technologies
Inspection procedures
Coating steps and points of emissions
List of Hazardous Materials found in Coatings

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course addresses the complex matter of paints and coatings used in the manufacture or refurbishment of metal parts and products. Combining lecture, discussion, and informational video, students are introduced to topics such as coating formulation, volatile content limits, transfer efficiency, application equipment, inspector sampling, and laboratory analysis for liquid and powder coatings.
Course Delivery: This is a virtual, instructor-led training course.
Course Brochure
To Register: EPA’s AirKnowledge
Course Materials
Videos

Online: Polyester/Epoxy Resin, Fiberglass & Composite Manufacture (TOXC228)
2025-09-23 09:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This course is intended for permitting engineers, compliance engineers and inspectors. The course is designed to provide an overview of Polyester Resin and Fiberglass Facilities.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Those completing this course will gain a basic understanding of the general information associated with polyester resin and fiberglass plants. Attendees will be able to perform regulatory reviews involving the following elements of Polyester Resin and Fiberglass plants:
The following topics will be covered in this course:

Plastics and Plastic resin uses
Plastic resin theory / operation
Air pollution control devices
Implementing regulations
Typical permit conditions
Inspection procedures
Federal regulations

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides information for air pollution inspectors on the history, use of raw materials, production methods, emission control methods and inspection procedures for polyester resin and fiberglass facilities. This course covers pollution prevention, legal requirements, and RACT/BACT. Upon completion of this course, inspectors will be able to understand what is required of the facility to remain in compliance with the requirements.
Course Delivery: This is a virtual, instructor-led training course.
Course Brochure
To Register: EPA’s AirKnowledge
Course Materials

Instructor’s Files
Instructor’s Files I
Instructor Files II

Best Available Control Technology (BACT) Determination
2025-08-19 08:30 - 2025-08-21 17:00 (America/Denver) | State of Montana, 2401 Colonial Drive, Helena, 59601, United States
WESTAR’s Training Center will host this in-person training course for state, local and tribal air quality professional staff working, or planning to work, in major source permitting.
BACT is determined on a case-by-case basis, consisting of the following five steps:
• Step 1 – Identify each emission unit and all available control options
• Step 2 – Evaluate the technical feasibility of each control option. Eliminate control options that are not technically feasible based on physical, chemical, and engineering principles.
• Step 3 – Rank remaining control options on the basis of control efficiency, the top ranked control alternative is the first selection of BACT.
• Step 4 – Eliminate control options based on evaluation of economic, environmental and energy impacts.
• Step 5 – Select the most effective option as BACT.
This training will examine the framework for a consistent approach to determining BACT. The emphasis is on the types of data which should be required in a pre-construction permit application and how the data should be used in order to determine BACT, and the technological question of whether the emission control system proposed in the permit application represents BACT or whether a more stringent level of emission control is appropriate considering available technology and economic, energy, and environmental impacts.
COURSE MATERIALS: Training course materials will only be available electronically. Attendees will receive an online document sharing link for access to materials. It is the attendee’s responsibility for downloading files and for providing the device or media on which to view materials. WESTAR will provide hard copies only for those needing accommodation.
SPACE LIMITATION: Registration is limited to 35 attendees. Air quality staff from the fifteen western states receive registration preference.
REGISTRATION FEES: There are no registration fees for state, local or tribal air quality agency staff. For federal agency staff a $1,200 registration fee will be charged.
Course Brochure
To Register: EPA’s AirKnowledge

Theory & Application of Common Air Pollution Control Devices - ONLINE
2025-08-12 09:00 - 2025-08-14 15:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Who Should Attend: This is an introductory course designed for agency inspectors, permit writers, and regulation developers who have the responsibility to review air pollution control devices.
Learning Objectives: This course is designed to give attendees a basic understanding of the different types and operating characteristics of air pollution control devices that are available for particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, acid gases, and hazardous air pollutants. Course topics include:
• Background on ideal gas law and capture and control of air pollutants.
• Particulate controls, including separators, fabric filters, scrubbers, and electrostatic precipitators.
• Volatile organic compound controls, including minimization, oxidation, condensation, adsorption, and absorption.
• Carbon monoxide controls, including minimization, catalysts, and oxidation.
• Acid gas controls, including prevention, absorption, and adsorption; and
• Parametric monitoring of air pollution control equipment.
Course Delivery: This is a virtual, instructor-led training course.
Space Limitation: Registration is limited to 45 attendees. Air quality staff from the fifteen western states receive registration preference.
Course Brochure
Course Materials
To Register: EPA AirKnowledge

Effective Permit Writing - ONLINE
2025-07-29 09:00 - 2025-07-31 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course presents information on the major national programs in air pollution stationary source permitting. This course was designed to provide methods and procedures used to effectively draft and review permit conditions used with a variety of permit programs. This course is designed for personnel of state and local permitting agencies who are new to permit programs, managers of programs which are impacted by permits, and inspectors who must read and interpret permit conditions. Examples of the various types of permit conditions are presented along with practical exercises.
MAJOR TOPICS:
• Identification of the components required in a complete permit application evaluation,
• Explanation of the functions and purposes of each component of a complete permit application,
• Description of the characteristics of an effective permit,
• Explanation of the process, approaches that can be used to assure an effective permit is produced.
Course Delivery: This is a virtual, instructor-led training.
SPACE LIMITATION: Registration is limited to 35 attendees. Air quality staff from the fifteen western states receive registration preference.
Course Brochure
To Register: EPA AirKnowledge

NOx Control/Regulation - ONLINE
2025-07-08 09:00 - 2025-07-10 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Who Should Attend: This course was designed to address the needs of tribal, state, and local air agency personnel involved in the permitting and compliance assessment of existing regulatory requirements as well as those personnel involved in the development of nitrogen oxide (NOx) control programs. This class is intended for new permit and compliance engineers and scientists who are responsible for permitting, compliance, and SIP planning activities.
About the Course: This course presents fundamental information on NOx emissions from combustion sources such as industrial and utility boilers. The goal of this course is to present information that will help environmental professionals address present and future NOx control issues. The course introduces a broad range of control technology topics and identifies some of the sources for obtaining further information on these topics.
Learning Objectives: Those completing this course will gain an understanding of the mechanisms by which NOx is formed in the combustion process as well as sources of NOx emissions and the history related to regulating NOx emissions from these sources. Attendees will be able to perform regulatory reviews involving the types, applicability, capability, and limitations of available control techniques to suppress the formation of NOx emissions or to minimize NOx emissions.
Course Delivery: This is a virtual, instructor-led training.
Course Brochure
To Register: EPA AirKnowledge

Monitoring Compliance Testing & Source Test Observation
2025-06-04 08:30 - 2025-06-06 17:00 (America/Denver) | Utah DEQ, 195 N 1950 W, Salt Lake City, UT, 84116, United States
WESTAR’s Training Center will host this training course for state, local and tribal air quality professional staff working, or planning to work, in source testing.
This lecture-based course is designed for state, local and tribal air quality professional whose role is to observe source testing, evaluate source test methods, approve test protocols and review source test results as required under various federal and state regulations or as required by issued permits. This class is intended for compliance and field engineers, scientists and technicians who have responsibility for the above source testing tasks.
Those completing this course will gain a basic understanding of the general information associated with source testing and source test methods. This course develops the ability to plan, guide, evaluate, and (after experience on the job) perform source sampling measurements to determine rates of emissions from stationary sources. It clarifies EPA Reference Methods 1 to 4, and Method 5. The course develops knowledge of the equipment employed, understanding of why the prescribed methods are established, and ability to perform the calibrations and calculations which are a part of the reference methods.
To ensure that the source test methods utilized to demonstrate compliance are performed according to EPA guidelines, both agency and industrial personnel will be required to observe stack tests to document that compliance with the methodology is being achieved. This will mean that an observer must be intimately familiar with numerous stack test methods, each one with its own particular operation.
SPACE LIMITATION: Registration is limited to 40 attendees. Air quality staff from the fifteen western states receive registration preference.
REGISTRATION FEES:
There are no registration fees for state, local or tribal air quality agency staff. For federal agency staff a $1,000 registration fee will be charged.
COURSE BROCHURE
COURSE MATERIALS
To register log onto EPA’s AirKnowledge
