Ecological Risk Assessment

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Explore the role that ecological risk assessment plays in establishing site clean-up goals, as well as federal and state regulatory expectations.

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Course Status Notice – Not Scheduled

We do not have an offering of this course scheduled at this time. Please join our email list to be notified when the next offering is scheduled!

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Course Details

Course Name: Ecological Risk Assessment
Course Code: EZ0401WA26
Date of Most Recent Offering: June 2 & 3 and June 9 & 10, 2026 (4 half days)

Date: June 2 & 3 and June 9 & 10, 2026 (4 half days)
Time: 9:00 am – 12:30 pm EDT

Location: Online
Format: Live, instructor-led

Registration Fee: $450 per person
Multi Person Discount Fee: $400 per person (Save when you sign up with a colleague!)

Registration Closes: June 1, 2026

Paying with a check, money order, or purchase order?
Payments should be made out to: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Checks and money orders should be mailed to: Office of Continuing Professional Education, Attn: Registration Dept., 102 Ryders Ln, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8519
Purchase Orders can be mailed to the address above or electronically sent to registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Course Overview

This online program provides attendees with a comprehensive overview of regulatory expectations of ecological risk assessments from both federal and state perspectives. Participants will learn to help clients understand how the ecological risk assessment process aids in developing realistic approaches to remediating sites. LSRPs will gain more perspective on the role that ecological risk assessment plays in establishing site clean-up goals.

During the first two class sessions, learn about the methodologies and innovative approaches being employed to conduct ecological risk evaluations and assessments of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems under CERCLA, RCRA, and various state mandates.

During the last two class sessions, NJDEP representatives will take you through the updated NJ guidance document for the completion of ecological risk assessments under the Licensed Site Remediation Professionals (LSRP) Program.

  • Applicability of Ecological Risk Assessments
  • Federal, State (NJ, NY, and PA), and Regional Approaches
  • Regulatory Drivers
  • Development of Clean-up Goals
  • Hazard Assessment: How and Why
  • The US EPA’s 8-Step Process

Who Should Attend?

Environmental professionals seeking a greater understanding of the ecological risk assessment process can benefit from attending this course. Past participants have included:

  • Consultants
  • Ecological Risk Assessors
  • Engineers
  • Environmental Specialists
  • Geologists
  • Hydrogeologists
  • Licensed Site Remediation Professionals (LSRP)
  • Project Managers

Meet Your Instructors

Faculty Coordinator

Charles R. Harman, P.W.S.

Headshot of instructor Charles Harman

A Principal Ecologist and Regulatory Services Branch Manager at Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., Charles Harman has 30 years of experience in the environmental consulting field. He specializes in natural resource-related assessment and management activities, including ecological risk assessments, sediment evaluations, biological assessments, natural resource damage assessments, wetlands management, and ecological restorations. He is responsible for the completion of ecological risk assessment projects and wetlands evaluations at hazardous waste sites and industrial facilities around the country, and he has conducted ecological risk assessments using a variety of USEPA headquarters, regional, program, and state methodologies. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology from Texas A&M University and a Master’s degree in Biology from Southwest Texas State University.

Additional Instructors

Keith Leonard, NJDEP

Iman Olguin-Lira, NJDEP

Dana Galbreath, NJDEP

Student Reviews

Most useful aspect of the course: “Hearing directly from NJDEP experts; insights on how they view situations.”

– Past Participant

“The Eco guidance document can be difficult to follow. This training session helped.”

– Past Participant

“Nice balance of NJDEP and regulated community perspective on such a complicated subject.”

– Past Participant

Continuing Education Credits

The most recent offering of Ecological Risk Assessment was approved for 1.2 Rutgers CEUs (12 contact hours) as well as the following credits from professional organizations. We will reapply for similar credits the next time the course runs, but we cannot guarantee credit approval for future offerings.

The Ecological Risk Assessment course is approved for 1.2 Rutgers CEUs (12 contact hours), as well as the following credits from professional organizations.

State of Connecticut map iconConnecticut

CT Licensed Environmental Professionals (LEPs): 9.5 CECs – Course Number CTLEP-392

State of New Jersey map iconNew Jersey

NJ Certified Public Works Managers (CPWM): 12 Government Contact Hours (Course #DLGS-RUCPE25-15)

NJ Health Officers and Registered Environmental Health Specialists (HO/REHS): Rutgers University, NJAES, Office of Continuing Professional Education has been approved by the New Jersey Department of Health as a provider of NJ Public Health Continuing Education Contact Hours (CEs). Participants who complete this education program will be awarded 13.0 NJ Public Health Continuing Education Contact Hours (CEs).

NJ Licensed Site Remediation Professionals (LSRP): 5 Regulatory and 5 Technical CECs (Course No. 2012-029)

NJ Professional Engineers: 10 Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) Credits

Course Requirements and Policies

electronic devices iconTechnology Requirements

This online course will be delivered via Zoom.

Equipment you will need to access this training:

  • A computer, tablet, or smartphone
  • Microphone is not necessary (all students will be muted on entry; you can use the “chat function” to type your questions and interact with the instructor)
  • Webcam is optional but not necessary
  • Speaker is optional but not necessary (you will be able to listen to the presentation by dialing in on your phone if your computer does not have a speaker)

email iconEmail Requirement

A unique email address is required for each registrant to register and access our courses.

  • If this is your first time registering with us, please provide your own unique email address when registering; do not provide an email address that you share with co-workers.
  • If you have previously taken classes with us and have used an email address that you share with your co-workers or supervisor, your account must be updated with a unique email address. To do this, please send an email to us at registration@njaes.rutgers.edu stating that your email address needs to be changed and include:
    • Your full name
    • The shared email address that needs to be changed
    • Your unique email address
    • A phone number where you can be reached if we have any questions

camera iconPhoto ID Requirement

Each registrant will be asked provide a photo of him/herself holding their government-issued photo ID. This is required by credit boards so that you may receive credits for participating in this online course.

  • You will receive a reminder email prior to the start of the class with further instructions. Wait to receive these instructions before you attempt to upload your ID.
  • The photo must be clear enough that we can read your name and verify that the person pictured on the ID is in fact the person holding it.
  • After an OCPE staff member reviews the picture and verifies your identity, you will have access to participate in the course when it begins.

x icon with circle around itCancellations and Substitutions

A $100 cancellation fee applies for this course. Substitutions are permitted. View our cancellation policy.

Attention U.S. Veterans

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This course is approved by the New Jersey State Approving Agency for Veterans Training for educational benefits through the GI Bill®. Learn more.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Program Questions? We’re Here to Help!

If you have any questions about Ecological Risk Assessment, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Headshot of Rutgers Program Coordinator Pamela Springard-Mayer

Senior Program Coordinator: Pamela Springard-Mayer
848-932-7463
pspring@rutgers.edu

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Administrative Assistant: Claudine Oleskin
848-932-7204
coleskin@njaes.rutgers.edu

For registration assistance, please contact our Registration Department at 848-932-9271, option 2 or email registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

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