Visible Emission EVALUATION CertificationS

(Smoke School) – Fall 2008

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HMH will be conducting Visible Emission Evaluation (VEE) Certification classes in Anchorage, Valdez, Fairbanks and Kenai this fall. This VEE training program will satisfy the certification requirements of 40 CFR 60 Appendix A, Method 9 - Visible Determination of the Opacity of Emissions from Stationary Sources. This program has undergone extensive review/audits by the US-EPA who recommended a number of measures to assure that all participants have a full understanding of all requirements of Method 9. One of these measures is to require a completely filled out field certification form that includes all spatial and directional aspects by the method. Furthermore, HMH continually updates the classroom materials to include any new EPA guidelines as well as any directives from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. In accordance with EPA recommendations, HMH requires that first-time readers attend the classroom session and strongly recommends that all smoke-readers participate in the VEE classroom session periodically as a refresher or at a minimum once every other year. The field re-certifications are required every six months by Method 9 rule in order to stay current as a VEE observer.

The schedule, course fees, classroom and field training locations and registration information are listed below.

Please Note:

· Participants can attend or repeat any of the classroom or field certifications during the session at no extra charge.

The classroom sessions in Valdez and Kenai are of a reduced scope, covering topics directly related to VEE-Readings that will satisfy the certification requirements of Method 9. The full-day class in Anchorage covers other related topics such as emission control technologies and state regulations. Participants are welcome to attend or repeat the Anchorage class during the 2008 fall session at no extra charge. The Fairbanks class will be limited in practice and review time but will include the scope of the full-day class.
All field sessions are scheduled to allow for make-up time the following day in case of inclement weather or equipment failures.
Please bring your own clipboard and No.2 pencil.
Low/mid and high opacity orientation points and practice readings will be provided prior to each black or white smoke run.
In order to be accepted as a “passing” VEE field certification form, each form needs to include all details on sun-angles, distance and direction relative to the smoke stack. A correctly filled out form demonstrates that the participant understands the basic requirements of Method 9.
A VEE valid run must consist of 25 white and 25 black readings conducted consecutively (back-to-back). A passing VEE run therefore must show a passing score on a white run followed by a passing score on a black run or vice versa, conducted back-to-back. It is up to the participant to verify that this requirement has been met for a passing VEE score before leaving the field training. Please do not hesitate to ask one of the field operators if you need clarification regarding your score.
Participants are reminded that the field class is outdoors and to dress appropriately for the weather.
Sunglasses or photo-gray lenses should not be worn.
Please note that the field training will end once all registered participants have left the site.
In case of high winds (> 25mph) the training can no longer be carried out in accordance with EPA guidance.
NEW! At any time feel free to practice reading opacities or to prepare for the field certifications with our on-line practice session (see below).

Schedule

Anchorage

Kenai *

Valdez

Fairbanks

Classroom

Date/Time

Location

October 6

9 am – 5 pm

Loussac Library ⁽¹⁾

October 9

8 am – noon

Beacon Training Center ⁽³⁾

October 13

8 am – noon

APSC/VMT VTO Training Room ⁽⁶⁾

October 16

8 am – 1 pm

GVEA Training Room ⁽⁸⁾

Field Training

Date/Time

Location

(Daytime)

October 7

9 am – 5pm

AWWF ⁽²⁾

October 9

1 pm – 6 pm

Beacon Training Center ⁽⁴⁾

October 13

1 pm – 6 pm

APSC/VMT Contractor Parking Lot ⁽⁷⁾

October 16

* 2 pm – 6 pm

GVEA North side of Turbine Bldg. ⁽⁹⁾

Field Training

Date/Time

Location

(Daytime)

October 21

9am – 5 pm

HMH Yard ⁽¹⁰⁾

October 17

* 9 am – 1 pm

GVEA North side of Turbine Bldg. ⁽⁹⁾

Field Training

Date/Time

Location

(Night-time )

October 7

7 pm – 11 pm

AWWF ⁽²⁾

October 21

7pm – 11 pm

HMH Yard ⁽¹⁰⁾

October 9

** Tentative ⁽⁴⁾

October 13

7pm – 11 pm

APSC/VMT

Contractor Parking

Lot

October 16

7 pm – 11 pm

GVEA North side of Turbine Bldg.

(1) Loussac Library: 3600 Denali St. Conference Room. (907) 343-2906

(2) Asplund Wastewater Treatment Facility (AWWF): Point Woronzof, 2300 Hutson Dr.

(3) Beacon Training Center: 450 Marathon Rd., Kenai. Check in with the receptionist for classroom location.

(4) Beacon Training Center: 450 Marathon Rd., Kenai. Park in the parking lot and walk through the gate to the back of the building. Please do not drive behind the building!

(5) Tentatively scheduled pending demand. PLEASE CONTACT HMH IF YOU WOULD LIKE NIGHT TRAINING IN KENAI.

(6) Alyeska Pipeline Service Company /Valdez Marine Terminal, VTO Building Training Room: Check in with security.

(7) Alyeska Pipeline Service Company /Valdez Marine Terminal, Contractor parking lot: end of Dayville Road.

(8) Golden Valley Electric Assoc. Training Room: 758 Illinois St. Check in with the receptionist, head up the stairs and turn left.

(9) Golden Valley Electric Assoc.: Park in the front parking lot, walk through the main gate and turn right to head around to the back to the turbine building.

(10)6228 Nielsen Way, Anchorage

NOTE: * The Fairbanks daytime field session is split into two, half-day events.

** Will only be held if sufficient interest – please pre-register with HMH for this class.

Training Fees:

Anchorage

VEE Classroom Session: $75.00

Field-Certification – Day Time: $125.00

Field Certification – Night Time: $75.00

Valdez:

Classroom Session: $75.00

Field-Certification – Day Time: $350.00

Field Certification – Night Time: $125.00

Fairbanks:

Classroom Session: $75.00

Field-Certification – Day Time: $275.00

Field Certification – Night Time: $125.00

Kenai:

Classroom Session: $75.00

Field-Certification – Day Time: $275.00

Field Certification – Night Time: $125.00

Registration and Payment:

Pre-Registration: In order to ensure a suitable size classroom facility, pre-registration is required only for the VEE classroom/refresher session. Registration forms can be filled out and submitted on-line, mailed, e-mailed or faxed to the HMH office no later than one week prior to each classroom session.

Pre-registration is not required for field sessions. However, HMH will need a completed registration form for each participant in order to assure that certificates and invoices/receipts are sent to the proper addresses. Forms will also be available at each field location. Only one form is needed for multiple participants attending from the same organization. Every effort will be made to issue certificates to “passing” field participants as soon as possible after each session.

Payments: Participants will be invoiced by mail based on the location and sessions attended. Payment can be made by check payable to HMH Consulting, LLC and sent to our office at 6228 Nielsen Way, Anchorage, AK 99518. If necessary, HMH can accept credit card payments. Please call/email the office for the credit card processing form. A 3% handling fee will be added to the training fee for credit card payments.

Contact Information:

Registration, Payments & Invoicing:

Diana Phosavath or

Tammy Birch

6228 Nielsen Way

Anchorage, AK 99518

Phone: (907) 562-8100

Fax: (907) 562-8900

Email: hmh-smokeschool@gci.net

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REGISTRATION :

Course Registration Form

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VEE -- ON-LINE PRACTICE

HMHVega-red2 By popular demand, HMH has created electronic practice runs for 25 black and 25 white opacity readings. The following practice run files can be downloaded in a MS-PowerPoint format and saved to your desktop. The file size is indicated and the time for downloading will depend on your connection speed. Each file can be best viewed in a slide-show mode. Download also the Observation form and use for recording your observed opacities for all 25 black and white slides. A separate result form is available below. Each Practice Run includes three calibration points (25%, 50% and 75%).

Note: We were careful taking the pictures at correct sun-angles, at a distance of 3-times the stack height and perpendicular to the plume centerlines. The background consists of blue sky and green foliage, which provide excellent contrast and a choice of background. Winds were light to moderate. The images have a fairly high resolution (therefore the large file size of each practice run). However, in spite of the fact that all conditions were quite favorable, these images cannot and are in no way meant to be of the same value as the actual field observations. As always - we appeciate your comments.

VEE-Practice Run--Black #1 (15,000 KB)

(Record opacities on observation form)

VEE-Practice Run--White #1 (14,000 KB)

VEE-Practive Run – Observation Form (463 KB) (Download and print)

VEE-Practive Run #1 – Results (6 KB) (Calculate your deviations on observation form)