CEHA 2024

This training will be a participant led dive into pervasiveness considerations in retail food facilities. This is intended for inspectors that inspect retail food facility and partake in the CDPHE Inspection Ratings program. This training is ideal for inspectors of all skill levels.

Schools in El Paso County have benefited from many years of partnership between El Paso County Public Health’s Environmental Health (EH) division and the El Paso County Hazardous Materials Response Team (EPCHM). Through joint routine inspections, EH and EPCHM have partnered to educate school personnel, prepare themselves for potential events, and respond to incidents. While explaining the unique history between EH and EPCHM, including a recent response to Carbon Monoxide and Ethylene Oxide complaints in an elementary school, lessons learned and recommendations for other jurisdictions will be presented.

NEHA’s National Environmental Health Internship Program (NEPHIP) is a 400-hour paid internship opportunity that links students from accredited environmental health programs with state, tribal, local and territorial public health agencies, with funding coming from the CDC. Four Colorado State University students will describe their recent NEPHIP internship experiences at Boulder, Garfield, Jefferson and Weld counties.

Alexandra Holmes and Bailey Reeves will be sharing their experiences as interns in the National Environmental Health Association Internship Program (NEPHIP). Alexandra was paired with Boulder County Public Health and worked on a project that focused on providing resources to prospective food vendor for events. Bailey was paired with Garfield County Public Health where she completed a project based on private wells and regulation adoptions. Their presentation will provide more information on their independent projects and their NEPHIP experiences.

NEHA’s National Environmental Health Internship Program (NEPHIP) is a 400-hour paid internship opportunity that links students from accredited environmental health programs with state, tribal, local and territorial public health agencies, with funding coming from the CDC. Four Colorado State University students will describe their recent NEPHIP internship experiences at Boulder, Garfield, Jefferson and Weld counties.

In response to initial sampling results, public interest, and a desire to gather more groundwater information in a densely-welled Park County community, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and Park County launched the Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) Testing and Assistance Program (TAP) pilot project in February 2024. This one-year pilot project provides private well users in Bailey free testing for PFAS using a reduced-cost water testing method. As a part of the pilot project, eligible households can also receive a pitcher filter that meets National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) standards to remove PFAS and other common contaminants from their drinking water. To date, the pilot program received over 600 applications for free PFAS testing and 23 applications for filtration support. Given the success of the pilot effort and funding available through Senate Bill 20-218, PFAS TAP plans to expand beyond the pilot area to provide testing and filtration support for private well users in other areas of Colorado. This presentation will share results from the PFAS TAP pilot project as well as detail plans for program expansion and opportunities for partnership between CDPHE and local public health agencies.

This presentation covers what local public health agencies should know about EPA's final PFAS drinking water regulations and designation of certain PFAS as hazardous substances to allow for Superfund cleanup. We will also discuss how ongoing and upcoming state efforts to address PFAS through the 2024 PFAS Action Plan impact local public health agencies and where there are opportunities for partnerships.

Highlighting a malfunction case in Jefferson County and the journey navigating the enforcement process.

The operation and maintenance (O&M) of onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) is critical to ensure optimal performance, functionality, and system longevity. Having a service contract with a licensed professional trained in the O&M of onsite wastewater treatment technologies is a sound approach to achieving sustained care and utility of an OWTS as well as protect homeowners’ significant financial investments.

OWTS O&M service visits often result in the early detection of a problem that could lead to a system malfunction. The proactive nature of regular O&M inspections makes it possible to take corrective action before a system becomes a public health hazard, detriment to the environment, or a liability for the homeowner—making O&M visits the most effective risk mitigation tool to public health. As our communities continue to expand and experience movement toward rural living, the utilization of OWTS for wastewater disposal will persist for the foreseeable future. As such, the need for OWTS Professionals and Regulators to develop an oversight program has emerged.

Development of an O&M oversight program is no small feat and poses a variety of challenges: cost, data management, regulatory authority, licensure and certifications, amongst others. Despite the challenges, effective wastewater management is critical to protect public health, environmental health, and property value. An O&M oversight program is essential to ensure OWTS within a respective jurisdiction are receiving the proper care and attention to protect our groundwater resources.