THE DIRT: The Super JTI Program

The Superfund Job Training Initiative (SuperJTI) is an environmental remediation job readiness program that provides free training and career development opportunities for people living in communities affected by Superfund sites. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) goal is to help these communities develop job opportunities that remain long after a Superfund site has been cleaned up.

The EPA held their SuperJTI program for Silver Valley residents this past Spring. Participants in this free program received useful training for environmental jobs in the area. The program provided participants with multiple certifications at no charge and prepared them for careers in environmental cleanup work. These certifications included work readiness, CPR/First Aid, work zone flagging, and Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (40-hour HAZWOPER).

It has been more than six months since the Super JTI graduates completed their training and their progress has been amazing. Of the 12 SuperJTI graduates, 10 are actively working in some capacity. 

The graduates have secured jobs in various capacities beyond those just in environmental remediation. Of course, some were hired by companies that relate to cleanup activities such as McGillivray Environmental, Northwind, Traffic Management and Quality Traffic Control. Others are currently employed by Idaho Fish and Game and Moran Mining.

“This was our third SuperJTI held here in the Silver Valley”, said Rene Gilbert who recently worked with the SuperJTI graduates. “The first was held in 2012, and the second in 2013. Some of those graduates are still working for local contractors. That’s not just a seasonal job, that is a career! With the certifications they receive, graduates can choose to pursue jobs locally, or anywhere that these certifications are a requirement for the job. I am very proud of our graduates and love hearing how this program has impacted their lives.”

SuperJTI projects benefit everyone involved by offering participants valuable training in marketable skills, boosting the local tax base for residents, and supplying cleanup contractors with a motivated and skilled labor force. EPA is also able to increase community awareness of cleanup efforts and environmental issues through each successfully completed SuperJTI series.

The Dirt is a series of informative articles focused on all aspects of cleanup efforts associated with the Bunker Hill Superfund Site. Our goal is to promote community awareness of contamination issues, to provide tools for protecting public health, and to keep the community informed of current and future cleanup projects. The Dirt is a group of committed and local experts from multiple agencies including the Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission, Panhandle Health District, Shoshone County, Silver Valley Economic Development Corporation, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.