Membership FAQ

What are ITRC Teams?

ITRC achieves its mission through projects completed by ITRC Teams, which is the primary mechanism for participation in ITRC. ITRC Teams are composed of state and federal environmental regulators, federal agency representatives, industry experts, public/tribal/emeritus stakeholders, and academics. ITRC Teams typically have between 10 and 40 members; however, larger teams are possible. Projects are completed by ITRC Teams over two to five years and include activities such as conducting surveys of environmental professionals, writing overview and technical regulatory guidance documents, creating training curricula, and instructing environmental professionals on technical topics. ITRC Teams provide a forum for information exchange and technology transfer among environmental professionals and ultimately capture this value in ITRC guidance documents, training courses, and other products.

Who can be a member?

Participants from a wide variety of organizations and agencies are invited to apply for membership in ITRC. ITRC members include environmental professionals from state and federal environmental regulatory agencies, federal agency representatives (e.g., Department of Defense, Department of Energy), the private sector, public/tribal/emeritus stakeholders organizations, and academia. To become a member of ITRC, applicants much join an ITRC Team or be part of an ITRC Program Area (e.g., Training, State Engagement).

Before applicants from the private sector (industry, consultants, vendors, and trade associations) can participate in ITRC, their organization must join the Industry Affiliates Program (IAP).

What are the benefits of membership?

ITRC membership benefits different participants in a variety of ways as are listed next. All members benefit by participating in a national network of environmental experts to gain cutting-edge information on the deployment of innovative technologies.

The benefits of ITRC participation to state regulators include:

  • Increased knowledge base and confidence in decision-making when evaluating new environmental technologies
  • Time and cost saving by relying on ITRC’s free guidance documents when developing state guidance
  • Free training and knowledge on how to use innovative environmental technologies/approaches
  • Access to peers and experts in other regulatory agencies
  • Shortened learning curve by obtaining advance knowledge of innovative technologies/approaches
  • Leadership and professional development

The benefits of ITRC participation to federal government agencies include:

  • Provides tech transfer of processes and technologies developed by the federal government
  • Opportunities to author national guidance documents and participate in training courses as instructors
  • Increased knowledge base and confidence in decision-making when evaluating new environmental technologies
  • Increased interaction between federal managers and state regulators
  • Increased consistency of regulatory requirements for similar cleanup problems in different states
  • Reduced uncertainties when preparing cleanup plans
  • Increased use of innovative and cost-effective environmental solutions by states and others

The benefits of ITRC participation to the private sector include:

  • Learn about cutting-edge information on innovative environmental technologies and approaches
  • Opportunities to author national guidance documents and participate in training courses as instructors
  • Insight into the regulatory world
  • Access to multiple state and federal government entities
  • Opportunity for broader review of technology
  • National approach to demonstration and deployment of new technology
  • Mechanism to identify and integrate regulatory performance expectations among states

What does membership entail?

Members are expected to participate by providing substantive input, as determined by ITRC Team Leaders. Public, tribal and emeritus stakeholders must pledge to fulfill the Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities. Project success relies on individual contributions and therefore teams have an expectation that approved team members will actively participate to the extent their schedule allows.

A typical member's participation might be as follows:

  • Participation on team conference calls
  • Attendance at ITRC meetings/conferences
  • Writing and reviewing documents
  • Arranging site visits to facilities
  • Providing educational information on technologies
  • Providing market information on site technology needs

What are current ITRC Teams?

Please view the Teams page for a list of the current ITRC Teams.

How do I join an ITRC Team?

To join an ITRC Team, current members should log in and select Registration in the Membership menu to apply for ITRC Team membership. New applicants must create a new member profile to apply for ITRC Team membership.

Who establishes ITRC Teams?

ITRC's Board of Advisors reviews and selects proposals and topics for ITRC Teams. Typically, extensive input from the ITRC membership and funders is used during the planning process to determine which Teams ITRC pursues. The ITRC Planning page contains more about the planning process, including past Team proposals.

Is travel assistance available?

As resources allow, travel costs for attendance at ITRC meetings and other conferences are reimbursed for eligible state employees, academics, and public/tribal/emeritus stakeholders participants. Please see ITRC’s Travel Reimbursement Policy for more information on travel reimbursement.

Is membership transferable?

Membership and its benefits, including travel assistance, cannot be transferred to others.

What if I still have questions?

Email itrc@itrcweb.org.