Date: September 9, 2026
Times: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Central)
Location: Virtual (TEAMS)
Instructors: Michael Hopperton and Thomas Samarco, RAMBOLL
Course Registration Link – Register by September 7, 2026
Who Should Attend: This course is designed for environmental professionals, LDAR technicians, EHS personnel, operations and maintenance personnel, reliability and inspection staff, plant supervisors and managers, and anyone responsible for VOC emissions compliance or conducting fugitive emissions inspections.
About the Course: This course provides a practical introduction to Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) fugitive emissions inspections. Participants will learn the principles of leak detection, inspection procedures, regulatory requirements, documentation practices, and industry best practices for identifying and managing equipment leaks as part of an effective Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) program.
Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
Upon completion of this course, participants will understand the purpose and importance of VOC fugitive emissions inspections, identify common emission sources and leaking components, apply inspection techniques consistent with LDAR best practices, understand the fundamentals of EPA Method 21 and applicable regulatory requirements, properly document inspection findings to support compliance efforts, and recognize appropriate corrective actions and follow-up procedures for identified leaks.
Course Delivery: This is a virtual, instructor-led training
Thomas Samarco is a Principal at Ramboll and has 20 years of experience in the chemical and petrochemical industries, upstream and midstream oil and gas, natural gas storage and transmission, natural gas distribution, primary and secondary steel manufacturing, adhesives and coating manufacturing, aerospace, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, general manufacturing, power generation, and pipelines. He specializes in air quality for these industries which includes federal and state permitting, regulatory compliance (NSPS, NESHAP, MACT, and Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule), regulatory auditing, emissions development, tracking, and compliance reporting. He also has experience in environmental emergency response plans, risk management plans, site characterization and investigation, erosion and sediment control plans, storage tank permitting, NPDES permitting, and stormwater pollution prevention plans.
Mike Hopperton has more than 30 years of US and international experience and technical expertise in air permitting and regulatory compliance. He has provided significant contributions in air quality matters by serving in leadership roles for trade groups that support the oil and gas industry, including the American Petroleum Institute (API) and American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). He has broad regulatory compliance and air permitting experience in several industry sectors, notably oil and gas downstream, upstream and midstream terminal and pipeline facilities, biofuels, petrochemical and specialty chemical manufacturing. Prior to joining Ramboll, he previously worked for bp as the subject matter expert responsible for providing guidance, training and compliance tools to US refineries, cogeneration facilities, terminal and pipeline operations for Federal NSR/PSD, Title V, MACT, NSPS, and Benzene Waste Operations NESHAP (BWON) regulations.
How to Register: See the U.S. EPA LMS Frequently Asked Questions for how to create an EPA LMS account, register for a course, and other common functions.
Agenda
Questions?
LADCO Training Coordinator: Catherine Heath (LADCO Training Coordinator)
Accessibility Statement
LADCO strives to host inclusive, accessible training events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully with the instructor and course content. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Catherine Heath heath@ladco.org | 847-720-7880).
