NGWA NJ Regulations - ERG Drilling Exam Study Book
Lesson 1: Overview of NJ Regulations for Environmental & Geotechnical Drilling
1. Purpose and importance of drilling regulations
2. NJDEP’s authority in drilling oversight
3. Federal vs. state regulatory compliance
4. Local zoning and land use impact on drilling
5. Environmental vs. geotechnical drilling: Key differences
6. Licensing and certification overview for drillers
7. Required compliance documentation
8. Enforcement actions and regulatory inspections
9. NJDEP permit application process
10. Case studies of regulatory compliance issues
Lesson 2: Licensing and Certification Requirements
1. NJ drilling license classifications and scope
2. Eligibility criteria for obtaining a drilling license
3. Steps in the application and renewal process
4. Continuing education requirements for drillers
5. Approved training courses and certifications
6. Ethical obligations of licensed drillers
7. Legal consequences of unlicensed drilling activities
8. Record-keeping for license renewals
9. Violations and penalties for non-compliance
10. Best practices for maintaining compliance
Lesson 3: Site Assessment and Pre-Drilling Requirements
1. Importance of site evaluation before drilling
2. Hazard identification and risk assessment
3. NJ One-Call system for underground utilities
4. Land use and zoning restrictions for drill sites
5. Environmental impact assessment guidelines
6. Pre-drilling notification procedures
7. Permits required before drilling begins
8. Safety planning and emergency response strategies
9. Site access and traffic control planning
10. Case study: Avoiding site preparation pitfalls
Lesson 4: Drilling Methods and Equipment
1. Introduction to common drilling methods
, NGWA NJ Regulations - ERG Drilling Exam Study Book
2. Hollow-stem auger drilling applications
3. Mud rotary drilling procedures and benefits
4. Air rotary drilling techniques
5. Direct push technology (DPT) in environmental drilling
6. Sonic drilling applications for geotechnical studies
7. Cable tool drilling and historical significance
8. Selection of drilling methods based on site conditions
9. Equipment maintenance and safety standards
10. NJDEP-approved drilling procedures
Lesson 5: Well Construction and Installation Standards
1. Types of wells used in environmental drilling
2. Monitoring wells: Installation and regulations
3. Remediation wells and groundwater treatment
4. Casing and screen material requirements
5. Grouting and sealing standards for NJ wells
6. Proper backfilling and borehole abandonment
7. Well protection: Covers, signs, and access control
8. Preventing cross-contamination during drilling
9. Equipment decontamination requirements
10. Compliance with NJDEP well installation regulations
Lesson 6: Groundwater Sampling and Testing Procedures
1. NJDEP groundwater sampling protocols
2. Chain-of-custody documentation requirements
3. Ensuring sample integrity and avoiding contamination
4. Field testing methods (pH, conductivity, temperature)
5. Laboratory analysis guidelines and quality assurance
6. Well purging techniques before sampling
7. Water level measurement and data recording
8. Sample storage and transportation procedures
9. Equipment decontamination between sample sites
10. Common mistakes in groundwater sampling
Lesson 7: Soil Sampling and Logging Requirements
1. Soil boring techniques and best practices
2. Standard Penetration Test (SPT) procedure
3. Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT) applications
4. Classification of soil and rock formations
, NGWA NJ Regulations - ERG Drilling Exam Study Book
5. Geotechnical property assessment and reporting
6. Proper sample collection and preservation methods
7. Transporting soil samples to the lab
8. NJDEP soil handling and disposal regulations
9. Logging soil data for environmental assessment
10. Case study: Challenges in soil sampling
Lesson 8: Contaminant Handling and Hazardous Waste Management
1. Identifying regulated contaminants (VOCs, metals, petroleum)
2. NJDEP hazardous waste classification system
3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for handling contaminants
4. Spill response procedures and containment strategies
5. Safe storage of hazardous materials
6. Documentation requirements for waste disposal
7. NJ hazardous waste transportation regulations
8. Site decontamination and cleanup standards
9. Penalties for improper waste disposal
10. Case study: Environmental contamination incidents
Lesson 9: Site Remediation and Compliance Requirements
1. Overview of the NJ Site Remediation Program (SRP)
2. Role of Licensed Site Remediation Professionals (LSRPs)
3. Conducting a Remedial Investigation (RI)
4. Feasibility Study (FS) for remediation planning
5. Groundwater treatment and remediation techniques
6. Well rehabilitation and redevelopment procedures
7. Post-remediation monitoring requirements
8. Closure criteria for remediated sites
9. NJDEP reporting and regulatory compliance
10. Case study: Successful remediation projects
Lesson 10: Well Abandonment and Decommissioning Procedures
1. NJDEP regulations for well decommissioning
2. Cement grout sealing for well closure
3. Bentonite plugging techniques
4. Removing casing and well components
5. Proper documentation for well abandonment
6. Environmental restoration after well decommissioning
7. Preventing contamination from abandoned wells
, NGWA NJ Regulations - ERG Drilling Exam Study Book
8. NJDEP enforcement of well closure compliance
9. Case study: Well decommissioning best practices
10. Legal requirements for reporting abandoned wells
Lesson 11: Health and Safety Regulations
1. OSHA workplace safety standards for drillers
2. NJDEP-specific safety requirements
3. Hazardous site risk assessment techniques
4. Proper use of respiratory protection equipment
5. Air monitoring standards during drilling
6. Ergonomic safety in drilling operations
7. Heat stress management on drilling sites
8. Noise control and hearing protection standards
9. Emergency response planning and first aid training
10. Case study: Drilling site safety incidents
Lesson 12: Record-Keeping, Reporting, and Documentation
1. NJDEP-required logs and drilling records
2. Formats for geotechnical and environmental reports
3. Maintaining accurate chain-of-custody records
4. Proper documentation for spills and incidents
5. Effective communication with regulatory agencies
6. Data management and confidentiality protocols
7. Reporting non-compliance or site violations
8. Best practices for organizing field data
9. Case study: Importance of thorough documentation
10. Common mistakes in regulatory reporting
Lesson 13: Environmental Impact and Sustainable Drilling Practices
1. Understanding environmental impact assessments (EIA)
2. Sustainable drilling practices and their importance
3. Minimizing site disturbance and ecosystem damage
4. Water usage reduction during drilling activities
5. Waste minimization and disposal strategies
6. Safe chemical use and management on drilling sites
7. Mitigating soil erosion and sedimentation risks
8. Implementing noise and dust control measures
9. Monitoring wildlife and vegetation during drilling
10. Case study: Successful sustainable drilling projects
Lesson 1: Overview of NJ Regulations for Environmental & Geotechnical Drilling
1. Purpose and importance of drilling regulations
2. NJDEP’s authority in drilling oversight
3. Federal vs. state regulatory compliance
4. Local zoning and land use impact on drilling
5. Environmental vs. geotechnical drilling: Key differences
6. Licensing and certification overview for drillers
7. Required compliance documentation
8. Enforcement actions and regulatory inspections
9. NJDEP permit application process
10. Case studies of regulatory compliance issues
Lesson 2: Licensing and Certification Requirements
1. NJ drilling license classifications and scope
2. Eligibility criteria for obtaining a drilling license
3. Steps in the application and renewal process
4. Continuing education requirements for drillers
5. Approved training courses and certifications
6. Ethical obligations of licensed drillers
7. Legal consequences of unlicensed drilling activities
8. Record-keeping for license renewals
9. Violations and penalties for non-compliance
10. Best practices for maintaining compliance
Lesson 3: Site Assessment and Pre-Drilling Requirements
1. Importance of site evaluation before drilling
2. Hazard identification and risk assessment
3. NJ One-Call system for underground utilities
4. Land use and zoning restrictions for drill sites
5. Environmental impact assessment guidelines
6. Pre-drilling notification procedures
7. Permits required before drilling begins
8. Safety planning and emergency response strategies
9. Site access and traffic control planning
10. Case study: Avoiding site preparation pitfalls
Lesson 4: Drilling Methods and Equipment
1. Introduction to common drilling methods
, NGWA NJ Regulations - ERG Drilling Exam Study Book
2. Hollow-stem auger drilling applications
3. Mud rotary drilling procedures and benefits
4. Air rotary drilling techniques
5. Direct push technology (DPT) in environmental drilling
6. Sonic drilling applications for geotechnical studies
7. Cable tool drilling and historical significance
8. Selection of drilling methods based on site conditions
9. Equipment maintenance and safety standards
10. NJDEP-approved drilling procedures
Lesson 5: Well Construction and Installation Standards
1. Types of wells used in environmental drilling
2. Monitoring wells: Installation and regulations
3. Remediation wells and groundwater treatment
4. Casing and screen material requirements
5. Grouting and sealing standards for NJ wells
6. Proper backfilling and borehole abandonment
7. Well protection: Covers, signs, and access control
8. Preventing cross-contamination during drilling
9. Equipment decontamination requirements
10. Compliance with NJDEP well installation regulations
Lesson 6: Groundwater Sampling and Testing Procedures
1. NJDEP groundwater sampling protocols
2. Chain-of-custody documentation requirements
3. Ensuring sample integrity and avoiding contamination
4. Field testing methods (pH, conductivity, temperature)
5. Laboratory analysis guidelines and quality assurance
6. Well purging techniques before sampling
7. Water level measurement and data recording
8. Sample storage and transportation procedures
9. Equipment decontamination between sample sites
10. Common mistakes in groundwater sampling
Lesson 7: Soil Sampling and Logging Requirements
1. Soil boring techniques and best practices
2. Standard Penetration Test (SPT) procedure
3. Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT) applications
4. Classification of soil and rock formations
, NGWA NJ Regulations - ERG Drilling Exam Study Book
5. Geotechnical property assessment and reporting
6. Proper sample collection and preservation methods
7. Transporting soil samples to the lab
8. NJDEP soil handling and disposal regulations
9. Logging soil data for environmental assessment
10. Case study: Challenges in soil sampling
Lesson 8: Contaminant Handling and Hazardous Waste Management
1. Identifying regulated contaminants (VOCs, metals, petroleum)
2. NJDEP hazardous waste classification system
3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for handling contaminants
4. Spill response procedures and containment strategies
5. Safe storage of hazardous materials
6. Documentation requirements for waste disposal
7. NJ hazardous waste transportation regulations
8. Site decontamination and cleanup standards
9. Penalties for improper waste disposal
10. Case study: Environmental contamination incidents
Lesson 9: Site Remediation and Compliance Requirements
1. Overview of the NJ Site Remediation Program (SRP)
2. Role of Licensed Site Remediation Professionals (LSRPs)
3. Conducting a Remedial Investigation (RI)
4. Feasibility Study (FS) for remediation planning
5. Groundwater treatment and remediation techniques
6. Well rehabilitation and redevelopment procedures
7. Post-remediation monitoring requirements
8. Closure criteria for remediated sites
9. NJDEP reporting and regulatory compliance
10. Case study: Successful remediation projects
Lesson 10: Well Abandonment and Decommissioning Procedures
1. NJDEP regulations for well decommissioning
2. Cement grout sealing for well closure
3. Bentonite plugging techniques
4. Removing casing and well components
5. Proper documentation for well abandonment
6. Environmental restoration after well decommissioning
7. Preventing contamination from abandoned wells
, NGWA NJ Regulations - ERG Drilling Exam Study Book
8. NJDEP enforcement of well closure compliance
9. Case study: Well decommissioning best practices
10. Legal requirements for reporting abandoned wells
Lesson 11: Health and Safety Regulations
1. OSHA workplace safety standards for drillers
2. NJDEP-specific safety requirements
3. Hazardous site risk assessment techniques
4. Proper use of respiratory protection equipment
5. Air monitoring standards during drilling
6. Ergonomic safety in drilling operations
7. Heat stress management on drilling sites
8. Noise control and hearing protection standards
9. Emergency response planning and first aid training
10. Case study: Drilling site safety incidents
Lesson 12: Record-Keeping, Reporting, and Documentation
1. NJDEP-required logs and drilling records
2. Formats for geotechnical and environmental reports
3. Maintaining accurate chain-of-custody records
4. Proper documentation for spills and incidents
5. Effective communication with regulatory agencies
6. Data management and confidentiality protocols
7. Reporting non-compliance or site violations
8. Best practices for organizing field data
9. Case study: Importance of thorough documentation
10. Common mistakes in regulatory reporting
Lesson 13: Environmental Impact and Sustainable Drilling Practices
1. Understanding environmental impact assessments (EIA)
2. Sustainable drilling practices and their importance
3. Minimizing site disturbance and ecosystem damage
4. Water usage reduction during drilling activities
5. Waste minimization and disposal strategies
6. Safe chemical use and management on drilling sites
7. Mitigating soil erosion and sedimentation risks
8. Implementing noise and dust control measures
9. Monitoring wildlife and vegetation during drilling
10. Case study: Successful sustainable drilling projects
