Quick Links

Articles of Interest

"Assessing Food Safety Practices in Farmers' Markets"

by Carl Behnke, Soobin Seo, and Kay Miller

Appears in Food Protection Trends, Vol. 32, Pages 232-239

This is a preliminary study that uses a technology-oriented approach to assess food safety practices, such as hand washing and glove usage at farmers' markets.

Download this article

"The Apple Bites Back: Claiming Old Orchards for Residential Development"

 by Hood, E.

Appears in Environmental Health Perspectives

This discusses the problems found in soils around residential developments that once had fruit orchards that used lead arsenic pesticides. The pesticide was used between 1892 until it was banned in 1988.

Download this article

President's Message

Thanks to everyone who helped put together our 2012 Annual Educational Conference this March. Special thanks to Ken Keller who keeps everything running and Bob Erickson who has now transitioned into our Past President. The Idaho Solid Waste Association continued to put on their popular Solid Waste Session. They are considering putting on a special session next year with a strong emphasis on composting. The Onsite Wastewater Association of Idaho joined us this year for half a day. We are in talks to continue having them join us in future conferences.

Elections were held this year. Our new and returning board members are:

Patrick Guzzle, President-elect

Ken Keller, Secretary/Treasurer

Nancy Becker, Area A Representative

Tyler Fortunati, Area B Representative

Scott Arnell, Area C Representative

Our Committee Chairs are currently:

Ann Potcher, Legislative

Susie Simmons, Awards

Jeff Batten, Auditing

Ken Keller, Budget

Patrick Guzzle, Education

Jami Delmore, Constitution and Bylaws

Promotion & Membership and Nominations & Elections are currently vacant. If anyone is interested in being involved with any of these committees please let me know.

Bonnie Christensen had to move away recently and will no longer be organizing the Digest. After much discussion, the board is interested in transitioning away from the Digest and going to quarterly electronic newsletters instead. This will require a change in the Bylaws and I will be working on that for our next annual meeting. Mary Ann Reuter, who maintains our website, is currently designing our newsletters. We are looking for someone to collect information for the newsletters to send to Mary Ann and possibly handle minor updates on our website. If anyone is interested in doing this, please let me know and we can go over more details. 

If you would like to add information to our newsletters, please forward the information to me at jami.delmore@phd3.idaho.gov. This can include training opportunities, new staff, retiring staff, information on new products, job openings, or articles on subjects connected to environmental health.

I hope to serve our membership well over the next two years and feel free to contact me with anything you would like to discuss about the association.

Sincerely,

Jami Delmore, IEHA President

(208) 455-5403

Upcoming Training Opportunities

Protect Your Right to Land Apply Biosolids - Understanding EPA's 503 Regulation Workshop.

This workshop will be taught by U.S. EPA Region 8 Biosolids Coordinator Robert Brobst and USDA-ARS Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory Research Soil Scientist Jim Ippolito. It will review the federal requirements for beneficial use of biosolids, with the interpretation and understanding of the rules and regulations set forth by EPA. Topics covered in the workshop will include:

• Submittal forms required by federal regulatory agencies
• Biosolids characterization and stabilization
• Biosolids loading and application rate calculations and other mathematical computations associated with operation and control of biosolids
• Important management practices and record keeping
• Potential violations and penalties 

When: May 16 - 17, 2012
 

Where: Idaho DEQ State Office, 1410 N. Hilton Boise

 Alternative Locations: Conference will be video conferenced to Coeur d'Alene and other Idaho DEQ regional offices
 

Registration Fee: $45 for two day event and IBOL CEU's are available. For more information log on to: 

http://www.deq.idaho.gov/assistance-resources/educational-tools/conferences-workshops/biosolids-workshop.aspx

_____

Wastewater Collection Operator Certification Training:

When: May 30-31 and June 5-6

ABC Exam Review Wastewater Treatment Operator OIT and Level I Training 

When: June 6-7

For more information please visit the Environmental Conferences & Workshops Hosted by DEQ website at:  http://www.deq.idaho.gov/assistance-resources/educational-tools/conferences-workshops.aspx

_____

"What's on your Tabletop" - an International Association of Food Protection Webinar

May 24, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. (MT)

Tabletop Exercises can help identify, refine and validate roles and procedures for key food safety stakeholders.  They advance understanding, cooperation and synergy between private sector entities and government organizations in preventing and mitigating the risks & effects of foodborne disease/illness/contamination events.  Tabletop exercises help identify & remediate gaps and shortfalls in a non-threatening environment via scenario-driven, facilitated, face-to-face discussions. This webinar is presented by Dave Wilkins, Battelle Technical Support Operations, and sponsored by the IAFP Retail Food Safety & Quality PDG.

The cost is $25; registration is required. The session is completely web-based and uses only a web browser with Adobe Flash Play. The audio will be broadcast over your computer. Telephone participation will not be available. Please be sure your computer speakers are turned up.

Register today at:
http://www.telspanvenue.com/PIID=EA56DE89894A