news@NEWMOA
news@NEWMOA is designed to help our members and colleagues keep informed about the Association's projects and activities. You are receiving this e-newsletter because you are a member of a NEWMOA working group, committee, program, or listserv; an invitee to NEWMOA events; a colleague at EPA or a related organization; connected to the Association in some other way; or have expressed interest in our work. If you have questions about delivery of this e-Newsletter, contact Lois Makina, (617) 367-8558 x312.
Share this newsletter with others in your agency or organization that might be interested. We welcome your comments and suggestions.
|
|
|
Board of Directors
NEWMOA's Board met in June to share updates from EPA and state programs, review and discuss NEWMOA's activities and plans, and continue a year-long strategic planning process. The new strategic plan will cover a five-year period from 2017-2021. NEWMOA's current strategic plan covers 2013 - 2017.
The Board invites members of NEWMOA's Committees and Workgroups, as well as former members and staff to join them for dinner at David's, 22 Monument Square, Portland, Maine on September 15th during their next Board meeting to help celebrate NEWMOA's 30th Anniversary. For more information on the festivities, contact Lois Makina(617) 367-8558 x312.
|
|
|
|
|
Congratulations Andy Bray!
|
 In 2017, Andy Bray will celebrate 20 years with NEWMOA. NEWMOA's Board and staff congratulate him on reaching this important milestone and appreciate his commitment to pollution prevention (P2) and environmental protection and his dedication to NEWMOA. Andy was originally hired as an intern to support P2 projects just after earning his graduate degree in environmental engineering. After a six month internship, he was hired as a permanent NEWMOA staff member before later becoming a Project Manager. His focus is on P2 and sustainability, and he also manages various information technology (IT) initiatives. We recently sat down with Andy to ask him a few questions. NEWMOA: Tell us about yourself and your background. Andy: I trained as a civil/environmental engineer at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. While doing my graduate work I interned for the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute, under the leadership of Dr. Ken Geiser. Working under Dr. Geiser and his incredible staff I expanded my professional focus beyond end-of-pipe engineering solutions to also include "upstream" solutions that focus on eliminating pollution at its source. This paradigm shift launched my 20 plus year mission to identify more sustainable solutions that allow us to meet our every day needs while decreasing our collective environmental impact. I have since worked with NEWMOA's members, EPA, and business stakeholders to educate others about the possibilities. I am also passionate about the role of information technology in helping to secure a healthier environment. IT plays a critical role in helping state agencies advance their environmental objectives and make data-driven decisions. Technology also enables citizens to be aware of their environment, locally and globally, and to learn about ways they can positively contribute to a healthier environment. Increasingly, social media is playing a role in how we connect with one another, share our experiences, and learn from each other and this includes work and lifestyle choices that might positively or negatively impact the environment. The conversation taking place in social media is helping to define and drive positive changes. Continuous innovation in the use of information technology in all of these areas is helping to drive our collective environmental protective efforts. NEWMOA: What projects are you working on now? Andy: I am currently working on a number of P2 and Sustainability projects, most notably the advancement of professional wet cleaning as the safest, most environmentally benign form of professional garment care. I hope that by educating garment care professionals about the efficacy of the technology and by raising awareness among consumers we can help advance the adoption of this technology. I am also working on a number of professional social networks, most notably in the areas of sustainable lodging and zero waste. I've had the privilege of managing NEWMOA's efforts on the creation of the National Sustainable Lodging Network and the Zero Waste Connection. The objectives of these endeavors are to advance P2 and sustainable practices as the preferred method of achieving sustainable lodging and zero waste program goals. These networks provide forums for professionals working in these areas to share information on program development and implementation and to foster innovation. The ultimate goal for this work is that programs will be able to achieve greater environmental betterment working together than they would working in isolation. NEWMOA: What's one fun thing you would like people to know about you? Andy: I have visited 44 of the 50 U.S. states but have only lived in one of them. |
|
Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Events
|
|
Upcoming Webinar
Anyone that is not a federal, state, or local government employee must pay a $25 fee through PayPal in order to have their registration approved. The following PayPal button is for all non-government staff:
|
After paying, PayPal will redirect to the GoToWebinar registration page. Registrations of anyone not employed by government will not be approved until payment is received. All registrations must be approved by the organizer, so there will be a delay in receiving the webinar access information.
PFOA and PFOS are prefluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, respectively and belong to the broader class of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are widely used for carpet and fabric protection and in food packaging, and have included the familiar trade names Teflon, Gore-Tex, Stainmaster, and Scotchguard. In addition, PFAS are key components of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) widely used for firefighting and mist-suppression at metal plating facilities.
Several states in the northeast have sites where drinking water is impacted by PFAS. EPA recently issued a drinking water guideline of 70 parts per trillion, and some NEWMOA states have set lower standards. Achieving such low detection presents many challenges both in the field and in the laboratory.
Webinar presenters include Dr. Dora Chiang, Vice President and Director of Emerging Contaminants at AECOM and Dr. Jennifer Guelfo, State Agencies Liaison, Brown University Superfund Research Program. Dr. Chiang will address potential cross contamination and QA/QC needs when sampling for PFAS compounds. Dr. Guelfo will discuss analytical methods and limitations, and potential cross contamination issues at laboratories.
PFAS Regional Meeting
NEWMOA held a regional meeting of state and federal officials to share information on PFAS in May at Quinsigamond Community College in Worchester, MA. This meeting was co-sponsored by the Brown University Superfund Research Program.
|
|
|
|
Dr. Angela Slitt, Univ. of Rhode Island
|
Dr. Jennifer Guelfo, Brown University
|
|
|
Waste Site Cleanup Program
|
Workshops
NEWMOA will hold a workshop on Monitored Natural Attenuation - Appropriate Tool or Easy Way Out? for waste site cleanup professionals on September 27 and 28 in Massachusetts and Connecticut, respectively. Natural attenuation relies on natural processes to clean up or attenuate pollution in soil and groundwater. It happens at many sites, but must be monitored to make sure it is occurring and in a timeframe that is reasonable. The workshop objectives include:
- Review the basic MNA principles, including attenuation processes, monitoring tools, data evaluation, and optimal site conditions with a focus on hydrocarbon impacted sites and chlorinated solvent sites
- Provide an overview of MNA as a tool for site closure
- Present new developments in the field of MNA, MNA of emerging compounds and metals, and the relationship between MNA and vapor intrusion
If you are interested in receiving a notice about these events and other waste site cleanup workshops, contact Jennifer Griffith to be added to our email list.
|
|
Solid Waste & Sustainable Materials Management Program
|
Bulky Waste Project - Publications
NEWMOA has prepared several guides to help local government officials in rural communities to better understand the options available for reusing and recycling furniture, mattresses, carpet, and large rigid plastic items, and to develop strategies for managing these wastes and diverting them from landfill disposal. These guides include:
NEWMOA is developing corresponding handouts targeted for consumers. These will be published in late summer/early fall 2016.
|
|
Bulky Waste Project - Workshops
NEWMOA has presented the results of this Project at the following events.
- Solid Waste & Recycling Conference sponsored by the Maine Resource Recovery Association (MRRA), in May
- Transfer Station Operators State Training at the New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services (NH DES), in June
|
 |
| |
Tiffany Kollar, EPA HQ
|
Free Webinar
Recent Updates to the EPA Waste Reduction Model (WARM)
Wednesday, July 20, 2016, 10:00 - 11:30 EDT
|
|
| | Bobby Renz, ICF |
This webinar is open to federal, state, and local government officials, NGOs, companies, consultants, and others who are involved in solid waste management.
EPA created the Waste Reduction Model (WARM) to help solid waste planners and organizations track and voluntarily report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from different waste management practices. WARM calculates and totals GHG emissions for baseline and alternative waste management practices-source reduction, recycling, combustion, composting, anaerobic digestion, and landfilling. The latest version of WARM was released in March 2016. The majority of updates concern the addition of the anaerobic digestion materials management pathway.
|
|
Hazardous Waste Training
In June, NEWMOA held workshops for hazardous waste inspectors that covered:
- Enforcement of Land Disposal Restrictions
- Results of Inspections of Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs)
- EPA Headquarters' RCRA Rulemakings and Policy Changes
- Updates on the E-Manifest System Development
- Results of Inspections of Dry Cleaners in New Hampshire
NEWMOA also held training calls or webinars in April and May that covered:
- EPA's Waste Analysis Plan Guidance
- Use of emergency permits for on-site treatment of unstable/reactive chemicals
- Post closer guidance for generators and TSDFs
These calls and workshops are for state and federal hazardous waste inspectors and other compliance and enforcement staff and regulatory development staff.
|
Free Webinar
Streamlining the Performance Partnership Agreement Process
Thursday, July 21, 2016, 9:00 - 10:30 EDT
The presenters will showcase a Lean event focused on streamlining and improving the Performance Partnership Agreement and related work plan negotiation processes. Originally, the Lean event only involved EPA Region 1 and NHDES, but expanded to the regional level by ultimately including all six New England state environmental agencies. Presenters will include members of the core Lean team from NHDES and EPA Region 1, but also one or more of the other state environmental agencies.
|
|
Interstate Mercury Education & Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC)
|
Upcoming Webinars
IMERC is hosting the following free webinars in September
Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1017023342400806916.The purpose of this event is to show how IMERC and its members utilize mercury-added products data reported through the e-filing system. Pre-registration is required. Agenda topics include: This webinar is intended for manufacturers, distributors, and importers of mercury-added products. Other stakeholders including, federal, state, and local government programs, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations are welcome to attend. |
Mercury Products: Current Uses & Trends in Stewardship Programs
Tuesday, September 27, 2016, 1:00-2:00pm EDT
During this event, Rachel Smith, IMERC Coordinator, will present the results of IMERC's 2013 mercury-added product data analysis for targeted product categories, emphasizing the current trends in mercury use, as well as some unknowns. Suna Bayrakal from the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) will present on current (and proposed) product stewardship programs in the U.S. targeting thermostats, lamps, and auto switches.
This webinar is restricted to federal, state, and local government programs, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
|
|
New! - IMERC Supporting Membership
IMERC invites manufacturers, distributors, and importers of mercury-added products; trade associations; and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to join as Supporting Members.
Supporting members must support IMERC's mission to help states implement laws and programs aimed at getting mercury out of products, the waste stream, and the environment. They must complete an Application Form and sign a Memorandum of Agreement. Benefits of Supporting Membership include: - Technical assistance with notification, labeling, and phase-out requirements
- Participation in webinars and discussions
- Participation in conference calls to discuss ways to improve effectiveness of IMERC's programs
- Participation in review of outreach and educational materials
- Wider access to mercury-added products data reported through the e-filing system
- Prioritization of IMERC's review of submittals and requests
- Promotion of the efforts to develop and use non-mercury alternatives
For more information on how to apply and the annual dues, visit:
|
|
Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2)
|
|
OHA, Ecology, and the IC2 Receive Exchange Network Grant
In mid-May, the Oregon Health Authority, the Washington State Department of Ecology, and the IC2 learned that an EPA Exchange Network (NEIEN) grant proposal to build an Interstate Chemicals-in-Products Reporting System was approved. This is a significant development that will allow IC2 to build a multi-state reporting system to meet the needs of state laws, such as Oregon's Toxic-Free Kids Act and Washington State's Children's Safe Products Act, among others.
Chemical Hazard Assessment Database Additions
GreenScreens� for Galaxolide and dibutoxymethane are among the newest additions to the IC2 Chemical Hazard Assessment Database. Galaxolide (1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-gamma-2-benzopyran) is a synthetic musk that is a common fragrance chemical used in cleaning products. Women's Voices for the Earth commissioned the assessment of Galaxolide, which received a GreenScreen Benchmark 1 score due to its highly persistent, bioaccumulative, and aquatic toxicity properties. Dibutoxymethane is sold under the trade name SolvonK4 and is increasingly used as an alternative to perchloroethylene in garment dry cleaning.
IC2 has also added GreenScreens for dodecyldimethylamine oxide and perfluorohexanoic acid (also known as C6). Dodecyldimethylamine oxide is used in cosmetics, personal care products, and cleaning products; as an antifungal and antibacterial agent; in a number of industrial applications; and as a laboratory reagent.
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA or C6) functions as processing aid in fluorinated polymer production and is used in aqueous firefighting foams, water/grease repellents, and other commercial products. Per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances, including PFHxA, are components of and precursors for surfactants and surface protectors used in industrial applications and consumer products, including impregnating agents for clothing and textiles, coatings for paper and packaging, waxes and cleaning agents, insecticides, firefighting foams, and hydraulic fluids in airplanes. PFHxA is also a breakdown product of fluorotelomer compounds used to produce stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging and household products. PFHxA is a candidate chemical to replace perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which has been largely phased out throughout the European Union and United States.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
